Basketball: Basketball calls for more recruits one year out from the World Masters Games

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Today marks One year from the 2017 World Masters Games opening ceremony and momentum is gathering as more and more players, officials and volunteers register for this world-class event.

The opening ceremony will be held on Friday 21 April at Eden Park next year, with the basketball programme commencing the following day.

World Masters Games Basketball Manager, Mike Lacey says Basketball New Zealand and the World Masters Games team are working hard to source enough officials to service the massive event.

"We are hoping to attract 200 teams to the basketball programme. To service that volume of entries we will require about 100 referees and the same number of volunteer table officials," said Lacey.

"Fortunately we have received great interest from the basketball community in New Zealand and overseas. Already we have had close to 30 referees confirm their attendance and about 25 volunteer table officials do the same," he added.

To help promote the event Basketball New Zealand is getting a helping hand from a familiar face, former Tall Blacks legend and SKY CITY Breakers General Manager, Dillon Boucher.

"I am delighted to be associated with World Masters Games 2017. I will be participating and so will my wife Nikki. I'm hoping my son Jayden will be a volunteer and my three girls will definitely be on the side-lines cheering for mum and dad. It will be a great event for all the family to get involved in. So I'm telling anyone interested that they shouldn't delay and to register now as a player, referee or volunteer."

WMG2017 Chief Executive Jennah Wootten says volunteers are the lifeblood of any major event, and the World Masters Games in Auckland will be no different.

"There is no way we could stage an event like this without the generous assistance of volunteers, who give up their time to fulfil essential roles right across the Games experience.

"This is the time to get involved in the largest event New Zealand will host in a decade. I'm encouraging anyone who has the time, and wants to be a part of an amazing experience, that they get onto our website and submit an application today," she said.

For more information on how to volunteer or referee, people can go to www.basketball.org.nz/wmg

People can also keep up to date with ongoing news by joining the WMG2017 Basketball Volunteers Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/wmgbasketballvol/