Volunteers ‘the heart and soul of the Games’
JANE Buckley has been down this road many times in the past 35 years, including the 1984 Olympics at Los Angeles.
Anna Wood, however, does not know what to expect.
The two present enticing extremes as the 15,000 army of volunteers they are part of go to work to help make this year’s Commonwealth Games the most memorable on record.
Ms Buckley, a physiotherapist, has volunteered for charities and other sporting events across the globe for four decades, including several Paralympics.
“There’s an enormous amount of satisfaction we see when the team achieves,” the Miami resident said.
“Behind the scenes, the transport, the food and the accommodation – that’s what the competitors, the staff and officials will remember.”
During the course of the next two weeks, Ms Buckley is providing 200 hours of her own time as a transport volunteer.
She said without volunteers international events like the Games would not
have the impact they deserve.
“(My friend and I) counted up the hours. It was just adding up to a phenomenal amount of money,” she said.
Ms Wood, who is also working in transport, was excited for her first shift yesterday
– the first of 82 total hours she will volunteer.
But the 10-hour shifts were leaving her a bit daunted.
“We get fleeted out (from an area),” she said.
“I believe they have activities planned for us (if we’re not sent out), just fun stuff.”
Ms Wood, a sports teacher, said although she had no idea what her experience would entail, she and her husband, Troy, had been interested in volunteering from the beginning.
“It’s right here and I’m on holidays too,” she said.
“I just wanted to get involved. You couldn’t do this without volunteers.”
Commonwealth Games CEO Mark Peters said the helpful attitude of volunteers made the Games memorable for those involved.
“We often say they are the heart and soul of the Games,” he said.
“When you look at creating an atmosphere (for) people from 71 different countries ... you need that attitude ... because they really want to help.
“So volunteers are absolutely essential, they’re the heart and soul and they’re what everyone will remember.”