The following post was contributed by Joyce, an Olympic volunteer who has traveled all the way from Scotland to volunteer in Whistler. You can read more about her on her personal blog http://olympicvolunteer.wordpress.com/
In the “Hello BC” commercial, Michael J Fox and Co are telling us that we have ‘got to be here’ in 2010. Well BC, I am here, I am finally back in the only part of the world I am drawn to on a regular basis. Hello Vancouver!!
I have watched the “You Gotta Be Here in 2010 – Super, Natural British Columbia” commercial so many times, and it never fails to give me goose bumps. It shows the British Columbia I know and love at its very best. This is my 23rd visit to Canada and my 10th time to Vancouver!
Back in July 2003, when the IOC’s Jacques Rogge announced that Vancouver had won the rights to host the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, I just knew, God willing, I was going to be there, at one of the world’s greatest sporting events, in the best city in the world (after Edinburgh). I wanted to go to Vancouver, to be involved, to be an Olympic volunteer.
I am what some call a serial major events groupie. I have been a volunteer at many major events throughout the world, including five Commonwealth Games. This, however, is my first Olympic Games. I love being part of a major event, enjoying the buzz, the atmosphere and meeting many wonderful people.
I have taken extended leave of absence from my job and travelled from Scotland to do this. The cost of coming over here will pale into insignificance when I go home having had a great time, a wonderful experience, taken loads of photos, and made many new friends and memories to last a lifetime.
As far as I am concerned, the Olympic gig is the ultimate event for a volunteer. It is where the whole of the sporting world comes together and share a common goal, to experience the Olympics.
At home, when I told friends and colleagues that I was going away for several weeks to be an Olympic volunteer, they were astonished that someone actually does do this. I have received best wishes from many and even had an ode written about me.
I understand from VANOC that I am the only ‘known’ Scottish volunteer who has travelled over from Scotland. I am very proud of that feat, that I could be ‘the only Scottish volunteer’ puts a smile on my face.
My aim through my own Olympic blog and my contribution to Inside Vancouver is to give an Olympic volunteer’s perspective from an international angle.
Thanks for reading.
Joyce
12:29 pm
Welcome Joyce! Look forward to reading your perspective on the Games! Where you will be doing while you’re in town?
12:29 pm
Uh, that should have been *what* will you be doing and *where* will you be doing it! ;-)
1:45 pm
Hi Julie
Thank you for reading and your comments.
I will be working in the athletes’ village in Whistler. Before then I have 5 days here in Vancouver and I am about to venture downtown on the Canada Line.
10:50 pm
Hi Joyce
Our paths cross again! I have also been contributing to Inside Vancouver since last year. Great to see another Olympic blogger on here.
I’ll be in Vancouver soon and we can all get together. Look forward to hearing more about your adventures.
8:44 pm
Hi Christina
It is a small world where paths intersect somehow.
I am now in Whistler but will be down in Vancouver on a few occasions, maybe we will connect at some point.
7:54 pm
Way to go Joyce!! and Welcome to Vancouver! I am a Vancouverite and am so happy to hear how much you love this city and how you are helping to represent Vancouver when we are on view for the world to see. You are producing great Energy and I hope it comes back to you 10-fold!
9:09 pm
Thank you Natalie, for your nice comments :o)
I am looking forward to getting started and the Games beginning, it is so exciting.
11:49 pm
if you find that they are short of volunteers… I have taken the next 2 months from running a medical clinic and therefore am available.
5:48 pm
Hi Joyce,
Great to see you are enjoying the Games and this beautiful land! I am curious to know about yours and your international friends’ perspectives on how things are going. It has been a Games with glitches but I just love this place so much, I can’t see any other perspective than a great one. Just wondering if the rest of the world might feel the same?