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
Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Triathlon Grand Final
October 2012
Auckland City
Facts and figures
Event Partners: Tri NZ, ATEED, Major Events, Tourism NZ, Sport NZ, Pub Charity
Event Hub: Queens Wharf,
Dates: 14 to 22 October 2012
Estimated TV audience: 25,000,000 global audience for ITU Grand Final
Participants: 7,000 plus (including Internationals)
Volunteers: 1,000
Elite: 360 from around the world including top 20
Spectators: 100,000 plus
Courses: A variety of CBD, Queen St, Waterfront
(see www.triauckland.co.nz)
Economic Impact: Estimated net $7 million for Auckland (using ATEED’s “Return on Regional Investment” methodology)
Event Schedule
Sun 14th Oct 9.00am Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon St Heliers
Mon 15th Oct 9:00am Onsite Café & Bar in the Cloud opens The Cloud
Tues 16th Oct 10am-4.00pm Sport & Lifestyle Expo (open daily) Queens Wharf
Wed 17th Oct 10am-4.00pm Sport & Lifestyle Expo (open daily) Queens Wharf
2.00pm Aquathlon World Champs Queens Wharf
Thu 18th Oct 10am-4.00pm Sport & Lifestyle Expo (open daily) Queens Wharf
5.00pm Opening Ceremony & Parade of NationQueens Wharf
9am–5.00pm Age Group, Team and 3:5:3 registrationShed 10
Fri 19th Oct 10am-4.00pm Sport & Lifestyle Expo (open daily) Queens Wharf
9am–5.00pm Age Group, Team and 3:5:3 registrationShed 10
Sat 20th Oct 10am-4.00pm Sport & Lifestyle Expo (open daily) Queens Wharf
7.00am 3:5:3 Solo Triathlon Queens Wharf and CBD
9.15am U23 Women Queens Wharf and CBD
12.16pm Elite Women Queens Wharf and CBD
3.15pm U23 Men Queens Wharf and CBD
Sun 21st Oct 7.00am 3:5:3 Teams Tri Queens Wharf and CBD
11.00am Junior Women (U19) Queens Wharf and CBD
1.06pm Elite Men Queens Wharf and CBD
4.00pm Junior Men (U19) Queens Wharf and CBD
Mon 22nd Oct 6.55am Age Group Sprint WC Queens Wharf/Tamaki Dr
8.30am Age Group Standard WC Queens Wharf/Tamaki Dr
3.15pm Paratriathlon WC Queens Wharf/waterfront
6.30pm Awards Presentation The Cloud
8.30pm Event Party The Cloud
Tues 23rd Oct 10.00am ITU Congress Viaduct Events Centre