Hot on the heels of the Rugby World Cup, Auckland City will host yet another international event on the newly developed waterfront when the Barfoot & Thompson ITU Triathlon World Cup comes to town on November 20 and the organisers are on the search for a volunteer workforce to help run a successful event.
Organisers are currently recruiting up to 600 volunteers for a variety of roles from marshals to aid stations, transition area, branding assistants to drivers.
Tri Auckland CEO Dave Beeche says as with any big event of this nature, volunteers are the life and soul of its delivery to the world.
"We have seen through the Rugby World Cup just how big a role the volunteers play in ensuring a safe and enjoyable event, both for spectators and participants. Our event is no exception. We will be hosting international athletes and officials, many of whom are not familiar with our city, customs and in some cases our language.
"We also have a demand for volunteers in the delivery of the racing itself with significant road closures and a need to keep the public informed and safely in the right areas so they can enjoy the racing and the triathletes can safely negotiate the course.
"Volunteers can be promised a fantastic experience, they need not have any prior knowledge of the sport, just a keenness to play a part as the focus of the Triathlon world falls upon Auckland. We will make sure they are all properly briefed and trained and kitted out in the official gear for what should be a fantastic day of international sport in the heart of the Auckland CBD, based on Queens Wharf."
Volunteers need not be of any specific age but need to be keen on the outdoors and have a passion for sport and people. All volunteers effectively become 'ambassadors' for the event, the city and the country when they don the uniform, it can be a wonderful way to be a part of such an event and to gain access to areas the general public cannot go.
Volunteer Director Chris Owen says the response so far has been great, but he needs more.
"We have so far recruited just over 200 people and begun the process of allocating specific roles or putting people into key areas on the day. But we need plenty more and welcome all enquiries via the website. Some are registering because they love triathlon and want to be a part of the event; others are simply doing their thing for Auckland and for the country at an international event on Auckland's waterfront, one that will see media coverage around the world."
Those interested in volunteering can do so at the event website, www.triauckland.co.nz and clicking on work/volunteer for the registration form.
