With over 1.75 million people having pledged their support Glasgow 2014 is already a hot topic of conversation, but with lots more potential support out there, Lesley Shaw, the 2014 outreach assistant, has been charged with taking the bid message right across Scotland. Travelling the length and breadth of the country in her colourful bid car, fondly known as the Bid Mobile, the outreach programme will encourage even more people to Back Scotland’s Bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The people of Stranraer answered a rally cry from Glasgow 2014 in March when they launched the outreach programme in a flurry of colour and flag waving. Local children from Lochan's Primary School and the Convenor of Dumfries and Galloway Council, Tommy Sloan, were the first people to sign a message of good luck on a huge Glasgow 2014 banner. It will travel all over Scotland before returning to Glasgow to form the backdrop for a Decision Day event on the 9th November.
With plenty more signatures in her trusty post-box Lesley continued her crusade by donning her swimming costume for the opening of Scotland’s oldest remaining outdoor pool in Gourock. Joined by June Brogan and Claire Knight, who play Charlie and Iona in the popular BBC TV soap River City and Commonwealth bronze medal winning swimmer, Craig Houston, they officially opened the swimming pool for summer. After a quick dip Lesley answered questions on the bid from the people of Inverclyde who were more than happy to add their support for Scotland’s bid.
Having caught her breath and packed up her treasure Lesley headed for the Peffermill Playing Fields, in Edinburgh where a spot of hockey was the order of the day. The top six men’s and women's hockey teams in Britain were competing in the opening weekend of the Super League. Our east-coast friends were only too happy to welcome Glasgow 2014, displaying banners around the playing fields and allowing us to park the car right outside the main entrance for all 500 spectators to see. A little hoarse after talking all day Lesley was delighted to see everyone proudly displaying their Glasgow 2014 pin badges. Thankfully the men’s team helped carry the postcard laden sacks back to the Bid Mobile.
Celebrity spotting at Glasgow 2014 isn’t difficult given the number of well-known personalities who’ve been eager to offer their support for the bid. Looking after them is an altogether different story, but it is all in a day’s work for our outreach champion. And when they are as down to earth as Scottish footballing hero, Kenny Dalgleish, it is a pleasure. Kenny launched Glasgow’s East End 5k fun run, which will take place on the 24th June in Tollcross Park, encouraging young people to participate in sport and aim for the biggest prize of all – competing on home soil in front of a home crowd during Glasgow 2014.
With just a little over 1 month under her belt and plenty of miles on the clock Lesley has restocked the Bid Mobile, filled her full of petrol and Glasgow 2014 merchandise and is ready to hit the road again. Over the coming weeks and months the outreach programme will wind its way from Stranraer to John O’Groats, taking in highland games, festivals, fun runs, music extravaganzas and military tattoos along the way.
Glasgow 2014 is Scotland’s chance to shine, your chance to shine. If you haven’t done so already, when you see the Bid Mobile at an event in your town please play your part. Add your support for staging a Glasgow Games by signing up at