Volunteers dig in for Winter Games curling

Darren Carson, of Naseby, was one of the volunteers clearing 50cm-deep snow from the Maniototo...
Darren Carson, of Naseby, was one of the volunteers clearing 50cm-deep snow from the Maniototo curling rink car park at Naseby yesterday. Mr Carson is also the deputy chief umpire at the Winter Games curling event, which begins at the rink tomorrow. Photo by Lynda Van Kempen.
Shovelling snow was part of the job description yesterday for the team of 50 volunteers working behind the scenes at the Winter Games curling venue in Naseby.

Heavy snow in the Maniototo has disrupted the travel plans of many of the overseas teams, but with the roads cleared yesterday and the thaw under way, all was set for competition to begin tomorrow.

Teams from Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Hungary, Finland, Latvia and the United States will line up against New Zealand teams in the event. Nine days of competition will finish with the finals on Sunday, August 28.

One of the people managing the Winter Games event, Maniototo Curling International assistant manager Marilyn Swinbourn said the rough weather earlier this week had provided a few challenges.

"The build-up hasn't been without drama, as the town has been cut off for much of the week, and teams have arrived later or made changes to their travel plans because of roads being closed. But these things happen and it's all worked out OK."

The volunteers were helping ensure the event ran smoothly and cleared "a mountain of snow, half a metre deep" from the car park yesterday. They would be employed as drivers during the event, to transport teams to and from the venue, and four icemakers - two from Canada, one from Korea, and one from Gore, had also volunteered their services. Umpiring was another task carried out by volunteers.

"There's also a camp mother, looking after things upstairs [in the venue] and a lot of the food for our volunteers has also been donated," Mrs Swinbourn said.

 

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