Volunteers gear up for London 2012

26 Jul 2012

University colleagues are gearing up for the experience of a lifetime – volunteering at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

They have formed a network through SPORT, to share information and experiences, and include Sarah White, Employer Liaison Executive in the Careers and Employability Division, will in the print distribution team at the Fencing at ExCeL – delivering printed reports to athletes, referees, officials and press at all stages of the competition.

She said: “I volunteered at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester and really enjoyed the experience. When I was at high school, I was part of a small chamber choir who performed as part of the bid for Manchester to host the Olympics in 1996 so I got to sing in the Town Hall for IOC and bid delegates like Juan Antonio Samaranch and Sir Bobby Charlton – I guess that cemented the idea that if the Olympics were ever awarded to the UK, I wanted to be involved in some way!”

She added: “I should be prepared to be walking miles each day as the main boulevard at ExCeL is 660m long. However I’m really looking forward to it – when I went to training on Saturday it all suddenly became real.”

Helen Matthew, Assistant Facilities Manager at SPORT, will be a team member in the Handball Arena. She said: “Coincidently I did a ‘Beginners Handball’ Campus Sport course last year so this should help me know what’s going on at my venue!  Back in 2005 I worked with the London 2012 team on the ‘Back the Bid’ campaign and was in Trafalgar Square when London was awarded the Games, so I’m really proud to be working at the Games seven years on.”

Katy Young, Sport Development Officer at SPORT, will be a Boathouse team member. She said: “I had my interview straight after running a Liverpool half marathon – with no time for a shower! This has encouraged me to think about volunteering at the Rowing World Cup in Sydney next year 2013.”

Shau Chan, BA Econ Programme Administrator working the Undergraduate office in the School of Social Sciences, who will be an events team member based at the Excel Centre, said: “I’m really excited to be part of a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ and looking forward to be involved at the Games, meeting other volunteers and spectators from all over the world attending the Games.”

Wendy Spruce, Office Manager for the Counselling Service in the Directorate of Student Experience, will be working in event services in the Olympic Park, recalled: “Orientation training during the snow, venue training during the floods – we really are a determined bunch!”

Michael Hale, Leisure Attendant at the Armitage Centre, will be a venue protocol team member at the Olympic Stadium, volunteering at the Games with his brother Peter and sister Katie.

Ellen Stephenson, Assistant Sports Development Officer at SPORT, will be a team member at the Velopark. Other University colleagues volunteering at the Games are Jasmine Christian and Yu Wang.