Judy Murray and Sean Batty get on their bikes to lead the 2023 UCI cycling worlds' volunteer recruitment drive

Published: 23rd of August, 2022

• Renowned coach and mother to tennis legends Andy and Jamie, team-up with the nation's favourite weather presenter, to encourage volunteers to play their part in the first-of-its-kind mega-event to be held in Glasgow and across Scotland next year

• Commonwealth, UCI World and Olympic track cycling medallist, Jack Carlin, urges Scottish public to get involved, fresh from his silver success in Birmingham 2022

• Glasgow Life announced as the delivery partner on the volunteer programme

• More than 4000 roles are now open to apply for at http://www.cyclingworldchamps.com/volunteer

Tennis coach, Judy Murray and STV weather presenter, Sean Batty, joined forces to encourage people across the country to sign-up and play a part in the first-of-its-kind mega event, the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

The cycling enthusiasts got on their bikes to Glasgow's Kelvin Way, as they were unveiled as Official Volunteer Champions for next year's unique event, to be held across the country, bringing 13 UCI World Championships into one mega 11-day event.

They were joined by track cyclist Jack Carlin, fresh from his silver and bronze medal-winning exploits in Birmingham, to call on the country's community of volunteers to support the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and experience the Power of the Bike.

Sean is an avid cyclist, who has experienced first-hand many of the breath-taking routes across the country that will feature within the competition programme, whilst Judy attributes rekindling her love of cycling after years on the tennis circuit to improving her mental and physical health during the COVID-19 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 another world-class sporting event comes to Scotland.

The 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds, is looking for more than 4000 volunteers to support the event, taking place in Glasgow and across Scotland in just under a year's time. With its extensive experience in this area over recent years, Glasgow Life is taking on the role of delivery partner for the volunteer programme. To get involved apply here.

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.

Judy Murray, volunteering activist, tennis coach, 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 am 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 am 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!"

STV weather presenter and cycling enthusiast 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 while delivering key policy ambitions and acting as a catalyst for transformational change. Athletes from all over the world will gather to compete for over 190 rainbow jerseys from 3-13 August 2023.

This new event is unmatched in size and scale, and with an anticipated global TV audience of 1 billion, will place the UCI Cycling World Championships in the top-10 most watched sporting events in the world, rivalling the Olympic and Commonwealth Games and placing Scotland on the world stage as a destination for elite cycling and cycle tourism.

This new combined event format will take place every four years, one year before the Olympics. 

Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life said: "Glasgow's has a hugely successful track record of hosting major events over recent years and crucial to that success are the volunteers. With the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships now less than a year away I'm delighted that we're supporting the recruitment and management of its volunteer programme across the country.

"Volunteers play a critical role in the delivery of events. But they're also the face of the host, giving the world-renowned warm Scottish welcome to competitors, officials and spectators alike, and leaving a lasting positive impression.

"We look forward to 'People Making Glasgow' once again and extending the enthusiastic and experienced volunteer network across other areas of the country to support this exciting and unique event."

Paul Bush OBE, Chair of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, said: "Glasgow and Scotland is the perfect stage for events thanks to help of our wonderful network of volunteers who support the country's portfolio of world-class events year in and year out. As we mark another milestone on the journey we are taking to 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, we are thrilled to be announcing our Volunteer programme, and we strongly encourage everyone to apply to be part of this truly amazing and game-changing event. 

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson, MSP said: "Volunteers are vital to the success of any major event, and the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will be no exception. Glasgow and Scotland are well known for a warm and friendly welcome, and I would encourage people across Scotland to get involved and volunteer next year. There are all sorts of opportunities available, whether you're a cycling fan or just love being involved in this exciting, brand-new mega-event."

More about 2023 UCI CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

From 3-13 August 2023, the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships will be hosted in Glasgow and across Scotland. It will be the single biggest cycling event in history, bringing together 13 existing UCI World Championships into one mega event.

This historic and innovative event will welcome 2,600 Elite cyclists, including para-cyclists, from more than 120 countries and crown over 190 UCI World Champions. It will be a must see, must attend, much watch event as all these cyclists vie for the iconic rainbow jersey.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is more than just an event. It will be a catalyst for behavioural change across Scotland by giving everyone the opportunity to experience the freedom riding a bike can bring to their lives. By working in collaboration with cycling and wider partners, it will amplify and unify existing work and activity across health, transport, tourism and participation.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will be delivered in collaboration between the UCI, Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, UK Sport, British Cycling, Glasgow Life and VisitScotland with its EventScotland team through 2023 Cycling World Championships Ltd, with the partnership creating a blueprint for future editions by ensuring the inaugural event is authentic, innovative, and distinctive. www.cyclingworldchamps.com