VOLUNTEERS GET BEHIND DIVING WORLD SERIES
An international diving meet attracting the world's very
best divers with Olympic and World Championship credentials
will offer a unique experience not only for spectators but
for a volunteer workforce that will ensure the event runs
smoothly.
The Amateur Swimming Association and Sheffield City Council's
Major Sports Events Unit have joined forces not only in helping
to fund and stage the event but also to provide the many volunteers
needed to ensure its success.
Within any major event there are many roles that a dedicated
band of volunteers adopt from marshalling specific areas to
escorting VIPs. Yet without this vital assistance and support
events would struggle to function properly.
While Sheffield Major Sports Events Unit is turning to its
database of loyal volunteers to help with the Ponds Forge
International Sports Centre event (1st and 2nd September)
the ASA is looking to enhance the experience of the next generation
of diving talent through its volunteering scheme.
Athletes currently involved in the ASA's AASE (Advanced Apprenticeship
in Sporting Excellence) have volunteered for the event where
they will be able to observe Olympic and World champions in
action while also contributing to a National Vocational Qualification
they are undertaking as part of the programme.
AASE is a Government-funded initiative that has been designed
to meet the needs of young people, aged 16-18, who have the
realistic potential to achieve excellence in their sport and
are seeking to perform at the highest level as their main
career goal, while continuing with their education.
Taking around two years to complete, the AASE framework provides
a structured national training and development route across
all sports for the first time for talented young athletes,
many of who may go on to represent their country on the world
stage.
The ASA's National Education Officer for AASE Michelle Kiff
is excited about the prospects the event holds in store for
the students and feels they will be able to complete a number
of tasks as volunteers that will go towards completing their
NVQ.
"The FINA Diving World Series provides a great opportunity
for the athletes to achieve a number of criteria on the AASE
programme," explained Kiff. "By volunteering in
a variety of roles they can find out first hand what goes
on at an international diving event and the more practical
activities they do as part of AASE the better.
"For some of the athletes it will be the first time
they have watched live diving of this calibre and rubbed shoulders
with the best divers in the world, which will have a massive
motivational effect.
"By watching the athletes they will be able to draw
parallels with their own training and competition experience
and discover what separates the top divers from them and how
they can close that gap."
The group of volunteers will be able to experience and work
within such areas as media services, providing help and hospitality
to VIPs, marshalling dry land and poolside areas and videoing
certain events.
* Tickets are now on sale via the ASA Awards website and
are priced £10 for adults per day, £5 for children
per day or weekend tickets are priced at £15 for adults
and £7.50 for children.
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