UO students have extra incentive to stay on campus this summer and be part of the community’s hosting of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) 2014 World Junior Championships.
On July 22, more than 2,500 track and field athletes from around the world will begin competition at Hayward Field for the first time the junior world championships have been held in the U.S. or on a university campus.
The Office of International Affairs and its Global Studies Institute has several efforts planned including a global expo and symposium, interactive map project, and a student ambassador program.
“We envision the UO Ambassadors as a group of students who volunteer their world language and cultural competency skills to greet, usher and guide delegations throughout the university,” explains Sheila Bong, program director of the Global Studies Institute.
The deadline to apply for the UO Ambassadors program is Monday, Nov. 18. To apply, visit globalexpo.uoregon.edu.
A video has additional information about the program that has already received more than 160 applications. Student applicants so far hail locally from Oregon and globally from six continents.
Organizers are seeking English speakers, as well as speakers of Eastern European languages including Azeri, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Danish, Greek, Turkish, Russian and Icelandic. Languages needed from Asia include Hindi, Lao and Urdu.
Students selected to serve as UO Ambassadors will be enrolled in preparatory courses in winter term about global sports and politics, and will continue in spring and summer terms Warsaw Sports Marketing Program courses.
Those selected as UO Ambassadors will experience the track and field championships, and will receive room and board accommodations on campus for the week along with the international athletes in the UO residence halls.
“UO Ambassadors have a desire to represent the very best of the University of Oregon and the opportunity to meet athletic youth from all over the world,” said Bong.
-- Julie Brown, Office of Strategic Communications