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The Games needs approximately 4,000 volunteers to help out in various areas. Register online at www.2010bcsummergames.org, or call: 604-881-2010
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Peter Brett, Kate Rader and Lizette Etsebeth volunteered to portray young winning athletes and hammed it up a bit during the 2010 BC Summer Games medals presentation rehearsals at the Langley Events Centre on Thursday. Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance
BC Summer Games
Rehearsing for the big day
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by Heather Colpitts
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Some will wipe away a tear. Some will pose for the cameras while chomping down on their sports medals. However the young athletes at the 2010 BC Summer Games (July 22-25) chose to celebrate earning a medal, it wouldn’t be possible without the army of volunteers that has worked for months to make sure those moments will be picture perfect. Someone after all, has to ensure there is a podium for the winners to stand on, flags as a backdrop, and the correct music to play when medals are presented. Volunteers posing as winning athletes, other volunteers – who will help ensure the medals are distributed with appropriate dignity – and Games officials gathered at the Langley Events Centre on Thursday evening to hold medal presentation rehearsals. The gathering allowed everyone involved to see how the awards ceremonies are supposed to play out and to ask questions. That included the volunteer photographers who will be at every sporting and Games event to capture the action and excitement. The run-through is part of the behind-thescenes preparations for the Games, which are being held here in Langley later this month.
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Each aspect of the games relies on volunteers, right up to the board of directors. But more people are needed if Langley is going to pull off a successful Games. “If we could get another 1,000 volunteers, we’d be cooking with gas,” said Michael Jackstien, Township of Langley BC Summer Games’ president. Organizers hit the 2,000 volunteer mark at the end of last week. “We’re still short,” Jackstien said. “But I’m told this is normal... I’m told it’s typical at these Games that a great rush of volunteers come at the end, in the last week or two.” He has his fingers and toes crossed that more people will step up to the plate. “The Games will come off. I’m not overly concerned that we’re going to have enough volunteers, but more bodies sure would be appreciated.” The more people who volunteer, the lighter the load for everyone. People can help out as much as they are available. Volunteers are not required to commit for all four days of the Games, but are asked to contribute a minimum four-hour stint. Shifts typically run four to six hours. Most often the volunteers are put into areas where they already have some skills, such as first aid or food prep, but people
can express their volunteer preferences when they sign up on the Games website (www.2010summerbcgames.org). The BC Games Society and the local directors and chair people have information and training materials that set out expectations for various tasks – lessons gleaned from previous BC Games. Some volunteer areas of most need include people willing to be at the dorms (schools) where the athletes and coaches sleep. There are also people “We’re needed for transportation, which would still include general driving short. tasks, and security at But I’m various venues, providing information and postold sibly helping with traffic this is control. normal.” Registered volunteers can head to the Langley Michael Jackstien Events Centre July 16 (noon to 8 p.m.), or July 17 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), to pick up their accreditation (identification) and assignment information. There have been a few hiccups, as is to be expected in an event of this magnitude, Jackstien said. “Financially, we’re okay. The Friends of the Games has been successful in raising cash and in-kind contributions. I do believe that everything, besides not having the volunteers we hoped for, are going along okay. I think the volunteers is really the issue.”
Summer Games keepsakes are up for grabs now, see story, page A21