Volunteer 2014: May 2014

Training at Hampden Park

Had my RST AKA Role Specific Training on Tues at Hampden Park. It was a packed day split into two. The morning session was a general introduction to Clyde-Sider role , the afternoon was all about the CGA AKA Commonwealth Games Association Assistant role function.

The morning session was delivered at a lively pace – lots of information – by two engaging & entertaining FrontRunner presenters supported by third who managed a very light hearted competition with us – the CGAs - for the record my team (Australia) won!

Topics covered included vision&values, security, diversity, sustainability, branding – including a presentation on ambush AKA gorilla marketing, which we need to be aware of, notifying the authorities if we see any attempts to ambush market the Games:

Ambush marketing is when a person or a business illegitimately attempts to associate themselves with a major event without making any return investment.

Ambush marketing is really poor marketing, to hijack another companies paid for marketing efforts shows a lack of original ideas and is almost like theft.

My big take away was the novel acronym HOT with reference to security response to unattended bags.

H is it Hidden ?
O is it Obviously suspicious ?
T is it Typical of other bags ?

And I like the idea they introduced viz. if you don’t volunteer you’ll be voluntold!

Kader & I

The afternoon was equally information packed, this time in a smaller group, about 15 of us. The session was hosted & presented by 3 members of CGA Games Family Relations AKA CGR who shared the presentations equally. They took us thru what was expected of a CGA Assistant – it was much like the role I had at London 2012 – general factotum , interface, dogs-body, jack-of –all-trades, concierge, gofers, do-within-reason-whatever-is-needed.

Met some really good people including Kader Badri an amazingly fit & enthusiastic 69 year old retired language teacher who spoke English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Russian and incredibly Finnish! It doesn’t end there, he is a serial volunteer: he was a GamesMaker at London2012 , Volunteer at Atlanta 1996, Sheffield ‘91, Euro ’96 and has signed up for the Tour de France. I was minded of Aberra Aguegnehu who I met at as Games Maker in the Olympic Village he’d been to 12 Olympics and 2 World Cups and speaks 9 languages. Seems volunteering can become addictive.

We were introduced to the Chef de Mission function and CGA assistant's part in the Games thru a number of videos. I was delighted to recognize Emmanuel Igbinosia in the Nigerian delegation. I worked with Emmanuel at London 2012 - who gave us his view of CGA assistant including advice on doing some homework on the country you’ll be working with and what sports will they be entering and their chances of success.

My take aways from the afternoon sessions, numbers played a big part:

71 Commonwealth Games Associations
17 Sports
6,500 Athletes and Officials
600 CGA Assistants
11 days of sport

There are so many flags of countries & territories I regrettably don’t know – homework needed - starting here a particular favourite is the very colourfully distinctive Seychelles Flag:

Seychelles Flag

We were told the CGV aka Commonwealth Games Village is in area the same size as the Olympic Village but mostly single storey buildings. So I guess they’ll be just as much walking at XX Commonwealth Games AKA Glasgow 2014 as there was in XXX Olympiad AKA London 2012, where I walked a total distance of 372.2 miles, averaging 12.1 miles at day, also lost 4 kilos, happily most of which I’ve managed to keep off.

I was delighted to be invited to say a few words about my experience at London 2012 at the end of the session. I told them all what we’d learnt this afternoon was good but in reality of limited use, they should be ready for all sorts of demands, questions and priorities - be ready for ANYTHING it’s going to be great fun!

And finally I put in my bid (with a smile!) with the CGR presenters to be the CGA Assistant for Nigeria, so fingers crossed, but I’m looking forward to whatever country or territory I’m given.