ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Volunteer Programme Manager, Peter McIntosh, says Volunteer Coordinators have returned to their respective Host Venues energised, motivated and ready to start their Volunteer training. Speaking at the end of the final CWC Volunteer Coordinators’ Summit in Antigua & Barbuda, he said participants finalised plans for Volunteer training which will be rolled out among the nine Host Venues soon.

“Our motto is that we want to deliver a ‘Spectacular Spectator Experience’ so we spent a lot of time reviewing the logistics of the training programme and ensuring that everything is in place,” said McIntosh.

“Barbados began training and the other countries will follow suit shortly. This will be staggered over the next few weeks between now and early February. What many LOCs (Local Organising Committees) are doing is spreading out their training sessions because there are so many volunteers.”

Volunteer training lasts two days and will focus on various elements of customer care, such as teamwork; communications as well as risk & safety. A lot of Event-specific information will also be provided for the estimated 4,500 volunteers throughout the Host Venues. In each country, training will be led by specially-tutored officials from the LOC.

“Our sessions are very interactive and we expect the first phase of training will be completed by the end of January. Then, in February, we will have specific training for certain job functions,” he explained.

In closing the Volunteer Coordinators’ Summit, McIntosh praised the work and enthusiasm of those persons leading the Volunteer recruitment in the Host Venues, crediting them for how well everything is proceeding.

“It’s a great team of driven people. That’s been a critical success factor – that we’ve had good leadership in each country,” he noted, adding that while “a lot remains to be done, we’ll be fine with the team we have and the region will be left with a well-trained cadre of volunteers”.