You may have noticed a random silence for the last month while our hostess with the mostess took her summer holidays, but we’re back, just in time for me to give you a random selection of Commonwealth Games facts :o)
1. Did you know that over 50,000 people applied to be Clydesiders, the volunteers who would be helping out at the Games. Of the 50,000 there were 25,000 interviews and 15,000 were given jobs which ranged from back of house to field of play to front of house. I was in the biggest team of all, Spectator Services, leading a team each day at Tollcross pool for the swimming. Best team ever, fact, we won the Bright Star award twice during our 6 days of competition!
As a team leader I rotated in a strict pattern so that I spent 2 days outside the gates directing people in, 2 days within the gates showing people where to go on the way in and out, and 2 days inside the centre, although I didn’t actually see more than a few minutes of swimming each day as I was busy running around after my team. I got a different group of people each day, some I saw more than once, and others passed like ships in the night (they were also rotating, but on a far more random basis)
This is most of the morning shift, with the exception of the stewards and security staff (who were contractors rather than volunteers) Jack and I are both in there BTW ;o)
2. More than 50,000 stuffed Clydes were sold. Clyde was the mascot of the Games, designed by an 11 year old primary school pupil from the city who won a competition. Here’s Jack with some of the Clyde statues:
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| Clyde at Tollcross |
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| Clyde at Central Station |
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| Clyde down the road from my flat |
3. Selfies are all the rage, and the stadiums were full of people taking them, from the spectators to the athletes. There were a few photobombers too:
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| Yep, that’s the Queen… |
4. Speaking of selfies, Sir Chris Hoy was challenged by security trying to get into his own velodrome (no badge clearly visible, no entry), but there was no-one that stopped the guy that leapt into his cab at the traffic lights outside to grab a cheeky selfie before hopping back out again…
5. And finally, to the medals for the home nations:
England topped the table for the first time in 28 years with 174 medals (58 gold, 59 silver and 57 bronze)
Scotland got their best haul ever, finishing 4th with 53 medals (19 gold, 15 silver, 19 bronze), putting them just ahead of India who have a mere 233 times the population
Wales came 13th with 36 medals (5 gold, 11 silver, 20 bronze)
Nor’n Iron came 15th with 12 medals (2 gold, 3 silver, 7 bronze)
Apparently Glasgow cheered very well for them all (and danced, and sang, and ‘Weegie waved’, and… well let’s just say there were kiss-cams at the venues ;o) )
Now my city is in clean up mode, and apparently soon I’ll be able to drive across to my local Tesco for the first time in 3 weeks!
Linking up with my fellow Randomeers:
I hadn't realised that Clyde had been designed by a child – I thought that, for once, an advertising agency (or whoever comes up with mascots) had got it spot on!
You did a great job along with your team(s). Well done you and you looked really fetching in your uniform. We had a ball at the opening and at the Sevens and it was great to be able to experience them with you. Only downside – we both lost our voices. Well done Glasgow.
Dad XX
PS Clyde's pure dead brilliant.
I see Canada came third, which is lovely. I am glad you had a good time!
Glasgow did an awesome job of hosting the games. Pretty exciting to be a part of it !
Aw, now that your dad mentioned it, I want to see a picture of you in your official volunteering uniform! 😀
It was brilliant, what a great thing to be part of.
Wonderful. Is that the Queen in that selfie?
Happy weekend.
But of course, who better to get to photobomb you!
oh my gosh, I'm such an anglophile. I squeeked a bit a the queen photobombing those girls. Too adorable. Great work Katy, I'm sure that was not an easy job leading the team!
love that queen selfie! that is pretty cool. I'd probably use it as my holiday card 🙂
What a great experience for you, though does sound rather exhausting!
I love the photo the Aussie hockey players took. I think it's so cute! Goes to prove the queen has a sense of humour. Something we'd forgotten.
I'm sure you are worn out after all that directing. I hope you had fun.
Hugs Kay
I loved Queenie's bombing but proper loled at Prince Harry's the next day. And then William got in on it too!
Well done!!
Go Scotland!! And so cool to be a part of these events. What amazing organization they have!!
hi Katy, We loved our time in Glasgow at the games. The Clydesiders were all great, all smiling and cheerful even through the massive crowds and the rain. Well done to all of you and well done Glasgow.
And, by the way, I love Clyde, having been lucky enough to be given one.