Team London, the Mayor's volutneering programme, has begun to interview more than 10,000 prospective volunteers for next summer’s IAAF World Championships and World ParaAthletics Championships. The interviews will take three months and are taking place at The Crystal in East London.
The IAAF World Championships and the World ParaAthletics Championships will bring together 3,300 world-class athletes from more than 200 countries, who will compete across 20 days. This is the first time that the World ParaAthletics Championships and the IAAF World Championships will be hosted by the same city in the same summer.
Around 4,000 volunteers will be chosen to be ‘Runners’ for both championships. Much like at London 2012, the volunteers will be the beating heart of the events and provide invaluable support to organisers. They will carry out roles in nine different areas including event logistics, media and commercial, spectator services, sport and technical, sport presentation, team services, medical services, technology and VIP and protocol.
Paralympian Dan Greaves who won a bronze medal in Rio in the F44 discus, and British junior sprinting sensation Laviai Nielsen, were both at the launch event to talk to prospective Runners about the importance of volunteering.
I have some wonderful memories of volunteering during 2012. You are right at the heart of the action, and it really was an honour to be in that position. Volunteering brings people of walks of life together and there’s an amazing team spirit that sees you pull together to help deliver the best event possible. Laviai Nielsen, London 2012 volunteer and European Junior 400m gold medalist.
I know firsthand what a difference volunteers make to major events. The energy they bring for every session, no matter what time of day it is, is always incredible and it really does enhance the experience of everybody who comes to watch the athletics. Dan Greaves, five time Paralympic medalist.
The Runners programme is being led by Team London who have been running the Team London Ambassadors programme since 2012. Team London runs a number of programme which encourage volunteering as a way to build stronger communities and help people to get to know and help their neighbours.
Major sports events, like the World Athletic and ParaAthletics Championships, inspire and engage Londoners from all walks of life, and bring a real sense of pride to our city. I look forward to seeing volunteers out and about giving visitors a very warm welcome, ensuring everyone has an enjoyable time at the championships and makes the most of what the capital has to offer. Matthew Ryder, Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement.