Volunteers encouraged to help with international broomball tourney

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Derek Dunn

EMC Sports - The call is out once again, asking for Arnprior's legions of volunteers to step forward for another major sporting event.

The World Broomball Championships will be held at the Nick Smith Centre and in nearby communities from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3.

Town parks and recreation director Glenn Arthur is hoping folks will sign up at the website www.2012worldbroomball.ca .

"We are looking for volunteers. Any event we've had we've had numerous volunteers come out of the woodwork," Arthur said.

"It (gives volunteers) a sense of community, a chance to meet people from all over the world."

This year between 1,450 and 1,500 participants from 14 countries will participate.

Games will be played in Beckwith, Carleton Place, Almonte, Pakenham and Arnprior.

The championship game will be played in Arnprior.

Volunteers are needed do stats, registration, help during evening banquets, act as runners and drivers, do sales, and more.

If a team of some 15 to 20 members plays in town, Arthur explained, they spend the day here touring and likely eating and shopping at local businesses.

Letters of invitation are going to the school boards, inviting schools to "adopt" a country and have students learn about the nation, then invite players in to share a bit of their culture.

The world championship builds on Arnprior's experience hosting the national championship a few years ago.

"We can't get much higher than the world's," Arthur said.