Sign up now to be a part of one of the biggest NatWest International Island Games events ever.

With just 500 days to go before Guernsey plays host to the 2021 NatWest International Island Games, organisers are asking volunteers to sign up now for their chance to be part of the biggest sporting event the island has ever hosted.

His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder officially launched the Guernsey 2021 Games’ “500 days to go” volunteer appeal at an event at Beau Sejour (Wednesday 19 February, 2020).

Guernsey will be hosting the next Games in just 500 days’ time on 3 to 9 July, 2021 and will be the first island to host the Games three times. To ensure it is a great success, the organising committee is appealing to islanders to come forward and register as a volunteer before a deadline of 30 September this year (2020).

Wayne Bulpitt, Volunteers Director said: “This may sound like a long way ahead, but the clock is now ticking. Our volunteer team of 1,000 ‘Games Makers’, needs to be registered, interviewed, trained and assigned to a host of roles way ahead of the Games in 2021 and this is going to take time.

“We already have over 500 registered volunteers across the core organising teams. Our Attaché team have been assigned their roles and we now have seven months to encourage the remainder of our ‘Games Makers’ team to come forward and register.”

“We have been delighted by the early interest and excitement generated by the Games and are confident without being complacent of hitting our target that we will fill all the roles before the cutoff date in September.”

To sign up as a volunteer visit www.guernsey2021.gg and click on the ‘Register Here’ link. You will then receive an acknowledgement and an invitation to attend an interview at Beau Sejour later on this year.

“Our appeal is also relevant to all interested volunteers whether or not you are affiliated to any sports clubs and associations. Everyone needs to go through the same interview and training processes, and we need everyone on the same system so we can allocate accreditation passes for the week of the Games. So even if people have made their sports aware that they are available for the Games, we still need them to complete the online volunteer form,” said Mr Bulpitt.

This is going to be the biggest sporting event Guernsey has ever hosted and will potentially be the largest multi-sport event in Europe during 2021. Initial invitations have been sent out to the 23 member islands and provisional numbers are around 3,500 athletes and team members.

“We need to make sure that we are ready to look after them, to show off our beautiful island and to give everyone a good Guernsey welcome,” said Mr Bulpitt.

"Above all else we are seeking individuals motivated to ensure the NatWest International Island Games are organised efficiently and that participants and all visitors feel welcomed and well supported during the Games. Volunteers will need to be available for a minimum of four, six-hour shifts during the Games week (3-9 July 2021). Certain roles will have additional requirements in the run up to the Games."

All volunteers will be required to attend one of two registration days as well three training days. The training days’ programme will be a combination of specific role training, first aid response, security awareness, hospitality training and general planning and event updates including information on the venues and Games programme.

Available roles:
While supported by a small professional team, the event is primarily organised by a diverse team of volunteers with a wide variety of specialist and general skills and experiences. With this in mind, there are roles that will suit just about everyone.

Some specific roles include:
 Welcome and departure roles at the Airport and Harbour
 Event co-ordination and management
 Catering management and staffing
 Information officer
 Marshalls, stewards and car parking supervisors
 Medal ceremonies
 A variety of medical roles from First Responders, paramedics to physiotherapists and more specialist sports medical roles
 Management and staffing of merchandising outlets
 Videographers and photographers
 Press and social media content editors and co-ordinators
 Results technology services
 Venue management teams
 Announcers and commentators for events and streaming services
 Road marshals
 Mini-bus drivers
 And especially for a large number of Games Makers, to provide reception committees at events around the island during the course of the Games and generally making all visitors feel part of the Guernsey Community

All volunteers will be given Games branded kit to wear during Games week, a certificate confirming their participation and an invitation to a “thank you” event following the Games.

If you have any questions and would like to discuss volunteering in more detail you can contact one of the team by calling 01481 720215 or via the generic email [email protected]. A comprehensive list of questions and answers can also be found in the volunteer section of www.guernsey2021.gg.