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