WASHINGTON — It is the games of heroes. More than 12,000 first responders will be heading to Fairfax County this summer to compete in an international sports event that’s only surpassed by the Summer Olympics.
To pull it off, the county needs more than 4,000 volunteers, and that gives you the chance to be part of this historic opportunity.
“We want to show the world what a great host this region is,” says Diana Rothe-Smith, director of volunteer services for the World Police and Fire Games.
The Fairfax 2015 World Police and Fire Games run for 10 days, from June 26 to July 5.
Rothe-Smith says they need volunteers in pretty much every area you can think of, from doctors to bloggers.
“This includes medical professionals like EMTs, sports physicians and chiropractors. It includes field of play, volunteers, like referees and score keepers,” she says.
They’re recruiting volunteers to greet and help get the athletes checked in, as well as others who are office workers, translators and a lot more.
“Logistics, concierge, venue operations, media relations. Essentially this is a giant party. And Fairfax is hosting it for 12,000 international first-responders, their friends, their family and spectators,” she says.
They’re also looking for volunteers to be translators for some of the largest countries that will be participating in the games like China, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Russia and Brazil.
Rothe-Smith says training for volunteers begins at the end of May or the beginning June. They’re looking for a commitment from the volunteers of about four shifts, each of which will last four hours. She also says groups, such as families, can volunteer together.
“You can all volunteer at the same location,” she says.
The volunteers must be at least 18 years old and will go through a basic background check. Rothe-Smith says this is an amazing opportunity.
“It’s a rare opportunity for this to be in our backyard. And it’s not going to be here again,” she says.
