Surrey is hosting the Women's World Softball Championship next summer – July, 2016 at Softball City – and organizers are looking for volunteers to help carry the event across the finish line.
Or rather, across the starting line.
Volunteers will join up with the championship's organizing committee to work and prepare for the games, and there will be ongoing recruitment to find new volunteers over the coming months.
"It truly takes a village to pull off an event of this calibre, and I am looking forward to working with all of the volunteers who believe in this event," said tournament chairman Greg Timm, in a November release. "Year after year, I see individuals both young and old stepping forward to commit their time and energy to women's softball.
"It brings the community together, and helps create the premier event that it has become."
Surrey has been the home of the Canadian Open fastpitch championship, formerly known as the Canada Cup, for several years now, hosting the tournament at Softball City. (That's the "premier event" Timm is referencing above.)
Read: 'Surrey welcoming the world for 2016 Women's World Softball Championship' by Kolby Solinsky, Peace Arch News (October 27, 2015)
The Canadian Open is a big deal. But the World Championship is a very big deal – the largest women's fastpitch tournament in the world, expecting over 2,000 athletes and 500 games over 10 days – and the City is rallying to throw its biggest-ever team sporting event.
"We will be injecting a lot of energy into making those fields the best the world has ever seen," said Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner, in October.
"I'm really excited because it's going to showcase Surrey... to have it here in Surrey, I'm very proud that it's going to be here, and I'm anxious to welcome the world."
And it's not just new for the city, to host a tournament of this size, influence, and magnitude. It'll also be a new trial for the World Championships – Timm said he expects 30 international teams to play in the tournament, nearly double the event's normal 16.
Surrey will be hosting the best of the best athletes of one of the world's most popular sports, and they need a workforce to knock it out of the park – pun absolutely intended.
The committee is looking to hire a Chair of Team Hosting, on-site assistance and game production initiatives, as well as general volunteers.
"Applicants are asked to be passionate about their role and able to provide references to attest to a committed and strong work ethic," reads the World Championships' release.
"As advocates representing women in sport all over the world, the goal is to unite the diverse members of our global community," it continues, saying that "proficiency in any other languages" is a welcome skill.
"It's been a great learning effort for everybody and we really think we're going to run a tournament here that the world has never seen," said Timm, in an interview with Black Press last month.
"We're inviting the world.
"It's amazing to me, I find it a phenomenon, how hard everybody is working."
Those interested in volunteering, or purchasing tickets, can do so on the tournament's website at www.Surrey2016.com.
VIDEO: Surrey 2016 – ISF XV Women's World Softball Championship
Photos from past Canadian Opens, Softball City
