Volunteers urged to join ‘Team 2013’ for World Police and Fire Games

Team 2013 are pushing the starter button on a volunteer campaign to recruit over 3,500 volunteers who will help deliver what’s being billed as the friendliest Games ever.

The 2013 staff team were at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena last week as part of their “VolunTour” – a series of roadshow information points which are travelling across Northern Ireland to engage with the community at a grassroots level and highlight the many opportunities available at the Games.

Building on the legacy of London 2012 Games Makers, which saw over 1700 local people apply to volunteer at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Volunteer Now are seeking enthusiastic and motivated people, aged 16 and over, to get involved in a variety of roles both on and off the field of play.

Opportunities for volunteers to be a member of Team 2013 include roles within transport, registration, translation, sports venue branding, media, warehousing and many more exciting roles.

The World Police and Fire Games takes place on August 1-10 next year and is set to attract 10,000 competitors from over 70 countries as well as a further 15,000 visitors.

Cookstown will be the venue for the Games Road Race event, to be held on August 4. The volunteer recruitment process is now live with applications to be submitted by October 31.

Attending the roadshow at the Mid-Ulster Sports Arena, Vice-Chairman of Cookstown District Council, councillor John McNamee said: “Cookstown is an ideal venue for the WPFG 2013 Road Race, and it tops off a hat-trick of high profile sports occasions in the Cookstown District, with the visit of the Olympic Torch and Paralympic Flame in 2012.

“We look forward to welcoming the visitors to the area. While this is a tremendous opportunity for tourism, there will also be other economic benefits for the area from the influx of competitors, their friends and families and other visitors.”

Welcoming the start of the volunteer recruitment process, Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie, Chair of 2013 WPFG said: “We would encourage members of the public throughout Northern Ireland to take that initial step to experience the ‘Spirit of the Games’ and join Team 2013.

“Being a volunteer will offer people of all ages, skills and experience a fantastic and unique opportunity to be involved in a one off sporting spectacle as well as meet visitors from all over the world.”

To find out more about the 2013 World Police and Fire Games volunteer programme, including applying online, roles and VolunTour dates/venues go to www.2013wpfg.com/volunteers. For any queries, email [email protected] or telephone 028 9023 2020.