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News
American Girls' help organise Special Olympics
Ashley Dye, 22 of Boston and Victoria Barry, 22 of Washington DC are the newest volunteers for the Gold Coast media team for the upcoming Special Olympics which will run from October 1 - 8th.
The American girls, who met while studying public relations at USC in South Carolina, are excited to be working with the Special Olympics out of the Hall of Fame.
"We came to the Gold Coast through an exchange program called Australearn, we originally applied for media work in Sydney but the Special Olympics opportunity came up on the Gold Coast, so we took it," said Victoria.
"Our duties include journalism and marketing work, promotional activities and working directly with the Special Olympics participants.
"We're working with the Special Olympics team for ten weeks and then we're traveling around Australia and New Zealand for three weeks.
Ashley said that of the whole experience she is 'most looking forward to gaining experience from the Special Olympics team and seeing the Great Barrier Reef and Sydney'
"It's a great cultural experience and we're looking forward to meeting new people and being involved in something as important as the Special Olympics.
"Before coming to Australia we weren't told a lot about the Special Olympics in Australia, but we presumed it would be the same as back home.
"We learned about Australia through friends and family who had traveled here, it's a beautiful laid back country, and it's great that you can wear jeans to work," said Victoria.
Special Olympics Australia needs 1300 volunteers for various duties leading up to and during the Games.
People wishing to volunteer can contact Volunteering Gold Coast on;
(07) 5538 4877 or 1300 301 018, or e-mail; adrianb@volunteeringgc.com.au
ENDS
Sophie Hickson
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