KEY POINTS:
The job includes wiping sweat from netball courts. But it has its perks ... including making the person doing it the envy of netball fans everywhere.
The unglamorous chore is among the duties for the 47 young net devotees chosen to be ballgirls at the World Championships.
They'll
get closer to the action than anyone, as they hover courtside at Trusts Stadium in Henderson.
They are responsible for everything from carrying their team flags to chasing wayward balls - as well as that sweat-wiping.
The Weekend Herald caught up with the group as they were put through their paces yesterday and found a bunch of girls who couldn't believe their luck.
Bridget Agnew was looking forward to carrying the Jamaican flag into the stadium and hoped to get on TV, although she wasn't as lucky as some of her friends who will miss a week of school.
"I have exams so I'll go to them and come here when they're finished,"she said.
Danielle Mikaere was grateful to be part of a world sporting event.
"Things like this don't come around very often," she said.
The ballgirls are the only youngsters directly involved in the championships and organiser Jill Clapcott said she expected there would be a few nerves as the tournament started.
"I think it'll be great for them. They think they're ready but on opening night when they see the teams ... it'll be totally different," Mrs Clapcott said.
The girls were chosen after an invitation was sent to schools and netball clubs in the upper North Island.
No boys applied for a chance to get close to netball's elite, so Mrs Clapcott's title switched back from "ball personnel manager" to the more traditional "ballgirl manager".
And she will select the girls who will patrol the court come finals time.
"We don't know who it'll be. I think there will be a bit of pressure on."
Organisers delighted with sales
Ticket sales for the World Netball Championships have exceeded organisers' targets, with more than 80 per cent sold for the eight-day tournament in Waitakere which starts tonight.
Despite an uproar over the $550 price tag for the three-day finals package there's not an empty seat in the Trusts Stadium for the last three days.
Tickets are still available for tonight's opening ceremony and first-up game between the world champion Silver Ferns and Malawi, from $90-$150, and there will be walk-up sales for the round-robin days - $25 for up to eight games.
Tonight's opening ceremony begins at 6.15pm, with entertainment including local bands the feelers and Spacifix.
