Angus residents are being offered a leg up to possible participation in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
As a games venue with shooting events set to take place at Barry Buddon, the area is already assured of a place in the global glare of next summer’s sporting spotlight.
Leading figures in a steering group set up to maximise the opportunities presented by the event have already described the games as the best possible chance to showcase what Angus has to offer.
Now, Angus Council’s leader has urged the county’s citizens to grasp the opportunity to be involved in the spectacle by playing a volunteering part in the style of London 2012’s much-lauded games-makers, whether on home turf or in the Glasgow hub of the action.
Thousands of potential volunteers have already applied to be part of the Scottish welcome and a series of special drop-in sessions have now been organised in Angus to help make the application process easier for interested locals.
Angus libraries will this month be offering the series of Glasgow 2014 volunteer application sessions, where staff will be on hand to assist in the process of lodging the online application.
“Glasgow 2014 is looking for 15,000 friendly people to become volunteers.
“This is a chance to play a key part in the biggest sporting and cultural event this country has ever seen,” said a spokesperson.
The online application form takes around 30 minutes to complete and applicants require information from identification documents to complete the form.
Angus Council leader Iain Gaul said the chance to be part of Glasgow 2014 was too good to miss.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance and a fantastic opportunity for people in Angus to be involved.
“We will have amazing sport right on our doorstep and I for one will be going to Barry Buddon as much as I can during the Games to watch people taking part in a shooting event at a completely different level,” said sporting enthusiast Mr Gaul.
“Whether people want to volunteer for a role in their own area, or in Glasgow, it’s a chance to get involved and there is probably a far greater prospect of getting a volunteering role than there was for London 2012.”
Mr Gaul added: “We are looking at this as a huge chance to put Angus on the map. Angus is now being talked about as a dynamic place, but this is not just about bringing the Commonwealth Games to Angus and showing people what we have here it is about taking Angus to the Commonwealth Games through the volunteers who are selected to play a role.
“We are urging Angus Council staff to be part of this fantastic event and I would extend that to all our residents. Being part of Glasgow 2014 will be something that will stay with them for the rest of their life.”
For more information on eligibility requirements for applicants, phone the Glasgow 2014 contact centre on 0303 333 2014, email contactus@glasgow2014.com or visit glasgow2014.com.