12 Reasons to Volunteer at the Olympic Games
I have loved watching the Olympic Games since I was a kid. I have very vivid memories lying on the floor in front of the TV for hours, soaking up every moment of the Games. And those were the days when the competitions were aired for hours — not just bits of the Games or highlights only.
When I was young, I fantasized about being an Olympian.
When I was older (and more practical), I fantasized about attending the Games as a spectator.
And then my daughter commented one day how fun it would be to volunteer at the Olympic Games.
Suddenly, fantasy turned to reality. I was selected as a volunteer and headed to PyeongChang.
I highly recommend this experience. And here’s why:
1. You’re backstage — of the world stage!
Truly, people from all over the world are watching. And you’re in the middle of it all.
Medal Ceremony for 4-Man Bobsleigh
2. You’ll make friends from all over the world.
Friends of all nationalities and ages.
Some may just be Facebook friends after the Games end. But some could become meaningful contacts.
One of my roommates during training was volunteering at his third Winter Olympics. And he was volunteering alongside some of the same volunteers he’d met in Vancouver and then in Sochi. They have a reunion at the Olympic Games.
A few of the volunteers — from Korea, Slovenia, Canada and the USA.
3. You work side-by-side with likeminded people.
By likeminded people, I mean people who love the Olympics and who love to give back.
You already have two important things in common with the other 14,000 volunteers dressed just like you, which leads to the next point…
4. You get a free uniform.
For the Winter Olympics, that includes a ski jacket, ski pants, gloves, beanie, middler jacket, long-sleeved T-shirt, and backpack — made by The North Face.
These are quality items.
And they’re covered with the Olympics logo.
5. You can get close to the action — very close, depending on your assignment.
In my assignment, I got to meet medalists of the nine Luge, Skeleton and Bobsleigh events.
I had never met an Olympic medalist before.
And now I’ve met dozens.
The Medalists in the Men’s Skeleton… Nikita Tregubov (Russia, Silver), Sungbin Yun (Korea, Gold), and Dom Parsons (Great Britain, Bronze) — Image: Getty Images
And then I ran into Dom Parsons at the Olympic Plaza.
6. Free tickets to some of the competitions.
Every Olympic Organizing Committee is a little different in this policy, but you’ll probably be able to attend a few games for free. I also bought some tickets for some of the events I wanted to attend.
Ladies Big Air Snowboard
7. Free passes to the Olympic Plaza and Medal Ceremonies.
Spectators pay to go inside. Volunteers get in for free.
Prepping the medals for the ceremony
8. You get to immerse yourself into the culture.
The food, the lifestyle, the language.
For the PyeongChang Games, we lived like Koreans and ate like Koreans. If you want a cultural experience, you will get one.
I was lucky to be part of this awesome team!
9. You’ll collect pins from around the world.
I had no idea that this was a thing.
But people involved with the Olympics bring dozens of pins to share and trade.
I couldn’t bear the thought of trading, because each was either a gift or purchased for a specific reason. But they are small mementos — from Russia, Estonia, Germany, Monaco… everyone is envious of my pin from Monaco!
And then the volunteers received this gem…
10. The camaraderie!
We had a volunteer greeting: “AriAri!”
When we use that phrase to other volunteers — no matter where we were — the volunteers instantly break into a smile.
We have shared something in common. Something that was hard, yet gratifying.
I was in Seoul Station — far from PyeongChang — when I saw someone carrying the volunteer backpack. I approached the young man and said, “AriAri!” He grinned and I had an instant friend. And someone willing to point me in the right direction to find my train.
11. A change of pace from work or school.
I met people from all walks of life volunteering that the Olympics — stepping away from normal routines to do something special. Business owners, retirees, employees, and university students.
In fact, a group of university students from Miami University in the U.S. had come. Their professor had made all the arrangements and had incorporated volunteering into a semester abroad.
What an education!
12. You can tour the area.
Stick around a bit after the Games. Or if you’re volunteering at the Paralympic Games too, like I am, then you can travel between the Games.
I’m heading to Hong Kong to meet up with my wife and tour that part of the world. And several of the volunteers from Hong Kong whom I met gave me some great pointers on what to see and do.
Guryongsa Temple, Wonju, Korea
Can’t wait for the next big experience!
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