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Summer Games
This summer is a very special one in Airdrie, as the city gears up to host the Alberta Summer Games.
On your mark
The Games, which run July 24-27, will bring to Airdrie more than 3,000 high-class athletes aged 11-17 competing in a wide variety of sports: athletics (running, jumping, and throwing), baseball, basketball, canoe/ kayak, cycling – BMX, cycling – mountain bike, football, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, swimming, softball, team handball, triathlon and beach volleyball. Along with the athletes, another 12,000 people are also expected – coaches, parents, friends, spectators. But the event is much more than simply sports. It is also a chance to showcase what the community has to offer – and that includes Airdrie’s spirit of volunteerism. Pulling off an event of this size and calibre takes many, many people and many, many hours. The actual organizing of the Games has been the job of four staff members – Games manager Russell Street, co-ordinators Rob Jamieson and Dan Vano, and office manager Meaghan Kernaghan; a 15-member board chaired by Al Jones; and 80 chairpeople for various committees. These people have already put in their fair share of volunteer time, and they have a lot more to go. However, in order for the Games to run smoothly, more volunteers will be needed. “All told we need about 1,600-1,700 volunteers to do everything including food service; school supervisors for athlete accommodation; admissions; culture; Games ambassadors; reception hosts; parking attendants; registration security; photographers; and help for the various sports we are putting on,” says promotions director Dan Oneil. Even with a strong support from the community to date, organizers are hoping that there will nonetheless be enough volunteers to pull off the event with no (or at least not too many) glitches. “While we are thrilled with the response we have seen from Airdrie residents and others in volunteering, our biggest challenge will be to ensure we get the additional volunteers we need,” Jones says,“and ensure we are using them where we have the best match of our needs and their abilities.” Anyone interested in volunteering, for the whole event of even a few hours, is asked to contact Games organizers through the website at 2014airdriegames.ca (where sponsorship packages may also be found). Volunteers are always welcome at any time leading up to the Games. “We have done some great recruiting so far and we will continue to right up to the Games,” says Michelle Carre, member of the organizing committee. life
summer 2014 | airdrielife.com
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