Volunteers around the world – valuable experience plus fun?

Volunteering – A once in a lifetime experience and opportunity

As Kemp (2002) has observed, working closely with different types of participants (e.g. athletes, journalists, officials, spectators and other members of the organiser team) means that volunteers’ knowledge, skills and problem-solving abilities are constantly tested amid a unique working context and set of experiences. The large number of visitors brings about a unique social setting where volunteers from many nations can get to know other cultures and even themselves better. Moreover, the wide range of volunteer roles offers a special opportunity for on-the-job learning in different areas (e.g. ICT, Logistics, Hospitality, Marketing, Sustainability), all which can be relevant to future job applications and serve to make them more employable in a number of industry sectors.

‘when volunteering is not only about fun anymore…

Kim et al. (2019) have listed a few key areas where a person can improve themselves, and experience personal enrichment by volunteering at an event:

– Diversifying experience: It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and experience at the same time, being part of an important historical event that comes with a great experience, broadened world view, intercultural knowledge and often a sense of patriotic pride.

– Personal growth: Individuals gain some kind of self-respect and esteem via the volunteer journey, as well as new perspectives and motives in life opening in front of them that can inspire them to grow together with the event, setting new goals and challenges for the future.

– Social connectedness: As they are part of something greater it forms a sense of belonging, feeling responsible for the success of the team and the event, meanwhile making new connections, practising their communication skills, and growing socially.

Having to work together successfully within an international environment under a unique environment and facing huge expectations as well as strict deadlines in many ways resembles a workplace related task. The main difference in this case is that people voluntarily come to the events to be part of the programme. While having fun during this intensive period the volunteers can – indeed must – learn new techniques and skills to be able to fulfil their duties that they can continue to benefit from long afterwards.

Sources:

– Cuskelly, G., Hoye, R., & Auld, C. (2006). Working with volunteers in sport. London, UK: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203966822

– Holmes, K., Nichols, G., & Ralston, R. (2018). It’s a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience and Opportunity—Deal with it! Volunteer Perceptions of the Management of the Volunteer Experience at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Event Management, 22(3), 389-403. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599518×15252895715050

– Kemp, S. (2002). The hidden workforce: Volunteers’ learning in the olympics. Journal of European Industrial Training, 26(2), 109–116. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090590210421987

– Kim, H., Choe, Y., Kim, D., & Kim, J.J. (2019). For Sustainable Benefits and Legacies of Mega-Events: A Case Study of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics from the Perspective of the Volunteer Co-Creators. Sustainability, 11(9), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092473

– Uefa.com. (2020). Volunteers at UEFA EURO 2020. Available at: https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/about/volunteers/ Accessed: 14.09.2021.

– Uefa.com. (2021). EURO 2020 volunteers relishing their vital roles. Available at: https://www.uefa.com/returntoplay/news/026b-12b687f728b9-9d5680617c5a-1000–volunteers-relishing-their-roles/ Accessed: 14.09.2021.

– The Washington Post. (2021). Olympic magic cut through the pandemic gloom, but the Tokyo Games’ legacy is complex. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/08/08/olympics-tokyo-legacy-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR0Wubzf6IQPkJrpDJ0Wxif3XZAELaMl5DMA2HBeRWeGVJRvPk67j4IH_Vw Accessed: 14.09.2021.