4,500 volunteer performers wanted for 2010 Ceremonies

[nitronuts]

Wanted: 4,500 volunteer performers for 2010 Winter Olympic opening and closing ceremonies

By Kevin Griffin, Vancouver Sun

March 3, 2009 10:22 AM

VANCOUVER - The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are looking for 4,500 volunteer performers for the opening and closing ceremonies.

At a news conference today at The Roundhouse in Vancouver, Vanoc officials said the first step for anyone wanting to take part in the two ceremonies is to fill in an online application at www.vancouver2010.com/ceremonies.

Vanoc is looking for 4,500 dancers, athletes and performers across all disciplines for the two events which will bookend the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Vanoc estimates that the worldwide TV and online audience for the opening and closing ceremonies in BC Place will be in excess of three billion.

The 2010 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies will be indoors for the first time in the history of the Olympics.

Auditions will take place over several months starting in May.

Applicants will be notified by this summer if they have been successful in landing a ceremonies role.

Jennifer Jacques was a 12-year-old Grade 7 student when she volunteered for the opening ceremony for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

Jacques, now 32, recalls being a part of complex formations in the field in the middle of McMahon Stadium.

She formed part of the body of one hockey player shooting a hockey puck to another player.

“I would encourage anyone with the time to get involved,” she said by phone from Victoria. “It was a lot of fun.”

Vanoc said in a news release that rehearsals will begin in November and entrants must be at least 17 years old on May 1, 2009.

If you’re one of the 4,500 ceremonies’ volunteers, don’t expect time off at Christmas.

Rehearsals will continue through December holidays up until the start of the Games on Feb. 12, 2010.

Being accepted will be a big commitment of time. Rehearsals will be held twice a week and each volunteer performer will have to rehearse for more than 100 hours.

Vanoc’s budget for the opening and closing ceremonies is $38 million.

The two events are being produced by David Atkins, the Australian entertainer and producer who was instrumental in creating the spectacular show for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

© Copyright © The Vancouver Sun