Following on from the huge success of last year’s ice hockey tournament in Geneva for 11-14 year olds, the Genève Future Hockey Association are once again inviting hundreds of ice hockey players from around the world to share their passion for hockey in a friendly but competitive environment. Last year, 32 teams from 11 countries took part in the Genève Futur Hockey Challenge tournament, with daily crowds of more than 1500 people supporting the event.
The 3rd edition of this high energy, youth tournament will take place on 4 – 7 April 2013, and will see some of the best young male and female hockey players from around the world showcase their talents in front of an audience of enthusiastic local supporters. Russia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, France, Turkey and Spain have all signed up for the tournament and, like the host nation, Switzerland, will each enter a number of teams. This year, 28 teams will compete to win the coveted trophy offered in each of the 4 different categories.
Tournament Director, Cindy Burwell, told knowitall.ch, “ We’re really excited by this year’s line up of teams, which includes participants from countries like Turkey where hockey is only just developing as a recognized sport. But the Hockey Challenge is more than just a hockey tournament – it provides a platform for cultural interaction where young people can create long-lasting friendships and take home with them memories, which they will never forget.”
She added, “All three ice rinks in Geneva - Meyrin, Sous Moulin and Les Vernets - will be used at this year’s event so it should be easy for anyone – expat or local Swiss resident - to come and support their national team. However, to ensure the smooth running of the event, we desperately need more people to come forward and volunteer their services. This is a community event, which requires community support at all levels!”
The tournament organizers are looking for about a hundred friendly and outgoing people to help them in a variety of roles. If you feel you can spare just a few hours of your time, helping in any of the following areas, please get in touch with Cindy as soon as possible:
- Setting-up and tearing down (Wednesday April 3 and Sunday April 7)
- Helping with the closing ceremonies and closing party (Sunday, April 7)
- Greeting at reception desk and the information table
- Serving breakfast and/or lunch meals
- Scoring table during games (training will be provided)
- General security/chaperoning kids;
- Driving (you must have an appropriate licence)
- Manning the results table and posting results
- Updating the website (must have some experience with websites)
There are also a number of positions, which will receive some monetary compensation. In particular, the organizers are looking for hosts and hostesses to work as team guides / coordinators, who can manage a team’s schedule, transportation and activities while they are staying in Geneva. This will typically involve looking after about 20 players, 3 or 4 coaches, and a handful of parents. These positions are likely to appeal to university students or people working in the sport or travel industry, or trainee /retired teachers looking for a rewarding and challenging short-term experience. A full job description can be downloaded here.
Cindy concluded, “You only have to look at the faces of the young children taking part in this event to realize what a rewarding opportunity this tournament provides for people to get involved at all levels. Some of the children taking part in these games may turn out to be future hockey stars, spurred on by the experience of taking part in an event like this. But it is not just about the players - we hope the spectators will also be inspired to get more involved in hockey, especially youngsters who stand to gain so much from this active, healthy sport.”
Genève Futur Hockey Challenge Tournament
4-7 April 2013
www.genevefuturhockeychallenge.ch
Cindy Burwell
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Tournament venues:
Patinoire des Vernets
Rue Hans-Wilsdorf 4
1227 Les Acacias
Jonction
022 418 40 00
http://www.ville-geneve.ch/plan-ville/sports/patinoire-vernets/
Centre Sportif des Vergers
Avenue Louis-Rendu
Meyrin
022 782 13 00
http://www.meyrin.ch/jahia/Jahia/administration/sports/pid/680
Centre Sportif Sous-Moulin
39, route de Sous-Moulin
1226 Thônex
022 305 00 00
http://cssm.ch/
