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Experiences received
Alberto Pellico
My Experience as a volunteer at the centennial Olympic games, Atlanta'96Why did I decide to become a volunter in this major event if it is not taking place in my home country?
Well, it is very simple. I decided to become a volunteer becaudse I am a dreamer and I have always dreamed to live in a better world for all, not a with frontiers or discrimination, but a world of unity and friendship. And I thiught I can not dream about it, I need to so something, I could not sit and wait-
One day I wanted to make a trip and I started looking where I would like to go, I bought some travel magazines and went to some agencies, and after a while I realized that I could not find a place where to go, not because they were not interesting for me, but because I did not just want to go, but do something here.
Since a child the Olympic Games have always fascinated me as I presume most of people, but what I admired the most was the philosophy of the Organisation, how they managed to gather all those countries, all the athletes, all the events, all the people, and most of all, how they managed to work with so many cultures at a time and look as if they were only one. So I started to read more about it, then I became familiarized with the Olympic Movement and its aims, and every time I read about it, I wanted to know more. I realized it was a perfect model of my dream and that throught sport it was the clue then I thought how how may I help them build a better world. In a sudden I knew where I needed to go on a trip, next "Olympic Games" but not as a visiot to the Games but as a participant to the organsiation of the Games, then I found the answer right away:"be a volunteer".
The next Games were the "Centennial Olympic Games, Atlanta'96". And I even knew I was a citizen from another country (Mexico) and I would have to pay for my travel expenses I wanted to be part of the dream. I applied and the Atlanta Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games openned to me its doors to the Centennial Games and to the Olympic Movement.
Luc Silance
En Europe occidentale, dans le sport, émanation du mouvement volontaire, le bénévolat est une tradition tant dans les clubs que dans les fédérations. Mémé dans les fédérations internationales, ce bénévolat est resté longtemps le régime des dirigeants au plus haut niveau seul le secrétaire général de ces fédération et des comités olympiques était rémunéré. Distinction était faite souvent entre le secrétaire général "honoraire".
Le tendance à la professionnalisation du sport de haut niveau entraine depuis quelque vingt ans une modification dans les concepts, tant pour les athlètes que pour les dirigeants. L'ere de l'amateurisme est close. Le prestige du mouvement olympique et du sport de haut niveau est cependant tel que, au moins pour les événements importantsm jeux volontaires se présentent pour prester leur services á titre bénévole. Cette contribution à lòrganisation du sport ne pourrait etre aisément chiffrée.
Des tentatives ont été faites pour determiner l'apport a l'économie du sport des prestation des accompagnateurs, assistants, parfois entroineurs agissant bénévolament. Le phénomene a été décrit. Certaines fonctions doivent etre réservées à des dirigeants professionnels et rémuneres en fonction de leurs prestations. De nombreuses autres fonctions peuvent et doivent rester l'apanage du bénévolat au risque de ne pouvoir entourer les sportifs, surtout les plus jeunes, de manière adéquate.
Azanasia Stazacopulu
Quality 2004: Total Quality for the Athens Olympic Games
"Quality 2004" is the forst project relevant to the organisation of the Olympic Games funded by the European Union. It is developed in the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci programme funded by DGXXII by an European partnership and coordinated by an Ellenic NGO. The project aims at contributing to the appropiate preparation of the persons involved in the organisation of the Athens Olympic Games, and especially volunteers. It specifically aims at investigating the skills and qualifications necessary for the preparation and implementation of the Athens Olympic Games and at developing effective training modules. Occupational profiles will be analysed with an emphasis to transferable skills, such as those pertinent to the customer service field, and training modules will be developed accordingly. TYhe project will also review the skills required for professionalism in voluntary participation and the opportunities for skills' accreditation in Europe.
P. De Knop
Voluntary work and the Development of Professional Expertise in Sports federations and Sports Clubs
The complexity of tasks to fulfill in an effective sports organization does not fit the profile of a volunteer, and that due to several macro-sociological developments voluntary work in sport is under gradual pressure.
Co-ordination is minimal and policy, program and financial decisions are made by a voluntary board. The development of the professional expertise in sports federations and sports clubs is still in an initial stage. Volunteers who exhibit loyalty, desire and commitment take up a variety of operational tasks.
In a micro-sociological perspective a sports organisation which pays attention to a positive reciprocal interrelationship between volunteers on the one hand and volunteers and professionals on the other hand is seen as being motivated for volunteers.
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