A former chief executive of the Wanganui Rugby Football Union will play a key role as a volunteer when the USA rugby team arrives in the river city early next month.
Heading a team of eight, Garth Barlow has been involved in several training sessions so far, in preparation for a role co-ordinating transport for Team America.
Barlow said the training included a basic slideshow telling volunteers about transport logistics such as where bus stops were, where to park at the airport and other liaison points in the city.
"They have indicated that there would be about 18 hours of training altogether," he said.
A former linchpin of Wanganui rugby, Barlow said transport experience had not been a necessity for the role. "They were looking more for some organisational experience. The volunteers we have on board aren't all former taxi drivers."
According to a manual Barlow received, some of the tasks they will have to perform in September will include co-ordinating all volunteer drivers, dispatching fleet jobs, and "acting as a role model for Rugby World Cup 2011 values". The transport volunteers in Wanganui were allocated to the USA rugby team, as well as a few VIP members, but none to the fans, he said.
Helping Team USA get around at Cup time
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