Commonwealth Games joy for city volunteer
A SWANSEA lifeguard who has dedicated more than four decades to spreading the message of water safety is preparing to volunteer at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Douglas Thomas, 61, of Penlan, has now stepped back from lifeguarding but still works to educate people on the prevention of drowning and covers the West Wales region, including Swansea, as part of his volunteering work.
He took up lifeguarding after losing his brother in a drowning tragedy and last year received a special accolade for his tireless work when he was awarded the Recognition of Service Medal from the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) for his efforts, which span more than 40 years.
The RLSS is the drowning prevention charity for the UK.
Now he is getting ready to attend the Commonwealth Games after applying at the start of June last year.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games run between July 28 and August 8, with the city’s Alexander Stadium being the main venue.
Approximately 72 countries and more than 5,000 athletes will take part.
Mr Thomas said: “Almost one year on now and it’s been a brilliant journey to have been on.
“The Commonwealth Games Committee were looking for approximately 13,000 volunteers for the games, covering all the sports venues and the athletes’ villages and so forth.
“The committee had received more than 40,000 volunteer applications to sift through.
“The application was a fairly long process and it took me a number of days to complete, but I was absolutely delighted then to hear back stating that I had been successful with my application and interview, and they wanted me on board.”
Mr Thomas said he had been appointed to work on the First Responder team.
He added: “I will be based in the main athletics village in central Birmingham. I am currently undergoing training online, and in person in Birmingham.
“My Commonwealth
Games uniform is due to be delivered to my home at the start of July in readiness for the games.
“I am so looking forward to receiving the tracksuits, and I think it will really start to feel real for me then.”