Search begins for 500 local ambassadors to welcome visitors during 2012 Games

Sky presenter Jacquie Beltrao and Olympic Gold medallist and Chair of the World Junior Rowing Championships, Ben Hunt-Davis, launched the Eton Dorney Ambassador Programme.

With just one-year-to-go to the start of the London 2012 Games, today has marked the start of the search for 500 committed volunteers from Berkshire and Buckinghamshire to provide a warm welcome to visitors to Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, many of whom will come to watch the Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoeing events taking place at Eton Dorney.

Ian Barham, Buckinghamshire Manager for the 2012 Games said: "The next 12 months will be an incredibly exciting time as we prepare for the London 2012 Games and we want the local communities around Dorney Lake to be fully involved in helping welcome visitors to our area. The Eton Dorney Ambassador scheme is a wonderful way in which local residents can use their local knowledge to welcome visitors to the area and be part of a lasting legacy to support community events."

Cllr Simon Dudley (pictured third from left at the launch), the Royal Borough's deputy leader and lead member for the 2012 Games, added: "With a year to go, it's an appropriate time to launch the Eton Dorney Ambassador Programme which reflects the growing national appreciation of the value of volunteering. The fact that the programme offers volunteers a pathway to a national qualification is a major bonus which will stand all of them in good stead for the future.

"Ambassadors will play a key role throughout the community at a time when Eton Dorney will be the focus of global attention. In many instances they will be the first contact visitors will have in our area and we will be depending on them to make a very positive first impression."

The London 2012 Games have particular significance for Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, with the rowing and canoe sprint events to be held at the Eton College Rowing Centre at Dorney Lake. The Olympic competitions will run from 28 July to 11 August and the Paralympic events from 1st to 3rd September.

The Eton Dorney Ambassador Programme will provide 500 volunteers aged 18 and over to welcome visitors to Berkshire and Buckinghamshire before, during and after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic events taking place at Dorney Lake. They will be given training to NVQ level 2 in spectator safety and will act as "meeters and greeters" at 14 identified hubs including railway stations, park and ride sites and town centres.

Oona Muirhead, Chair of the South East Partnership, London 2012 Nations and Regions Member for the South East and CEO of the South East England Development Agency commented: "The Eton Dorney Ambassador Programme provides the local people of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire with a great opportunity to support their local area. The 500 volunteers recruited will be given additional training to NVQ level 2 and will inspire visitors to explore the local area and take advantage of all the tourism and cultural opportunities on offer. Their training will also offer them a stepping-stone to further education and employment in the local community."

Local people are also being reminded to buy tickets for the World Junior Rowing Championships at Dorney lake from 3rd to 7th August.

Ben Hunt-Davis, Olympic gold medalist and Chairman of the 2011 World Rowing Junior Championships said: "The 2011 World Rowing Championships are being held at Dorney on 3rd August and should prove to be a fantastic event. We will have approximately 550 volunteers on site to run the event and support the teams coming from about 50 countries. Many of the volunteers are involved with the rowing community but there are also a large number of volunteers from the local area who have been inspired to help this year and next year at the Olympics and Paralympics. We rely wholly on volunteers and I'm sure that they will make the world championships a fantastic event for everyone competing and spectating."

Tickets for the 2011 World Rowing Junior Championships can be bought from http://www.wrjc2011.com/spectators/tickets.

To get involved in the Eton Dorney Ambassador Programme, go to http://www.windsor.gov.uk/2012/volunteering.

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