Skip to main content
Company News

Sights on the Commonwealth Games

Having volunteered at the Olympic Games in London, our optometrist, Gillian Bruce has now been selected as part of the team of eye experts for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer. She was part of a large gathering of medical experts who took part in training at the weekend and here shares what her role will be and her impressions of how the Games are shaping up.

glasgow+2014+logo

“The Commonwealth Games training was at Hampden Park which will host the athletics. The track is now laid so it looks a far cry from the football pitch that I remember (from lots of failed bids to watch Dundee United win the Scottish Cup!). The athletes’ village is really taking shape. Positioned in the East End of Glasgow just behind Celtic Park that will be used for the opening ceremony and across from the new Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, it is a very impressive site.

“The medical team is made up of not just the obvious professionals like doctors and physios, but also podiatrists, sports massage therapists, dental teams, emergency doctors, crowd doctors, chiropractors, orthoptists, ophthalmologists, radiologists and of course optometrists. The idea is that everyone staying at the athletes’ village, athletes, coaches, officials, media teams, lawyers – whoever makes up each country’s entourage – should have access to all the medical care they might require onsite. Only real emergencies would be whipped round to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

“I will be working as part of the optometry team in the polyclinic in the athletes’ village. So from 8am-10pm each day there will be optometry care on hand, from sorting out eye infections and removing foreign bodies to replacing lost or torn contact lenses or repairing specs, the team will certainly be kept busy. Thankfully I know what I’m getting myself in to having worked at the 2012 Olympics in London. I’m delighted to be part of the enormous team of volunteers on home turf. It’s very exciting being part of the buzz.”

http://www.glasgow2014.com/emergency-care

Close Menu