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