The Des Moines Area Sports Commission, a division of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, is seeking an additional 1,500 volunteers for the AAU Junior Olympic Games, July 22 – August 2 in Greater Des Moines. Principal Financial Group, West Bank, Nationwide and Wells Fargo & Co. have committed to providing more than 500 volunteers towards the event. Areas of need include event assistance, awards assistance, registration and set-up/tear-down. Shifts are available for sign-up at catchdesmoines.com/aaujo. 

The 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games will include 14,000 athletes and 40,000 total visitors in Central Iowa over 12 days. Athletes range from ages 3 to 22 competing in 23 sports at eight Greater Des Moines facilities—including the Iowa Events Center and Drake Stadium. The Games are expected to generate $47 in economic impact for Greater Des Moines. Des Moines hosted the Games previously in 1995, 2004 and 2009.

“We’re proud to again host AAU athletes, coaches and fans this summer,” says Greg Edwards, President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau and Des Moines Area Sports Commission. “Our community’s support is vital as volunteer interaction greatly enhances the overall city experience for visitors.”

“The Junior Olympic Games provide thousands of youth with an opportunity to learn sportsmanship, physical fitness and teamwork,” says Suzie Glazer Burt, Honorary Chair of the 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games. “It takes volunteers from our community to educate and support these youth athletes, providing a positive and impactful experience they’ll always remember.”

Signature Sponsors of the 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games include Principal Financial Group, UnityPoint Health – Des Moines, Wells Fargo and Co. and Markey’s Rental and Staging. Champion Sponsors include MidAmerican Energy, Nationwide Insurance, Prairie Meadows, West Bank, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Alliance Technologies, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Adventureland Park. Supporting Sponsors include Classic Tents, ColorFX, Copy Systems, Electronic Engineering, Knapp Properties, NB Golf Cars, Scheel’s, Sigler, Greg and Suzie Glazer Burt, Vital Signs and Reynolds and Reynolds.

 

About the Amateur Athletic Union

Founded in 1888, the Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest multi-sport, not-for-profit, volunteer organizations in the United States. It is dedicated to the development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs for youth and adults. The AAU Junior Olympic Games are the largest national multi-sport event for amateur youth conducted in the United States.