Thousands of Volunteers Sign Up for 2010 Games
Thursday, February 14, 2008
LEXINGTON, KY—In the first ten days since the launch of a new web-based volunteer registry system, nearly 4,000 new volunteers have already signed up online for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The World Games 2010 Foundation estimates that at least 6,000 volunteers will be needed to work before and during the Games, to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park from September 25-October 10, 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky.
“The response we have received is heartwarming and overwhelming,” said Cathy Rutter, Director of Community and Volunteer Relations for the Foundation. “We have received hundreds of emails from people all over the world, who want to volunteer their time, efforts, and resources to help make the 2010 Games a success. With this early response, I am confident that these volunteers will have a huge impact on the Games.”
Volunteers from 49 states and 46 countries have signed up so far. More than 1,300 registered volunteers live in Kentucky, and nearly 700 people from states surrounding Kentucky have signed up. International volunteers from Russia, France, Chile, South Africa, and Thailand are just a few among the nearly 400 people from around the world who have already registered.
“This is the highest response of international volunteers that we have experienced on TRS, The Registration System™ ,” said Florence May, President of Simply Hospitality, who coordinates online event management. “This global outpouring of enthusiastic interest mirrors the world-class level of these championships.”
The World Games 2010 Foundation still needs several thousand volunteers, and the online registry is still open. To volunteer for the 2010 Games, please visit www.feigames2010.org and click “Get Involved.” Those among the 17,000 people who had previously registered on the Games’ website should update their profile to reflect any volunteer interests, now that a new volunteer system is in place.
All volunteers will be required to go through an orientation and training program before they can begin to serve with the Foundation. Volunteers will receive a variety of benefits for their efforts, including official 2010 Games apparel and volunteer credentials.
Volunteers will be able to specify the areas and dates in which they would like to serve at a later time. Volunteer opportunities include a range of tasks, from office assistants to competition duties. Those seeking volunteer opportunities within each discipline must list their related experience when filling out the online profile, in order to be considered.
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park September 25-October 10, 2010, are the world championships of the eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), and are held every four years. The Games have never before been held outside of Europe; nor have all eight disciplines ever previously been held together at a single site— both firsts that will be achieved at the Kentucky Horse Park. The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million. It is anticipated that more than 600,000 spectators will attend the 16-day competition.
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