As the date grows closer to the Annual Senior Olympics State Summer Games – June 7 – 11, 2023, at multiple sports venues throughout the City of Las Cruces and New Mexico State University – volunteers are being sought to help make it all happen. Volunteers are the lifeblood of any nonprofit organization, and the Senior Olympics are no exception. With 600 – 800 athletes expected to take part in 26 competition sports, from all across New Mexico and neighboring states, more than 350 volunteers will be needed to make this event a success. Volunteer orientation dates begin on May 31, 2023.
Why become a volunteer? Beyond getting out and enjoying life, as hundreds of athletes over 50 years of age prove they’ve got what it takes to stay healthy and vibrant, it’s an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. You’ll not only be building your resume and gaining valuable event management skills, you’ll also be giving back to your community and sharing your pride in being a part of it. Volunteering is an opportunity to network and meet new people. Ultimately, however, it’s getting to volunteer with your friends and have fun doing it.
Requirements to Volunteer
Volunteer shifts typically last 4 to 5 hours. All game volunteers will be required to attend a volunteer orientation. The volunteer orientation will be held at four different times to accommodate the working force.
Volunteer orientation takes place at the NMSU Corbett Center Student Union on the following dates:
- Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 9 a.m.
- Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 2 p.m.
- Monday, June 5, 2023, at 4 p.m.
There is also the opportunity to do orientation online, between May 15 and June 5. More information on this subject can be found at the website.
All volunteers will receive specific assignments from the Sport Coordinator associated with the sport. Sport Coordinators will require that volunteers make themselves available for training and/or practices before the games begin.
Please sign up for one orientation session AND one or more activity shifts. Volunteers must be 16+ unless supervised by an adult.
Areas of Volunteering
As with any event of this size, there are a lot of moving parts in need of support, including setting up the pre-game headquarters and readying facilities, providing aid in athlete check-in, souvenir sales, media promotion, manning the Volunteer Hub, first aid, information table, traffic control, game preparation, and so much more.
Whether you enjoy working with others, or working alone, there is something somewhere that needs to be done, and you may be just the person to do it. You won’t know unless you take the first step.
Of course, there are perks, too. As a volunteer, you will receive an official T-shirt, a certificate of volunteering, an invitation to attend volunteer social events, and you will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card.
About the Senior Olympics
Now in its 43rd year, the Annual Senior Olympics State Summer Games are funded in part by the New Mexico Department of Aging and Long-Term Services. New Mexico Summer Olympics (NMSO) is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles for all seniors aged 50 years and older through education, fitness, and sporting events. NMSO is headquartered in Roswell, New Mexico. Every other year, the Annual Senior Olympics State Summer Games qualify New Mexico seniors for the National Seniors Games. The 2024 and 2025 Summer Olympics will also be held in Las Cruces.
For more information, or to volunteer for the Annual Senior Olympics State Summer Games, visit the website. For additional questions regarding volunteering, contact Volunteer Coordinator Miguel Acosta at 575-550-0660, or [email protected].
This article was posted by David Salcido
