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Wendy Garbutt “I was proud and inspired<br />
that London won the bid to stage the <strong>2012</strong><br />
Olympics. I applied online to be a volunteer<br />
in 2011, had an interview at the O2 arena<br />
in May, and was offered a position in<br />
October. Pre-training was extensive and<br />
well organised, starting with two gatherings<br />
of all volunteers at Wembley Arena, giving<br />
us an insight into how many crucial roles<br />
would be taken up by a volunteer workforce,<br />
alongside paid workers such as caterers,<br />
security and the media.<br />
“My role was Workforce Operations, where<br />
my HR background came in useful in<br />
dealing with a diverse number of queries<br />
and issues such as cultural and disability<br />
awareness, Code of Conduct and so on,<br />
and I met fellow team members with a<br />
similar background. I was constantly<br />
surprised and impressed by how many<br />
different roles were necessary to get the<br />
show off the ground.<br />
“Further training at Hackney College and<br />
venue-specific training at the Olympic Park<br />
made us all want the Games to get going.<br />
My shift teams were made up of interesting<br />
people from Russia, China, New York,<br />
Ireland and all over the <strong>UK</strong>. I was lucky to<br />
see hockey, basketball and water polo<br />
events over the two weeks. To see the best<br />
athletes striving for a medal was awesome,<br />
but I also enjoyed meeting the ticket holders,<br />
parents with young children, all having such<br />
a good time and hopefully being inspired<br />
to participate in sport themselves.<br />
“I have many memories of London<br />
<strong>2012</strong>, not least the roar coming from<br />
the Olympic stadium when Mo Farah<br />
had just won gold!”<br />
David Wood “It was a privilege and a<br />
pleasure to be an Olympic volunteer Games<br />
Maker – a once in a lifetime opportunity.<br />
250,000 hopefuls applied in September<br />
2010; I had my interview in March <strong>2012</strong><br />
and learnt that I was one of the 70,000<br />
successful applicants. I was allocated to the<br />
Events Services team – often referred to as<br />
the ‘Face of the Games’, since our principle<br />
role was to meet, greet and help the<br />
spectators. I was allocated to the Olympic<br />
Stadium where I attended eight shifts: six<br />
morning sessions of athletics, plus the<br />
Opening and Closing Ceremonies.<br />
“My abiding memories include:<br />
• Being both moved and entertained by<br />
the Opening Ceremony, and watching<br />
in wonder as one of the Olympic rings<br />
was forged before being raised to join<br />
four others high above our heads.<br />
• Standing outside the Stadium on the<br />
banks of the river when the boat carrying<br />
David Beckham and the Olympic flame<br />
unexpectedly emerged from the gloom.<br />
• Marvelling at the engineering ingenuity<br />
and iconic design of the Olympic<br />
cauldron as it was assembled, ignited<br />
and transformed.<br />
• Setting out at 5am from a temporary<br />
caravan site north of Hackney Marshes<br />
on a 45-minute walk to start my shift.<br />
Passing hundreds of other volunteers and<br />
workers who were preparing the Park for<br />
the arrival of up to 250,000 spectators.<br />
• Watching the excitement of adults and<br />
children alike as they climbed the steps<br />
to see inside the Stadium for the first time.<br />
• Talking to spectators as they left and<br />
hearing of their unqualified enjoyment<br />
of the occasion and their marvel at the<br />
performance of the athletes.<br />
• On Super Saturday, spotting a young<br />
father trying to control his hysterical<br />
8-year-old (who was sensitive to crowds<br />
and noise); putting them in touch with<br />
the mobility team who were able to relocate<br />
the whole family to a quieter part<br />
of the Stadium. Feeling a rush of emotion<br />
when the father later sought me out,<br />
shook my hand and thanked me.<br />
• Checking Sally Gunnell’s accreditation<br />
when she came into the Stadium with<br />
her family. (Missing Condoleezza Rice<br />
when she entered because I was facing<br />
the wrong way!)<br />
It was the greatest GB holiday of my lifetime<br />
– with everyone in the country sharing the<br />
fun as one family!”<br />
Paddy Briggs was one of eight volunteers<br />
assigned to help the Dutch National<br />
Olympic Committee and Athletes.<br />
Paddy and Dutch Olympic<br />
gold medallist in windsufing<br />
GOING GLOBAL<br />
GAMES MAKERS – THE TRuE SPIRIT OF THE OLYMPIcS<br />
Many <strong>SPA</strong> members volunteered as games Makers at the<br />
spectacular London <strong>2012</strong>; here’s some inside stories …<br />
Games Maker Wendy<br />
David 'on duty'<br />
David gets ringside view of opening ceremony<br />
<strong>SPA</strong> NEWS | 17
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