Volunteers needed to help deliver an unforgettable UIPM Modern Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships in Bath this summer

01 June 2023

More than 100 people have signed up as volunteers for this summer’s UIPM Modern Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships at the University of Bath but there are still plenty of opportunities to be part of this major sporting event.

From providing a warm welcome to international athletes as they arrive in the host city to helping competition days run smoothly and ensuring spectators have a fun and safe time, the army of volunteers have an essential role to play in ensuring the championships – taking place from 19th to 28th August – are an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Among those looking forward to playing their part in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifying event is 20-year-old Freddie Goodway, a keen runner and budding triathlete who was the 100th volunteer to sign up for the championships.

His involvement with the athletics club at Swansea University, where he is studying Accounting and Finance, led Freddie to volunteer at the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) Cross Country Championships earlier this year – an experience he enjoyed so much that he was inspired to apply to volunteer at the World Championships back in his hometown of Bath.

Click here to visit the World Championships volunteering website

“As a volunteer you get the opportunity to help deliver a major sporting event so there’s an extra level of involvement which is fun and exciting,” he said. “Not only that, the social side can be great as you’re bound to meet lots of new people who share common interests. The experience is also really good for developing the skills that can help with career prospects.”

While it will be a first international sporting event for Freddie, the Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships will mark an impressive 20 years of volunteering for Annie Thomas dating back to the 2003 IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

The retired PE teacher from Hertfordshire was also a Gamesmaker at London 2012 and volunteered at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, having been involved with the Gold Coast 2018 Games in Australia.

“Volunteering lets me visit new places while having a reason or purpose for being there, not just as a tourist,” said Annie. “It’s lovely to feel properly useful and I’ve made many new friends through the events where I’ve worked.

“I’ve seen the enormous difference the volunteers make to an event and nine times out of ten the event wouldn’t be able to go ahead without them. It’s wonderful to work with people who really appreciate you and your contribution.”

Working alongside event organisers in the search for volunteers is volunteering partner The Waiting Game, a Bristol-based temporary staffing agency that provides support for large-scale events and is committed to ensuring wellbeing and quality of experience.

Rebecca Leach, 2023 Laser Run and Modern Pentathlon World Championship Event Director, said: “A huge thank you to everyone who has applied to be a volunteer, either directly or through The Waiting Game. They come from a wide and varied background, from those with lots of experience volunteering at sports events to local residents with no links to pentathlon but a passion to help deliver a world-class event in their home city.

“We still need more people to get involved, so if you can spare some time this August please visit pentathlongb.org/2023wch-volunteering for more information and to express an interest. There is a role suitable for everyone!”

Tickets for the World Championships – being staged at the Team Bath Sports Training Village, home to Pentathlon GB – are on sale now priced from just £5. Entry to Pentathlon Finals Day on Sunday 27th August, when both the men’s and women’s champions will be crowned, is priced from £15 for adults and £5 concessions. All tickets in the accessible stand are £5 throughout the event.

Click here to buy tickets for the World Championships.

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