Hosting three of the 'Big Four' sports events in the past year has drawn thousands of Kiwi volunteers. And some keep coming back, putting their hands up for every women's World Cup in Aotearoa.
For Julia Blacklock, volunteering meant finding a second family, while she was separated from her own by Covid.
That’s one of the reasons she leapt at the chance to volunteer for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in July, in her new home of Auckland.
Since moving to New Zealand in March 2020, this is the fourth major global sporting event she’s volunteered for - and her third women’s World Cup in two years.
She's one of many women who keep giving to sport for free for the love of it.
Another, Chloé Monnier, has been involved in all of the 'Big Four' of global women's sports events in New Zealand - the World Cups plus the IWG global women's sports conference - through work, or as a fan and is now joining the volunteer corps.
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Blacklock moved from the UK to New Zealand four days before international borders closed.
“Fortunately I was able to get in but my family was stuck on the other side, so my husband and daughter were still in the UK,” she explains.
Living with acquaintances of her husband during lockdown, an initial week for finding her feet turned into multiple months living with near-strangers, who then became family.
“It was very tough, which is why I got involved in volunteering,” Blacklock says.
“I needed a way of getting involved in the community outside work.”
Once New Zealand came out of lockdown, Blacklock moved to her own place and decided to volunteer for the America’s Cup.
“Being part of America’s Cup was like being part of a family. You’re part of a team at a big event and the organisation was brilliant,” she says, immediately looking for more volunteer opportunities after it wrapped up.
Blacklock is now a regular volunteer for Eden Park, and volunteered for the Cricket World Cup in March 2022, as well as the Rugby World Cup in October.
“That was a fantastic event, it actually gave you chills when you saw New Zealand playing,” Blacklock says about the rugby.
“The sense of community was incredible, it really brought New Zealand together.”
Blacklock’s husband and daughter are now in New Zealand, after a long wait, but Blacklock still faithfully volunteers in Auckland, alongside a community of others.
Growing up in Canada, Blacklock played football and has a real fondness for the sport, so being able to be involved in the FIFA Women’s World Cup is extra special.
“Having already had the opportunity to work with FIFA and the organisers of the event, they have been amazing. All of the events I’ve attended have always been really well organised,” she says, already having volunteered at the play-offs at North Harbour Stadium in February.
“We get spoiled as volunteers, they do include us as being part of the team and are very supportive and it’s a really good opportunity.”
New Zealand’s chief operating officer for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Jane Patterson, says the organisation appreciates volunteers immensely.
“Our volunteers are integral to the success of the event, providing the spirit and energy that will help shape this once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she says.
“We’ve recruited almost 2000 volunteers with the skills and a great attitude, and we know they will help us deliver a world-class event come tournament time.
“We are so thrilled to have hundreds of volunteers just like Julia and Chloé who put their hands up to assist time and time again. We can’t thank them enough.”
Blacklock believes sport is a major vehicle for community.
“I just enjoy the passion sport brings, I think sport is something that’s really good at bringing communities together, countries together,” she says.
“I find people really rally around when there is a team - it doesn’t matter what the team is - who they can support and get enthusiastic about, and just enjoy these events.”
Blacklock will be supporting Canada, England and New Zealand at the World Cup - all three of her teams making the finals at the Rugby World Cup last year.
As for Frenchwoman Chloé Monnier, her side was the fourth of those RWC semifinalists. Monnier visited New Zealand from France in 2018 on an exchange, studying at the University of Otago.
She grew up in the French Alps, always outdoors - skiing, tramping as well as competing in gymnastics.
On her exchange, she met her partner and eventually returned to New Zealand, settling in Wellington.
She’s managed to become involved with all the ‘Big Four’ events for women’s sport in Aotearoa.
“I really like to give my time to causes I feel strongly about, and for me, it’s often about community experience,” says Monnier.
She became involved in the Cricket World Cup through her workplace, Nuku Ora, helping to organise a workshop aimed at high school girls, to learn about leadership through sport.
“Sport is such a great space to start exercising leadership and that’s what we realised during the workshop when the girls started telling their stories,” Monnier says.
Monnier wanted to volunteer at the Rugby World Cup, but couldn’t make it work, so attended the final just as a fan.
“There was such a feeling of accomplishment at the end, so rewarding to see the stadium all as one,” she says.
“It was so cool, I could have just jumped on the field and celebrated with them, I could have stayed there the whole night.”
The FIFA World Cup will be her first time volunteering at a major sporting event in New Zealand, but Monnier knows the importance of volunteers to keeping an event running smoothly.
“They’re a cornerstone of events, they’re the first faces you see when you arrive and they bring such a value to each event,” she says.
“The generosity they bring as humans to be part of these events and just to make all these projects run on the day, they are a key part of it, especially in the sports sector.”
Monnier is working as an accreditation volunteer, for her home games in Wellington.
“I’ve never been involved in this area of an event before so that’s going to be cool,” she says.
“I’m really excited about the FIFA World Cup, that’s for sure.”
Blacklock says you don’t have to be a big football fan to be involved.
“I followed both cricket and rugby before, but even if you don’t, you can’t help but get drawn into it and get enthusiastic about it.
“When I go to the events, one of the things we always strive for is just making sure not just that the event is successful but that everyone who attends has a really good time and wants to come back.”
