MEMBERS of Coventry Ambassadors volunteer programme are travelling to to Japan to help train host city volunteers for the Tokyo2020 Olympic Games.
Two Coventry Ambassador volunteers and David Boughey, managing director of EnV Coventry CIC, are heading to Tokyo for a second visit at the end of October.
Since the beginning of 2017 EnV, the lead organisation behind Coventry’s local Olympic volunteer legacy programme, has been sharing their expertise with the organisers of the Tokyo2020 Olympic Games.
Mr Boughey said: “Last year was an inspiring visit and very humbling to see how this city’s local Coventry Ambassador programme is held in such high regard across Tokyo.
“To return to Tokyo with our Coventry Ambassador volunteers to support the delivery of the Games in Tokyo is going to be fantastic. Training their own Host City volunteers ensures that the legacy lives on and we are proud to pass on the volunteer baton.
“This will make the city’s year as European City of Sport even more special for us. We look forward to growing the legacy towards the City of Culture and Commonwealth Games in the near future.”
Ten Coventry Young Ambassadors have also been invited to Japan in November. During their visit, they will be working with school pupils in Tokyo, visit Olympic venues and meet Olympic officials.
Rebecca Bollands, Deputy Head Teacher at Howes Primary School, said “It is a great honour to be taking 10 Coventry Young Ambassadors to Japan to learn about Tokyo 2020 and to work with Japanese pupils on Olympic and Paralympic projects. The Young Ambassadors are fantastic representatives for Coventry and this is an amazing opportunity for them.”
Made up of more than 300 children from more than 30 different schools, Coventry Young Ambassadors work on events in the city including Coventry Sports Fest, the School Games, the new Coventry flag launch, Coventry Parkrun, City of Sport Community Festivals and the welcoming of international visitors to the city.
Inspired by London 2012, Coventry volunteer programme, trains local people as Ambassadors to welcome international visitors to the city.
It has provided more than 40,000 voluntary hours supporting more than 200 events since 2012 and been awarded The Queens Diamond Jubilee Award for Volunteering.
Coun Kamran Caan, cabinet member for sport and public health, said: “I fully support the ambassadors and all of the work they are doing within our city. It will be fantastic to see ambassadors from Coventry go to Tokyo for everyone to see how fantastic they are, and of course how great Coventry is too.
“The visits have come at the perfect time during our year as European City of Sport, it’s yet another great thing for us to celebrate in the city and I can’t wait to see how well they get on later this month.”
The growth of Coventry Ambassadors continues with the latest Youth Ambassador volunteers aged 16-18 joining together with younger and the adult Ambassador teams to support key summer events including the School Games Finals and Godiva Festival.
Anyone interested in applying to become a Coventry Ambassador volunteer can go to: www.env.uk.com/coventry-ambassadors or contact David Boughey (Managing Director) [email protected] 07818574.
