Armed with a megaphone, a giant foam finger and her familiar morning television energy, Lorraine Kelly became the most recognisable member of Glasgow 2026’s volunteer workforce for one morning.
The Scottish broadcaster joined the Legends at the Scottish Event Campus and took on several duties across the venue. She welcomed members of the Games workforce as they arrived for their shifts, greeted Team Scotland netball players before training and later joined the Spectator Services team.
Her contact with the netball squad was a brief welcome rather than an athlete support assignment. The most practical part of the visit came among spectators, where Kelly helped fans navigate the venue and added her voice to the busy arrival operation.
For Kelly, the shift offered a direct view of the people working beyond the competition area. More than 4,000 volunteers are serving across Glasgow during the Games. Their work shapes how quickly crowds move, how easily visitors find help and how the city presents itself under pressure.
Kelly Steps Into The Crowd With Glasgow’s Volunteers
Medals and records usually define the Commonwealth Games, but the event quickly stalls without the people working entrances, information points and spectator routes.
Kelly experienced that operation firsthand. She began by welcoming staff at the start of their shifts, then moved through the venue before joining the Spectator Services team.
That final role placed her in the middle of the public flow. The megaphone and foam finger brought some humour, but the job carried a clear purpose. Fans needed to reach the correct competition areas, understand the venue layout and move through busy spaces without creating unnecessary delays.
A spectator services volunteer may need to redirect someone standing at the wrong entrance, explain an accessible route or help prevent a queue from spreading into another walkway. Each exchange lasts only a few moments. Across thousands of visitors, those moments decide whether a venue feels organised or confused.
Kelly said during the visit that she had been determined to take part rather than simply attend as a guest.
“There was no way I was missing the chance to get stuck in and be part of this,” Lorraine Kelly said.
Her shift also gave the volunteer team a public platform. Kelly naturally drew attention, but the focus remained on the people beside her who had trained for months and committed their time to the Games.
Preparation Sits Behind Every Easy Welcome
The bright uniforms and friendly greetings can make volunteering look effortless. Producing that impression requires detailed preparation.
Glasgow’s Legends completed online learning and attended in-person sessions before starting their roles. They learned how to welcome spectators, communicate clearly and respond when a straightforward situation suddenly becomes complicated.
This preparation is crucial. As the public face of the Games, a volunteer’s split-second decision can shape a fan’s entire visit. Clear directions can rescue a family running late for an event. A calm answer can reassure a visitor who does not understand the venue. Quick action can stop a minor issue from becoming a serious delay.
Kelly saw volunteers who appeared ready for that responsibility. Their confidence came from practice rather than personality alone. The friendly welcome inside the venue rested on work completed long before the first spectators arrived.
Experience also runs through the workforce. Around three-quarters of the Legends come from Scotland. About one-third previously volunteered at Glasgow 2014, Birmingham 2022 or the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.
Those returning volunteers understand the pace of major events. They know that plans can change, crowds can build quickly and spectators often approach them when already frustrated. First-time volunteers bring fresh energy, while experienced members provide calm when pressure rises.
Glasgow’s Public Reputation Rests On The Legends
The Legends name fits the city’s view of volunteers as people who step forward, solve problems and rarely ask for attention.
Their pink uniforms make them easy to identify across venues. For many visitors, a Legend will become their first conversation in Glasgow and possibly their final goodbye before leaving the Games.
Athletes will shape the official record through victories, defeats and medal performances. Fans will also remember the human moments around the competition.
Did they feel welcome? Did help arrive quickly? Did Glasgow hold its nerve when thousands of spectators moved through the same spaces?
Volunteers will influence every answer.
Kelly’s visit brought a familiar face into that operation, but its value came from showing the scale of the work around her. She did not become a trained volunteer during one morning, nor did her appearance replace the preparation completed by the Legends.
Instead, the shift placed attention where it belonged. Glasgow 2026’s volunteers are not background figures standing outside the sporting event. They are the workforce that allows the athletes, crowds and venues to function as one coordinated Games.
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FAQs
Q1. Why did Lorraine Kelly join the Glasgow 2026 volunteers?
She wanted to experience the work behind the Games and highlight the people helping athletes, staff and spectators.
Q2. What did Lorraine Kelly do during her Glasgow 2026 shift?
She welcomed workers, greeted Team Scotland netball players and helped Spectator Services guide visitors around the SEC.
Q3. How many volunteers are working at Glasgow 2026?
More than 4,000 volunteers are serving across Glasgow during the Commonwealth Games.
Q4. Why are the Glasgow 2026 volunteers called Legends?
In Glasgow, a legend is someone who helps others and makes a difference without demanding attention.
Q5. How did Glasgow 2026 prepare its volunteers?
The Legends completed online learning and attended in person training sessions before starting their roles.
