DES MOINES, IA - An additional 650 volunteers are needed for the AAU Junior Olympic Games, July 22 - August 2 in Greater Des Moines. Areas of need include event assistance, awards assistance and registration. Shifts are available for sign-up in four to six hour increments at catchdesmoines.com/aaujo.

The 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games will include nearly 14,000 athletes and 40,000 total visitors in Central Iowa. Athletes range from ages 3 to 22 competing in 20 sports at five Greater Des Moines facilities?including the Iowa Events Center and Drake Stadium. The Games are expected to generate $47 million in economic impact for Greater Des Moines. Des Moines hosted the Games previously in 1995, 2004 and 2009.

"It takes our community's support to make major events like this happen," says Katie Fencl, Director of Sports for the Des Moines Area Sports Commission, a division of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau. "These athletes have worked hard to qualify on the road to Des Moines. Now it's our community's chance to embrace and support them in our city."

"For a small time investment, volunteers will experience the hard work and dedication of these amazing young athletes," says Suzie Glazer Burt, Honorary Chair of the 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games. "You'll not only see teamwork, athleticism and sportsmanship?but by volunteering, you'll make a positive impact on the lives and experience of the thousands of youth competing in Des Moines."

Signature Sponsors of the 2014 AAU Junior Olympic Games include Principal Financial Group, UnityPoint Health - Des Moines, Wells Fargo and Co. and Markey's Rental and Staging. Champion Sponsors include MidAmerican Energy, Nationwide Insurance, Prairie Meadows, West Bank, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Alliance Technologies, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Adventureland Park. Supporting Sponsors include American Fence Company, Classic Tents, ColorFX, Copy Systems, Electronic Engineering, Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, Knapp Properties, NB Golf Cars, Scheel's, Sigler, Suzie Glazer Burt Foundation, Vital Signs and Reynolds and Reynolds.

About the Amateur Athletic Union

Founded in 1888, the Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest multi-sport, not-for-profit, volunteer organizations in the United States. It is dedicated to the development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs for youth and adults. The AAU Junior Olympic Games are the largest national multi-sport event for amateur youth conducted in the United States.

The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote Greater Des Moines as a fun, vibrant and affordable destination statewide, nationally and internationally. Our focus increases visitors to our community through meetings, conventions, sports events, leisure travel, and group tours, thereby contributing to the local economy.

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