SBS Bank backs Winter Games volunteers

MEDIA RELEASE

7 July 2011

SBS Bank backs Winter Games volunteers

SBS Bank is delighted to announce its sponsorship of the Winter Games volunteers who will give their support to around 1000 of the world’s elite athletes and ensure that events run smoothly at the 2011 Winter Games NZ next month.

More than 400 volunteers are expected to be involved in sports-related jobs, as well as manning information desks, transporting teams, erecting signage and generally helping behind the scenes.

SBS Bank Queenstown and Cromwell managers Patricia Muir and Lynn Manson can’t wait to lend a hand and fly the flag for the volunteers during the 16 days of excitement and action at this year’s Winter Games, which kick off around the South Island venues from 13 August.

Mrs Manson said as a New Zealand-owned community bank, partnering the Winter Games volunteers was a perfect fit.

“This sponsorship is a way of rewarding the willing volunteers who will be helping to make the event such a success while emphasising the importance we attach to supporting our community and grassroots events.

“Having supported the ice hockey and curling televised events for the Winter Games in 2009, we knew this would be a great opportunity to take our involvement to an even greater level.

“It’s brilliant to be involved in a world-class event that is also the biggest winter event outside of the Winter Olympics but is born and bred here in the south with fantastic social and economic benefits for our region.

Winter Games NZ chief executive Arthur Klap said his team were delighted to have SBS Bank supporting the volunteers for the benefit of the Winter Games success this year.

“We are thrilled that SBS Bank has come on board as sponsor of the Winter Games volunteers. The games are absolutely dependent upon volunteers to enable the many events to happen with more than 2000 volunteer positions to be allocated over the 16 days of the games.

“The involvement of SBS Bank helps to further develop the link with the communities throughout the lower South Island, as well as helping us to properly support the volunteers.”

The 2011 Winter Games NZ will open on 13 August and run until 28 August. Events, which include skiing, with slalom, cross country and free skiing, along with snow boarding, curling, ice hockey, speed skating and figure skating, will be held around the lower South Island, as well as Mt Hutt.

ENDS

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