ANNOUNCEMENT
Melbourne 2006 Workforce Uniform Unveiled
The Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Official Workforce Uniform was today unveiled at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. The uniform has been designed to showcase the pride, passion and unity that will forever be associated with the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.
According to Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist and Volunteer Program Patron, Raelene Boyle, Melbourne will be a sea of blue during the Games.
"The unveiling of uniforms for sporting events like this is always very significant. It symbolises athletes, volunteers and the workforce are all part of the one team," Boyle said.
The uniform, designed by the Yakka group's corporate apparel specialist, Dowd Corporation, is made up of 233,000 individual items ranging from bucket hats to ponchos. It will be worn by at least 15,000 Volunteers, Technical Officials and Medal Bearers during Games time.
Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks said Yakka and Dowd had stuck to their commitment of keeping Australian content levels as high as possible.
"From the start, Yakka and Dowd have been committed to sourcing a minimum of 75% of the total value of the Workforce Uniform contract from Australian sources," Mr Bracks said.
"I'm delighted to announce that we're well on track to meet this target," he added.
John Bergin, Managing Director of Yakka said "The Workforce Uniform will create a strong and striking public image for the Games to local and interstate visitors around Melbourne, at the Games venues and around the globe.
"We believe linking the 'Hard Yakka' brand with the Games Workforce Uniforms provides a perfect match to the ideals of Australians putting in the hard yakka to make the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games a truly memorable event," Mr Bergin said.
Federal Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, said the Australian Government was providing $18.2million to fund the Volunteer Program.
"Volunteers will play a vital role in the successful staging of the Games. In their strong and striking blue uniforms, they will certainly stand out in the crowd," he said.
Christopher Walter, Managing Director of Dowd Corporation, said, "We are delighted to have contributed to the unique design, technical development and end-to-end sourcing services for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games workforce uniforms."
"The unique Uniform was designed to be comfortable and functional as well as suit a diverse range of people in all weather conditions" Mr Walter said.
Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Chairman, Mr Ronald J Walker, said the unique design of the uniforms was impressive.
"The Technical Officials and Medal Bearer Uniforms exemplify the professional and integrity fundamental to their roles, while the greater Workforce Uniform will perform an integral role in identifying and unifying our up to 15,000 strong Volunteers during Games time," Mr Walker said.
Senator Rod Kemp said Volunteers would soon receive their uniforms which will be easily identified by three distinctive colours.
"The General Workforce will be indicated by the colour orange, chosen to characterise hard work, diligence and enthusiasm," Senator Kemp said.
"Sports Specific volunteers will be represented by green, characterising expertise, strength and vision whilst Medical can be easily recognised by the traditional colour of red."
The Games will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness 4500 elite athletes from 71 nations taking part in the XVIII Commonwealth Games to be held from 15-26 March 2006.