The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is a world-class indoor track cycling facility located inside The Glasgow International Arena (formerly the Emirates Arena) in the East End of Glasgow. Named after Scotland’s six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy, the venue opened in 2012.

• The Track: A high-performance, 250-metre indoor track built from specialized Serbian pine wood. It was meticulously designed by renowned track architect Ralph Schuermann.
• Capacity: Features 2,500 permanent seats, which can be expanded to 4,500 with temporary seating during major international events.

ROle

My role in the Sports Info Team is working with the Commissaires and teams delivering information, start lists and results to all corners of the velodrome.

• Place all info on the notice board
• Prepare info for all commissaires and anti-doping to collect
• Take start lists and results to the outside broadcast truck, judge arbiter, sports presentation, media, sports presentation, floor manager, chief commissaires and protocol.
• Distribute and collect towel to teams
• Collect and sign back in bike transponders

Averaging 15000 steps per shift and that included the use of lifts i think I got access to most areas! I visited every corner of the velodrome

A cultural Day Off

Volunteers were entitled to a free Scot Rail Pass to help get around the city giving us time to explore and experience the culture of Glasgow. No no signs of Rab C Nesbitt or deep fried mars bars :).

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum houses one of Europe’s great art collections. It is the most popular free-to-enter visitor attraction in Scotland and the most visited museum in the United Kingdom outside London.

The purpose-built museum opened in 1901. The scope of the museum is wide ranging and, when Kelvingrove re-opened in July 2006 after a three-year restoration and redisplay project, it was organised into two halves: Life and Expression. The Life galleries represent natural history, human history and prehistory. The Expression galleries include the fine art collections. A significant part of the paintings collection comes from the bequest of Archibald McLellan.

The important collection of French 19th century paintings includes works by Monet, Gauguin and Renoir. Further highlights are Rembrandt’s ‘Man in Armour’, ‘Christ and the Adulteress’ by Titian and Salvador Dali’s ‘Christ of St John of the Cross’. Scottish art includes paintings by the Scottish Colourists and the Glasgow Boys.

A quick visit to Kelvin Grove Live Site to see the Commonwealth batons from the baton relay.

A Smaller Games

Compared to Birmingham, is has been slightly disappointing to see low spectator numbers at many of the events especially at the morning sessions.

Because of this, as a thank you for being a volunteer spare tickets were made available for us to go and watch events when not on shift. This is very rare as usually ticket availability is extremely low at these events. I was fortunate enough to get to see the netball – Wales v New Zealand at The Hydro with a very similar result to the rugby and the women’s heptathlon and men’s mile heats featuring world record holder Josh Kerr at the athletics.

Back to The velodrome

Being a volunteer in ‘sport’ roles is a very privileged opportunity, being so close to the action and getting a real feel for the pressures and demands that are placed on athletes along with the highs and rewards for their dedication. It was also very inspiring seeing Sir Chris Hoy working so hard with the broadcast team and supporting everyone from the volunteers to the athletes and spectators. What an amazing person his is, a true Legend.

Seeing the cycling teams support each other was also heart warming. British Cyclists don’t often get to compete for their home nations as the top cyclists are usually competing for GB on the track or their trade teams on the road. An example of this is Ben Swift a British track and road cyclist who rides with Net Company Ineos competing for The Isle of Man wjho had a team of three. Lewis Askey a Scottish Cyclist had just returned from the three week gruelling Tour De France race, found himself sprinting around the track roared on by the home crowd. It was wonderful to see teams from India, Malaysia, Bermuda and Ghana being adopted but the Scottish crowd too. Team Wales (not that I am biased) had a fantastic games with Emma Finucane winning 4 Gold Medals. Emma was supported by her team mates at the medal ceremonies with the mens tandem riders singing the Welsh National anthem with so much ‘hwyl’ (they gave rugby boys Alyn Wyn Jones and Ken Owens stiff competition).

It’s a Small World

I often meet up with other volunteers I’ve worked with at other events in the same roles. To my surprise I was having a lovely chat with a lady when we discovered that we literally live under 5 miles away form each other and she also knows my neighbours!

All good Things Must COme To an ENd

The Closing Ceremony

Glasgow 2026 was brought to a close with a wonderful closing ceremony inside The Hydro. The arena was buzzing, the sound of bagpipes, the Scotland team all with traffic cone hats on their heads. Entertainment from Delta Goodrem, Sandi Thom, Cammy Barnes, BEMZ, Elephant Sessions, SHereen Cutkelvin, Diversity and Simple Minds brought an electric atmosphere. The handover – some inspiration speeches and a colourful hand over to India who will host the 2030 games in Ahmedabad India.

Thank you Team Sport Info