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Back in 2011 I wrote a post about volunteering for the
Olympics. Well some of you already know but I was offered a role
and assigned to the Accreditation Team of the Athletes Village and I remember
jumping and screaming with excitement when I found out. I have done bits of volunteer work but for
someone like me who loves sports, I knew this was going to be a unique
experience.The accreditation team at the athlete’s village – a group of around 30 volunteers – was responsible for all the athletes and official’s accreditation passes. We were the first stop for every athletes and official on their arrival to the village. We would check their ID, take their photo and print out their pass making sure it was validated and they were able to access the venues they needed to.
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I started my role in July 2012 a couple of weeks before the Olympics as all the athletes were arriving then. My very first exciting moment was printing and laminating The QUEENS accreditation badge along with other royals. I didn’t meet the queen as a member of staff collected all their passes. I did however meet some famous athletes: - Tom Daley, Usain Bolt and the England Football Team being a few.
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Before and
after my shifts I was allowed to look around the village. There was always
something going on in the village plaza where the shops were. In the post
office you could have your picture put on a stamp, have your nails done in the
salon and freely wander around with all the athletes. Each country would have a
welcoming ceremony with the National Theater performing and the countries
national anthem playing while the flag was being raised. I loved this idea, as
this would be the only experience of their national anthems being played.
The Olympic village accommodated more than 17,000 athletes and officials with 11 accommodation blocks as well as shops, restaurants, gyms, and even its own hospital! The atmosphere was buzzing all the time and the experience was amazing.
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