A volunteer recruitment drive has been launched for an inaugural cycling “mega-event” which will come to Stirling next year.
Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, is bringing it’s prestigious UCI Cycling World Championships to Scotland in 2023 – including the time trial event which will be contested in Stirling.
This week the recruitment drive was launched by Dunblane tennis coach Judy Murray, STV weatherman Sean Batty and Commonwealth, UCI World and Olympic track cycling medallist, Jack Carlin in Glasgow.
Applications are now being accepted for the more than 4,000 volunteer roles.
TV’s Sean, an avid cyclist, has experienced first-hand many of the breath-taking routes across the country that will feature within the competition programme, whilst Judy, mum of Wimbledon champs Andy and Jamie, attributes rekindling her love of cycling after years on the tennis circuit to improving her mental and physical health during the Covid pandemic.
Sean and Judy, who were joined at the event by the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Director of Strategy and Policy Impacts, Craig Burn, and Bailie Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life, are calling on volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to come forward, share the experience of the event and play their part in creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere, when the bumper event comes to Scotland.
As a support system throughout all areas of the event delivery, volunteers make a critical contribution, helping to create similarly treasured experiences of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the multi-sport 2018 European Championships, UEFA EURO 2020 and world-renowned cultural events such as the Edinburgh Festivals.
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Judy Murray, volunteering activist and advocate for women in sport, said: “I know how important the volunteering community is across sport – tennis throughout Scotland is underpinned by a dedicated network of coaching volunteers.
“I’m passionate about people of all ages getting involved and have seen for myself how vibrant that volunteer community is in this country. Just like the Commonwealth Games and UEFA EURO 2020, people will come from all over the country and beyond, help support a unique event, reunite with old friends and make new friends for life.
“I’m so glad that I took up cycling again during the pandemic. As someone who had spent a lifetime with the boys travelling the world on the tennis tour, or doing my own work with my foundation and other projects, I suddenly found I had no outlet during the pandemic until I got back on the bike. It helped my physical health, improved my mental health and allowed me to savour Scotland’s natural beauty again, which you took for granted beforehand.
“I can’t overstate how much it helped me and I encourage anyone, but especially girls and women, mothers and grandmothers, to get involved. I look forward to seeing you there.”
Sean Batty added: “I love cycling, I love the sense of freedom and adventure and the ability to explore our beautiful country up close.
“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.”
Jack Carlin, who won silver and bronze at the recent Birmingham Commonwealth Games, added: “I was fortunate enough to see first-hand just how important volunteers are to making global events a success at Birmingham 2022 recently. These events are made so much more special by the support of volunteers and I’d encourage everyone to apply and help power the bike and make the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships an event to remember.”
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will bring together 13 existing UCI World Championships together for the first time to create a “mega-event”. Athletes from all over the world will gather to compete for over 190 rainbow jerseys from August 3-13, 2023.
To volunteer at the UCI Cycling World Championships in 2023, go to https://www.cyclingworldchamps.com/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/
