06.06.02

PHILADELPHIA - ESPN's X Games VIII return to Philadelphia for a second exciting season. The premier action sports event, X Games VIII will be held in and around the First Union Complex from August 15-19. ESPN staff is hoping to build upon the success of the 2001 volunteer drive, where more than 800 people registered to cover 1,700 positions.

X Games VIII staff is looking to the local and regional communities for people who are willing to volunteer for a full day, assisting in this multi-event action sports competition. Several day-long volunteer positions are available including: hospitality, crowd control, ushering, access control and credential checking. The X Games also offer the Xcel program, designed for dedicated individuals who are willing to volunteer every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., August 14-20.

Anyone interested in becoming an X Games VIII volunteer must be 18 years of age by August 1, 2002. Registration begins today at www.xgamesvolunteers.com.

"We have thousands of spectators that visit the X Games venues and we look to the volunteers to assist with maintaining a positive and friendly environment," said Sharon Walsh, Manager of Volunteer Services. "We have been fortunate to have highly motivated and dedicated individuals join our volunteer staff year after year. It is the type of dedication that makes the X Games such a success."

The primary function of a volunteer is to assist the spectators and credentialed guests during the event. Volunteers are expected to be proactive, helpful and knowledgeable hosts to spectators during their visit at the X Games.

Volunteers will be privy to X Games apparel, sponsor goody bags, snacks and refreshments and will also receive an invitation to the private X Games volunteer appreciation party. Additionally, Xcel volunteers who make themselves available for the duration of the event will receive an X Games token of appreciation.

In addition to the other items that volunteers will receive, there will be the chance to take part in a daily raffle of items donated by local and industry businesses. Businesses that donate items to be entered into the volunteer raffle will gain exposure by having their company name included in the volunteer handbook, on-site jumbotron and in more than 200,000 spectator guides distributed at the X Games.

ESPN, the worldwide leader in action sports, first developed its X Games franchise in 1995. The X Games, Winter X Games, EXPN 2Day, Tony Hawk's Gigantic Skatepark Tour and EXPN Invitational events are just some of the original action sports programming currently shown on ESPN and ESPN2.

   Send to a friend  | Submit your photo or video  | Top Rated Photos