Hundreds of volunteers needed for Birmingham sporting event
A major sporting event taking place in Birmingham this summer will require hundreds of volunteers.
The International Blind Sport Federation (IBSA) World Games 2023 will be held in Birmingham and other regional venues such as Coventry, Warwick and Walsall from August 18-27 – it is the first time they have ever been held in the UK.
Around 1,250 blind and visually impaired athletes from 70 countries will compete in 10 sports at the IBSA World Games.
Three of the sports — men’s blind football, men’s and women’s goalball, and judo — are qualifiers for the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Other sports featured in the games include archery, chess, men’s and women’s cricket, powerlifting, bowling, tennis and showdown.
The World Games offers more than 400 volunteers the opportunity to do their part in what is expected to be the largest gathering of blind and partially sighted athletes ever brought to the UK.
Volunteers are needed at each venue to fill a range of positions from assisting with classification, assisting athletes in the World Games villages, creating content on the media and marketing team, as well as training and competition sessions, to ensure viewers have the best experience.
The World Games are predominantly held at venues in Birmingham, including the University of Birmingham’s Edgbaston campus, but there are also venues further afield in Coventry, Warwick and Walsall, including the Coventry Building Society Arena and the University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall campus .
Following a successful joint bid by British Blind Sport, Birmingham City Council, Sport Birmingham, UK Sport and the University of Birmingham, Birmingham is hosting the seventh edition of the World Games.
The unique multi-sport event is supported by main sponsor RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) and by event management company MLS Contracts Ltd. coordinated. British Blind Sport – the national disability sports body representing blind and partially sighted people in sport across the UK – has been named this year’s host association.
Sallie Barker, Chair of British Blind Sport, said: “It is fantastic for Birmingham and the UK to host the IBSA World Games 2023 which has the potential to be a real game changer for the two million people in the UK who are blind or are blind.” Visually Impaired.
“Birmingham is a proud sporting city, as we saw last year when it successfully hosted the Commonwealth Games, and there are so many volunteer opportunities for people in the community to be part of another major sports festival this summer.”
“Not only will this event help provide the world’s top blind and partially sighted athletes with a stage on which to showcase their talents, it will also inspire other blind and partially sighted people to explore the sport and opportunities , to volunteer.”
The volunteer program is managed by Power of People Ltd on behalf of Sport Birmingham.
Tom Bowkett, Project Manager at Power of People, said, “The volunteer program is a great way for the community to be part of a global, multisport event happening right on their doorstep and help make the ongoing great event of major events, taking place in the region.
“Opportunities are many and we are ideally looking for volunteers to be available for six or more shifts throughout the duration of the event.
“Volunteering is available from August 12-28, but a higher level of support is required during the World Games competition days.”
The volunteer program is open to anyone to apply and applicants can indicate their availability and location preferences.
Successful applicants will be contacted in June and July.
You can apply to be a volunteer here.
For more information on the IBSA World Games 2023 visit www.IBSAGames2023.co.uk or email [email protected].