Co-ordination of activities for Games hostesses

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33425, 5 January 1974, Page 5

Co-ordination of activities for Games hostesses

Co-ordinating the activities of the 25 Commonwealth Games victory hostesses is making their official chaperon. Mrs Norma Thompson, “a bit dizzy" at the moment, but she is confident that everything will be running smoothly before the Games begin. “The hostess subcommittee has got everything, organised.” she said in; Christchurch yesterday, “but;

what matters most now is, ; co-ordinating everything so that we know exactly who is; doing what, where and j when.” As official chaperone. Mrs' Thompson’s duties extend from meeting the girls at the airport as they arrive from all over New Zealand . to ;their training and grooming' sessions before the games, through to “tucking them into bed each night while the Games are in progress.” The girls will all be in Christchurch by January 15. and will then undertake a Training course which will ;

include instruction on how To present medals and how ! to act as hostesses during 'social functions, as well as I grooming and make-up I sessions. UNIFORMS “Only a few girls have got Their uniforms so we will 'have to have the majority fitted when they arrive.” Mrs Thompson is “very impressed” with the hostess uniforms. “I think that if the girls are relaxed and confident that they look good, then they will not be nervous. It is

important that they enjoy the Games rather than feel uptight and nervous that they are not perhaps doing things properly." The duties of rhe victory hostesses will be primarily to present medals and to officiate at the opening and closing ceremonies. They will also attend social functions in a “mingling and platepassing capacity.” according to Mrs Thompson.

While the Games are in progress she will live with the girls at a city hotel. "I feel it is important that I am with them all the time; so that they can come to me for advice or with any prob-i lept they may have. 1 car.i alfeo do the worrying about: getting people from point to point while the girls can! just relax and get on with their job.” Mrs Thompson was; selected as chaperone after: her name had been put for-; ward to the ceremonial com-, mittee. “I have a grown-up family! and an understanding husband so I have no ties really, j I am free 24 hours a dav for the girls.” She has lived in Christchurch for 15 years but spent most of her life in. Hong Kong, where she was: born. It was in Hong Kong that she began her career in 1 radio broadcasting and worked as an announcer and! scriptwriter for eight years. ADVERTISING WORK Now she is still involved with broadcasting but on a, freelance basis doing most of her work with television and radio advertising. “Broadcasting is a marvellous sort of background for my chaperone position.” she' isaid. “It makes you very con-, scious of time. Ten seconds late on radio is just too late. “That sort of training has made me very punctual and my girls are going to be at i the Games venues on time, or preferably ahead of it.”