Pictured: Sue Ogle, Director, Operations and Development,
Voluntary Action Coventry, Cllr Mal Mutton, Chair of Coventry City
Council's Cabinet Advisory Group for the Olympics, Ian Dunn, Pro
Vice Chancellor, Coventry University and Cllr. John Mutton, Leader
of Coventry City Council
Three hundred volunteers are needed to act as 'Coventry
Ambassadors' during the London 2012 Games and be responsible for
welcoming the world to Coventry when thousands of visitors arrive
in July and August 2012.
Coventry Ambassadors will be the first port of call for anyone
needing assistance and information about the London2012 Olympic
Football competition or other London 2012 related events occurring
across the city.
Coventry Ambassadors will play a crucial role in ensuring that
everyone who comes to Coventry during the London 2012 Games has a
spectacular experience, providing assistance to visitors at key
locations across the city and up to, but not inside, the City of
Coventry Stadium.
Coventry is only one of six UK-wide venues to host the London
2012 Olympic Football tournament and this will provide a once in a
lifetime opportunity for people over 18 years old who live; work;
study or volunteer in Coventry, to join in and be part of the
biggest sporting event in the world.
People can apply from Tuesday 4 October. Details about the
Coventry Ambassador roles, criteria and how to apply are available
on www.coventry.gov.uk/coventryambassadors
The task of leading the recruitment, training, development and
management for the Coventry Ambassadors scheme has been awarded to
Coventry University and they are now looking for over 300 people to
play their part.
Funded by Coventry City Council, the Coventry Ambassadors scheme
will work in addition to the existing sport volunteer project in
close partnership with the Council, Voluntary Action Coventry and
CSW Sport.
Councillor Mal Mutton, Chair of Coventry City Council's Cabinet
Advisory Group for the Olympics, said:
"We have every confidence that the Coventry Ambassadors scheme
will prove to be a resounding success and yet again enhance
Coventry's reputation as a welcoming and friendly city. The
Olympics present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the city to
be a showcase to visitors from all over the world and we are
determined that they leave Coventry with a positive, lasting memory
of their visit."
David Boughey, Coventry University's Sports and Physical
Activity Volunteering Coordinator, will be the lead coordinator for
Coventry Ambassadors.
He said:
"The development of high quality volunteers will be crucial in
supporting future national and international events in the city. It
will show how the scheme will demonstrate a developed volunteer
infrastructure which will bode well in attracting other major
events to Coventry."
The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG)
along with the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) highlighted that
there would be a requirement for additional 'city' volunteers other
than the 70,000 'Games Makers' in London and other co-host cities
across the UK, to provide a high quality visitor welcome for the
unprecedented visitor demands on London and across the UK during
the Games period.
Councillor Mal Mutton added:
"This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who would like to be
part of a truly global event. The Coventry Ambassador scheme has a
clear remit, which is to provide a front-line visitor welcome
during the Games at key transport hubs, public spaces, visitor
hotspots, live sites and around our Olympic venue.
"It is a vital role and one that I know David Boughey and his
team will rise to the challenge of managing. It's a welcome boost
and a show of confidence in the University."
It is intended that the Coventry Ambassadors scheme will act as
a volunteering legacy for Coventry through the creation of a team
of enthusiastic, well trained and knowledgeable volunteers who are
available to attend and support future events across the city.
For more information call Voluntary Action Coventry on 024 7622
0381 or email volunteering@vacoventry.org.uk
For more information about Coventry University, please visit
their website here: www.coventry.ac.uk