Barfoot & Thompson Triathlon World Champs Needs You!

14th September 2012

Barfoot & Thompson Triathlon World Champs Needs You!

Volunteers are signing up for the upcoming Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Triathlon Grand Final, but organisers need more and are putting the call out to anyone keen on being a part of a significant international event that will showcase Auckland City to the world.

Numbers in the Westpac Volunteer Crew have just ticked past the 700 mark and with just on a month to go before the week-long festival of triathlon gets underway, organisers are hopeful of reaching their target of 1000 signed up volunteers.

“An event of this size relies hugely on the support of a great team of volunteers,” said Barfoot & Thompson World Triathlon Grand Final CEO Dave Beeche.

“The planning around this is so detailed to ensure that each volunteer is placed and trained appropriately and we have identified the need to have 1000 people throughout the various events during the week to ensure the smooth and safe running of the biggest event to come to Auckland City since the Rugby World Cup.”

Westpac Volunteer Crew will all be provided with uniforms and training to allow them to complete their duties as required, but also be ambassadors for the event and the City, at a time when the world will be watching.

Anna Hiatt is the Volunteer Director for the event, and brings extensive experience in this area from the likes of the IPC Athletics World Championships and the Winter Games. Hiatt says the roles are many and varied, with something for everyone.

“We have close to 40 different ‘job descriptions’ that need filling by volunteers, everything from drivers to translators, course marshals to media assistants, signage to VIP services. There truly is something for everyone and it is my experience that playing a part in an event of this magnitude multiplies the enjoyment you get from it.

“This is about doing something to help promote your city to the rest of New Zealand and to the world, and in doing so be on the ‘inside’ and get a better understanding of how it all comes together. For some it is a community service, for others it is a passion for the sport of triathlon, while yet more will see it as a great learning experience in an area related to their training or employment.”

With many of the 700 signed up volunteers already committed to the event, Hiatt is targeting two days in particular for more assistance.

“For some reason it seems the 17th (Wednesday) and 22nd (Labour Monday) are lagging behind a little so any help on those two days in particular would be fantastic, but that is not to say we are turning people away on other days, the more the merrier and will make for a truly successful event.”

Volunteers can sign up for the Westpac Volunteer Crew online at www.triauckland.co.nz

ENDS

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