Exhibition to celebrate sport and rec volunteers

5 December 2007

Media release and photo opportunity

International Volunteer Day 2007

An exhibition to celebrate sport and recreation volunteers

A photo exhibition, capturing sport and recreation volunteers in action, will be held at Civic Square in Wellington as part of SPARC’s celebrations for International Volunteer Day.

The photos, which have been taken by renowned sports photographer Peter Bush, help to raise awareness of the various jobs that over 500,000 sport and recreation volunteers do throughout New Zealand every week.

“Volunteering in sport and recreation is very diverse – from cutting up the oranges and washing the uniforms, to refereeing in the rain and running the club’s finances. Without volunteers – sport wouldn’t happen,” says SPARC Project Manager Volunteers and Officials, Gillian Peacock.

“Volunteers are vitally important to New Zealand’s sporting culture. Because of volunteers, more people get active and play more sports, they build better skills and more Kiwis are able to achieve great sporting success,” says Peacock.

There will also be oranges up for grabs on the streets of Wellington and at Regional Sports Trusts throughout the country. The oranges have stickers on them thanking volunteers for the contribution they make to sport and recreation in New Zealand.

“SPARC wants all sport and recreation volunteers to have positive experiences. Recognising the contribution that volunteers make to sport and recreation in New Zealand on International Volunteer Day, is one small way that we can say thanks,” says Peacock.

International Volunteer Day is recognised by the United Nations as a day where volunteers around the world are acknowledged and celebrated for their contributions and dedication.

Photo opportunities in Wellington.

- The exhibition in Civic Square includes large photographs pegged to a washing line with various items of sports clothing pegged in between each image. The exhibition will be on Wednesday 5th from 9:30am-4:30pm.

- Throughout the day, there will be oranges handed out at various locations around Wellington. The oranges have stickers on them letting people know about the great job volunteers do and encouraging people to go to Civic Square.

ENDS

© Scoop Media