JUDY MURRAY hopes that next year’s UCI World Cycling Championships, to be held primarily in Glasgow, can be a transformative moment for Scots and encourage a new generation to get on their bike and keep fit.
The tennis coach has been a long-time advocate when it comes to supporting sport and exercise at a grassroots level and hopes that next year’s cycling competition, the inaugural edition of the tournament that features 11 events, can provide a similar legacy to that of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Organisers are on the lookout for as many as 4000 volunteers to take part in the championships next summer, where thousands of athletes from over 100 countries are expected to be involved.
Murray hailed the impact that volunteers already have on sport at a grassroots level in Scotland, and insisted that those who give up their free time to help facilitate large-scale events are also their very lifeblood.
“This is a massive shop window – there are 8000 cyclists taking part,” Murray pointed out. “This event is bigger than the Commonwealth Games, there are 120 countries represented. I think it will be fabulous.
“Chris Hoy did wonders for raising the profile of cycling and the thing that we are launching today is all about volunteers.
“We all know that Scottish sport, at a grassroots level, has relied forever on a volunteer workforce. So having a great big global showcase event like this for something like cycling is such a great story and such a great opportunity for people to get involved – in whatever way thy want to so they can be a part of something like this.
“You create a massive network of volunteers. There are volunteers in every sports club in the country, whether they are cyclists or not, who will get a huge buzz out of being a part of something like this. You create friendship networks as well.
“Scottish sport relies on volunteers and I think the volunteer workforce is what will make this event fly. Of the huge global events I’ve been to over the years – several Olympics, Davis Cups, World Student Games – the volunteer workforce is critical. They are worth their weight in gold.”
There are obvious physical health benefits for those who decide to get in the saddle and cycle on a regular basis, as well as advantages to mental wellbeing and the environment. The real legacy of competitions like the UCI World Cycling Championships, she adds, is in creating a more active public – especially for those who struggle to motivate themselves to keep fit.
She said: “I have done quite a lot of work with Nuffield Health to promote the benefits of exercise to more people and some people see it as a step too far – ‘I’m not going to be able to do it, I’m out of shape, I’m too old’.
“My point is always to start with something you can do and you start small, because if the goal appears to be too big or too far away it is too easy to go ‘I can’t do that’. You can go for 30 seconds and then stop if you need to, then go again. The whole stop-start thing is good.
“It doesn’t have to be that it’s painful or sweaty, or about muscles or buying expensive equipment. It is about finding something that you can do that you think you will enjoy doing – and if you can, finding someone to do it with. I think that’s a big part of getting off your backside and getting involved.”
“The big thing for me is giving every child the opportunity to learn how to ride a bike in school,” Murray added. “Every child should learn how to swim – it’s a life skill – and so is riding a bike.
“When I was young I went everywhere on my bike. Especially now with fuel prices going through the roof and everything around being more environmentally aware, I think something like this is going to bring [cycling] even more into its own.”
Sean Batty, the STV weatherman and an ambassador for next year’s championships, believes that by hosting the tournament, Glasgow is adding to an already blossoming reputation as a city that can put on some of the world’s greatest spectacles.
“Having an event like this, this is just another sporting event that’s coming to Scotland and it’s going to be a great thing for the country and the city,” he said. “The legacy of that will hopefully be getting more people on their bike and cycling.
“Glasgow, and Scotland, has become such an epicentre for so many things. Not just sporting events – we had the climate conference, we’re potentially going to get Eurovision. We have become this big magnet for all these big events.
“I would encourage everyone to apply today for what will be a truly memorable event. While I can’t guarantee perfect cycling weather conditions, I can assure everyone that Scotland will be ready to put on a show that the whole country will be proud of.”
Judy Murray and Sean Batty were speaking on behalf of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships as they launch the call for volunteers to support the championships. For more information visit www.cyclingworldchamps.com/volunteer.
