The NWT Track and Field Championships are officially back on following a three-year absence and that means everything is getting organized.

That includes making sure there are enough volunteers to look after everything thatSA国际影视传媒檚 needed to make it a success: timers for races, on-track officials, results runners and so on.

The person in charge of ensuring there is enough help is Dian Papineau-Magill, the organizing committeeSA国际影视传媒檚 volunteer co-ordinator. She said interest in helping out has been great so far.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e at about 75 per cent (capacity) and ISA国际影视传媒檓 still getting inquiries,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The championships are a three-day event and this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 event will run between May 31 and June 2. Some volunteers will be working all three days, while some can volunteer their time here and there.

Papineau-Magill said there is flexibility in scheduling for people who can only help at certain times.

SA国际影视传媒淪ome folks can only help with breakfast before they head off to work, while others can only do a few hours here and there,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e are happy to have any time that folks can share.SA国际影视传媒�

Like other territorial sporting events such as Super Soccer and the Cager basketball tournaments, there may be a bit of a drop-off in interest simply because it hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 been held for quite some time and Papineau-Magill is aware of that.

SA国际影视传媒淭he three-year gap is a bit of a worry as some schools have seen athletes graduate and, in some cases, coaches have moved on as well,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淗owever, the interest from schools started even before we got our registration packages out. I think our numbers will be down a bit, but I believe that will only be in the short-term. This event is the highlight of the year for many of our students here in the North.SA国际影视传媒�

The championships have traditionally been the largest annual sporting event in the NWT every year by numbers; athlete attendance has generally hovered between 1,000 to 1,200 in past years.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 an important event to the town as itSA国际影视传媒檚 an economic driver for many small businesses as those who come in from outside Hay River do spend quite a bit of money.

Patrick Bergen, the townSA国际影视传媒檚 assistant senior administrative officer, said the service and retail industries, in particular, see perhaps the largest benefits of the championships each year.

SA国际影视传媒淭he service and retail industry benefits significantly through sale of food, goods, and accommodations during the multi-day event (and) itSA国际影视传媒檚 not uncommon to see pop-up businesses tailor to the demand,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he event sees a lot of donations and sponsorships from the local business community.SA国际影视传媒�

He also said the town also pitches in to help by offering use of the community centre for the opening ceremony, on-sire first aid and ambulance services, chairs and tables and staff members.

But thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a sense of excitement around the town knowing that the event is returning, he added.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 truly an amazing event for Hay River and the NWT,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he community opens its doors to welcome participants and cheer them on through the competition.SA国际影视传媒�