City continues search for Olympic ambassadors to welcome the world to Coventry

Volunteers are still being sought in Coventry to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become an ambassador for the city during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Hundreds of interested people in the area have already applied for the chance to don the Coventry Ambassadors uniform and represent their city next July and August when the London 2012 Olympic Football competition is hosted at the City of Coventry Stadium.

The search is still on for ambassadors, and anyone over the age of 18-years-old who lives, works, studies or volunteers in Coventry is being encouraged to join in and be part of the world’s biggest sporting event before the application deadline on Friday 25th November at 5.30pm.

Although applications to become a Coventry Ambassador can be completed easily online at www.coventry.gov.uk/coventryambassadors, a dedicated sign-up point has been set up in the Voluntary Action Coventry shop at 26 City Arcade to offer advice and assistance with the application process.

Coventry Ambassadors will play a vital role in providing information, assistance and a warm welcome to the thousands of visitors expected in the city next summer to ensure they enjoy every minute of their experience in Coventry.

Ambassadors will be stationed in key locations across Coventry, including at major transport hubs, public spaces, visitor hotspots and outside the host stadium itself.

Promotional activities for the ambassadors scheme have been held around the city over the past few weeks, from the two local universities of Coventry and Warwick to the Coventry Central Hall Methodist Church and local sport clubs including the Sky Blues and the Coventry Blaze.

The response has seen applicants young and old register their interest, and the organisers of the scheme are keen to see that level of interest continue to increase until the November 25th deadline.

Dave Boughey, Coventry University’s Sports and Physical Activity Volunteering Coordinator and lead coordinator for the Coventry Ambassadors programme, said:

We’ve had a fantastic response to the Coventry Ambassadors scheme since we opened it up for applications early in October. You can never have too much interest for an initiative like this, and we’re keen for people in Coventry to continue signing up to represent their city while it’s in the global spotlight next summer.

In addition to the scores of regular volunteers who take part in activities around the city and in our universities, there are a lot of applicants who are volunteering for the first time for the ambassadors scheme. It shows just how enthusiastic people in the area are about the opportunity to be part of such a special event.

Details about how to apply to be a Coventry Ambassador are available at www.coventry.gov.uk/coventryambassadors. For more information please call Voluntary Action Coventry on 024 7622 0381 or email volunteering@vacoventry.org.uk.

The Coventry Ambassadors scheme is funded by Coventry City Council and managed by Coventry University in conjunction with both Voluntary Action Coventry and Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Sport.