Rescue 2010
RESCUE 2010 LIFESAVING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AWARDED TO BRITAIN AND CORNWALL
Great Britain has won the bid to host the Rescue 2010 Lifesaving World Championships at the world famous Fistral surfing beach in Newquay, Cornwall in June and July 2010. The decision was made on Monday 1 October in Oporto, Portugal by the International Life Saving Federation (ILS), the central body of national associations of lifesaving clubs and the governing body for the Rescue series
Rescue 2010 will be the largest international sporting event in competitor numbers in Great Britain before the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and is seen as a significant contribution to the build up and sporting legacy of the London 2012 Games of encouraging sport, fitness and health.
The World Surf Life Saving Championships are a platform for the world to witness the unsung heroes of the sea in action. All competitors are trained lifeguards at the peak of their profession and many are volunteers. The championships are not just a test and demonstration of physical and mental strength, skills, and determination that all successful athletes need but also the courage and selflessness that enables these men and women to risk their lives for others at any time.
Surf Lifesaving Great Britain (SLSGB) has led the initiative to bring Rescue 2010 to Great Britain in partnership with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) which together have formed a strategic partnership aimed at increasing lifeguard provision around the coast of Britain through awareness and recruitment activities. The initiative has the full support of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh as patron of the Championships, the Prime Minister, Government departments and political leaders, London 2012 and many Olympic ambassadors of sport including Lord Coe.
Sport is a key element of the training, developing lifesaver’s skills knowledge and understanding, building stamina, health and fitness. Surf Lifesaving has truly international appeal. It is sporting prowess with an unparalleled purpose and an outstanding contribution to public service.
At the moment, Britain has 60 Surf Life Saving clubs with 7,000 members. It is the declared aim of the biggest provider of paid lifeguards around Britain’s 7,500 mile coast line, the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) to work with SLSGB to expand this network in Britain and encourage and train Britain’s force of beach guards.
Britain’s hosting of the Championships will draw public attention to the contribution of lifeguards and encourage young people to join the volunteer force around the shores of Britain and the rest of the world. Being part of this movement that fosters community spirit, personal well being and physical fitness is rewarding to government, commercial sponsors and private individuals.
It is a unique opportunity for organisations to contribute positively to an ethical mission that will help to inspire young people and raise public awareness of a sporting challenge that recognises bravery, encourages selflessness, personal fitness and well being and service to the community. The highly challenging and visual Rescue 2010 Championships will offer international, national and local exposure to companies involved in sponsoring or supporting them.
Surf Life Saving Great Britain is now in serious discussions with major corporations and funding organisations to establish the budget and put in place the infrastructure for the Championships and the wider promotion of water sport and lifesaving skills amongst the community.
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For further information on the hosting of the Championships. please contact: the SLSGB: Penelope Hasell, Project Administrator at Rescue 2010, 5 Belle View, Bude, Cornwall EX23 8JJ; tel +44 (0)1288 353 898; fax +44 (0)1288 359 961; email info@rescue2010.co.uk
or Terry Woodger, Head of Communications: tel +44 (0) 1276 451 647; +44 (0) 7879 675454, fax +44 (0)1276 452 852; email terrywoodger@fanfarecom.com
For further information on the campaign for beach lifeguards, the strategic partnership between SLSGB and the RNLI, and the volunteer lifeguard initiative, please contact Amy Caldwell, RNLI Lifeguard Press Officer acaldwell@rnli.org.uk or 01752 850663 or the RNLI Press Office pressoffice@rnli.org.uk or 01202 336000.