People Made Glasgow 2014

It seems so long ago. A time, when the sun was shining, people were smiling, our train journeys were filled with cheers and our streets were filled with Clydes. How quickly have we returned to our normal lives? How much do we miss high-fiving police officers and giving standing ovations to both winners and the guys and girls, who came last, regardless of what country they represented? Glasgow 2014 was special, in so many ways. Record crowds at events. Record medal hauls. Records broken and tales of heroes and heroines breaking through barriers to record magnificent performances. Amateur athletes, many of whom hold down jobs, just like you and I, were made to feel like superstars.

Even HRM Prince Imran stated, for the record, that it was the best ever Games and Pure Dead Brilliant. And so it was, by the way.

Everyone played their part and none more than  the 15,000 strong army of volunteers. The Frontrunners, Baton Bearers and, of course, the Clydesiders. I’ll miss their banter with the crowds, their green hands and their energy and passion. These were a group of people who had travelled from near and far, who had given their time and their hearts to Glasgow. They fulfilled a multitude of duties and without them, Glasgow 2014 would not have been the same.

These are the people who made Glasgow 2014 (well, some of them).

I’m Hazel Barton and I am Glaswegian through and through. I worked in Athlete Services with badminton at the Emirates. I have so many highlights, but I guess being involved in some of the medal ceremonies on the final day was a golden moment for me. My hopes….well that the legacy comes to fruition…. that this pride, optimism and enthusiastic energy carries forward in our dear green place.

I’m Kim Nelson and I was a Tribune Team Member for Press Operations at the Diving. I am from Markinch, Fife. Special Games Moment – loved meeting new people and have made friends for life, but my highlight had to be having a laugh with Tom Daley while he was getting ready to do his BBC interview. I tried to stop myself giggling too loudly and I ended up snorting with laughter instead! Post Games Hopes – I’ve been volunteering for approx 12 years but Glasgow 2014 was my biggest event yet. I have applied to volunteer at the World Gymnast Championship 2015 and eagerly awaiting applications opening for Gold Coast 2018.

I’m Claire Wynarczyk and I’m from Newcastle Upon Tyne. My Clydesider role was as a  Photo Team Member at  Road Events. There were too many special moments to mention but volunteering at Triathlon where the Brownlee brothers won was quite special. As was meeting Greg Rutherford and Clare Balding, on Tonight at the Games, and asking for Greg’s autograph on live TV.

I’m Christine Cuthbertson and I’m from Dundonald, Ayrshire My Clydesider role was at Scotstoun in spectator services. Too many special moments, to say but all the high fives, meeting Sir Steven Redgrave and 6 minibus loads of the Police giving me a wave on the way home from a long shift when is was in my uniform I enjoyed my experience so much and got so much positivity from volunteering that I am going to apply for the Gold Coast games in 2018. I have grown in confidence for sure.

My name is Keira Tansey and I am 25 years old from Glasgow. I was a Clydesider at the Athletes Village located in Dalmarnock. The team I helped (Arrivals and Departures) was situated in the Welcome Centre (we are the people with the green pointy fingers!). The role that I was assigned was Welcome Team member but I was also involved with access control. My goal at the games was to at least see Sir Chris Hoy as he is my favourite sportsman. Not only did I get to see Chris Hoy, I got to actually meet him which was without a doubt the highlight/ special moment of the volunteering for me. Meeting new people was also special.

I’m Linda Brown and I’m from Govan, in Glasgow. My Clydesider role was in Spectator Services at SECC.  I also had Clyde-siders stay with me all through the Games and I’ve made so many fantastic friends. I hope to volunteer at Gold Coast 2018 while I’m doing a sign language course now to enable me to do more volunteering. The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have been Pure Dead Brilliant!

I’m Traci Smith and I now stay in Lossiemouth, Moray. My role was the Catering and Cleaning at the Emirates Arena which meant some of my jobs included going into all areas including the Velodrome and Badminton. My special moment came on my first shift when the athletes were making there way to the Stadium on the Opening Ceremony we were giving out the water and food as they waited to go in and some of the teams were coming up dancing and singing what a amazing sight and the Red Arrows flying over. I would like to extend the experiences of the fun and joy the games brought to people of Glasgow and to Scotland and the rest of the Commonwealth Countries.

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I’m Siobhann McGinley, from Yoker, in Glasgow and my Clydesider role was as an Opening Ceremony Cast Volunteer and Marshal. I had a few special memories, including an euraka moment, when 500 hundred cast members finally got an intricate move perfected. However, my favourite moment was when the Scotland team finally came into the stadium as part of the athletes parade – the stadium just seemed to erupt.  The atmosphere was amazing, the music was loud and added to the atmosphere, all the other athletes were on their feet or on their chairs taking pictures and clapping – the whole stadium was euphoric. Everyone was so excited – I’ll never forget it.  A truly special moment and so glad I was there.I hope Glasgow to continue to be recognised as a world class city destination where people can enjoy all it has to offer through culture, music, sport and experience the friendliness of the city

I’m Alison Simpson from Australia. My role was in the Spectators Service Team.Spectators Service Team consisted of me directing people to train station bus stops etc, checking tickets with scanners , usher spectators to there seats , crowd control and welcoming spectators to Glasgow. My favourite moments were the Opening and Closing Ceremoniers, little Erraid winning Bronze and the money raised for UNICEF. I hope to continue to volunteer and make people happy 🙂

We are John and Lesley Sleathe, representing Loughborough Unversity. We were Clydesiders at the Opening Ceremony and then with the Spectator Services team at Hampden Park. Our duties included directing on ‘the last mile’ with the obligatory green foam finger, welcoming people before the necessary security checks, scanning tickets, ushering people to their seats and manning access points to prevent spectators straying into areas reserved for athletes. Highlights included going to the BBC at the Quay events with Eve Muirhead, a filming of a Question of Sport and memorably Tonight at the Games hosted by Clare Balding where we met such greats as Beth Tweddle and gold medal-winning Greg Rutherford. Other notable times included meeting Adam Gemili and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey after their 4 x 100m silver. Lesley is planning on going to the Gold Coast in 2018 and John is hoping to be successful for Rio in 2016. Glasgow certainly has been one unforgettable experience. Bring it on!

I’m Gillian Donnelly, from Glasgow. My Clydesider role was as a Print Distribution Team Leader (Results Technology Services) at Emirates Arena/Velodrome. My special moment was the general atmosphere in the city, speaking to visitors and receiving lots of lovely comments about how much people appreciated the work that Clydesiders were doing.  In the future, I hope that the Games has left people with great memories and a good impression of Glasgow and its people, as well as having inspired people to get involved in different sports!

I’m Ro Brett, from London, and I was Anti Doping in the Village. I had two special moments. I was helping Alex Mitchell and Kit Us Out and purchasing a pair of running spikes for a para athlete from Papua New Guinea (Elias Larry). I bought the spikes for him on the  saturday and on the monday he was through to the final of his race category which even surprised his team. I feel very emotional as I helped him to do this by simply buying him a pair of spikes. Prior to this he was in trainers that were being super glued together after every race he did  in them. I also met my all time Heroine Dame Kelly Holmes and she remembered me from meeting her 5 years ago in a non sporting environment. Even down to knowing what I was suffering from illness wise.

My name is Chloé Jane Allison and I live in the Merchant City in the centre of Glasgow, so I was right in the middle of the whole atmosphere at the Games! I was a team member of spectator services at Kelvingrove Lawn Bowl Centre which wouldn’t have been my first choice of venues, but looking at my experience now I’m thrilled this was the venue I received. The venue was small enough that I could meet the other Clydesiders easily and have made so many amazing friends. A special moment for me would either be meeting Prince Edward (I LOVE the royal family!!) and have him thank us for the work we have done, or my first ever time playing lawn bowls, and having the England Para team come join us and give us tips – they were amazing people and so inspirational!

I currently volunteer as an ambassador at the airport and I have already signed up to volunteer at the Belfast City Marathon in September – I’ve caught the volunteer bug!

Thank you to every volunteer and paid employee of the Games. You were all Pure Dead Brilliant