- Thousands of Volunteers From Around the World Sign Up For the
2010 Games
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' Web site 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.
For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian
Games visit www.feigames2010.org.