World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 - Volunteers' Training Day
More than two thousand volunteers got to know each other and the tasks awaiting them at the World Championships in Budapest on Saturday. They were welcomed with presentations from the heads of the different areas, a valuable gift package, a spectacular show and a quiz.
Volunteers' Training Day of World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023
The World Athletics Championships in Budapest is the biggest sporting event of the year in the world. 2,000 athletes from 200 countries will compete in 49 events in front of 35,000 spectators on site and one billion on television and other media. With 150,000 tickets already sold out, there's every chance that athletics' superheroes will push the limits of human performance in front of a packed house.
An event of this magnitude would not be possible and would not be a success without the dedication of 2,500 volunteers, 2,000 of whom began their preparations for the event on Saturday at the BOK Sports Hall from 19 to 27 August. On the first general training day, they were introduced to the tasks that await them in each area.
Volunteers' Training Day of World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023
Volunteers will be needed not only at the 9 evening and 5 morning sessions held at the National Athletics Centre, but also at the airport, in hotels, on buses and at the road races. There will be 5 days when the world's best marathon runners and race walkers will take over the streets of Budapest, where volunteers will be on hand to serve the athletes at the refreshment points, among other tasks.
The training on Saturday covered the sustainability of the World Champs, the structure of the stadium and its surroundings with the help of various maps, how to serve guests and athletes from all over the world, and interesting information on how to deal with the approximately 3,500 media representatives. The latter lecture and area proved very popular, as did the anti-doping session. This is no surpise, as those who will be working here during the World Championships will be able to see the world's best at first hand.
Volunteers' Training Day of World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023
The first big group photos were taken and the day-long training was punctuated by films of the best moments in athletics and spectacular shows. What's more, they had the chance to test what they had learnt that day in a quiz, at the end of which a few lucky pairs of volunteers won tickets to the World Championships.
The general training will be followed by specific training for each functional area from May to July. The Hungarian National Championships on 7-8 July will not only be the official test event for the National Athletics Centre, but also the trial event for the World Championships volunteers. They will also have the opportunity to visit the stadium during the summer, so that they can carry out their duties as confidently as possible during the championships.
Balázs Németh, CEO of LOC presenting at Volunteers' Day of World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023
"This is a solemn moment, you are part of this team from today. The World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 can only become the best World Championships of all time if everyone gives more than 100 per cent", said Balázs Németh, CEO of the Local Organising Committee.
"Whatever you do in your life, there is nothing better than helping others, as you make their day and yours brighter," said Government Commissioner Ádám Schmidt.
Balázs Baji presenting at Volunteers' Day of World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023
"Hungary has hosted everything in athletics, in all age groups. The only event missing so far is the World Championships, but in 140 days' time this will happen and we will all witness a real wonder," said Márton Gyulai, Deputy CEO for Sports, who underlined that Hungary has a great history in the world of athletics, as many world stars, including Usain Bolt, have competed in Hungary.
The youngest volunteer on Saturday was 16, while the oldest was 83. All generations want to witness the wonder in Budapest in August. The Hungarian capital has joined such mega-cities as London, Paris, Tokyo, Rome, Beijing and Berlin in hosting the World Champs. According to the organizing committee, there is every chance that the Budapest will be able to stand its ground in this exclusive group, thanks in part to the enthusiastic work of 2,500 volunteers.
