volunteer selection programme for London 2012 arrives in Scotland

[richard]

From today the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is bringing the selection process for London 2012 volunteers to Scotland.

• Glasgow Science Centre hosts the fourth Games Maker selection centre based outside of London
• An estimated 2100 Games Maker applicants based in Scotland to be interviewed at Glasgow’s Science Centre from 4 May to 15 May
• Images from the launch available to download here from 11am

Sir Craig Reedie, former Chairman of the British Olympic Association and serving representative on the International Olympic Committee and London 2012 board member joined Games Maker applicants from Scotland to officially launch the interview programme in Glasgow at the Science Centre.

The venue is the official selection centre for Games Maker applicants based in Scotland. From today until 15 May, around 210 people a day are expected to be interviewed at the Science Centre for a wide range of London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games volunteer roles based at Olympic and Paralympic venues across the UK.

These interviews are the second stage in the process to be a London 2012 volunteer. In September 2010 the public were invited to apply to become part of the London 2012 Games Maker programme. 250,000 people applied and LOCOG is now selecting an estimated 100,000 people to attend a face-to-face interview for up to 70,000 Games time roles. It is estimated that over two thousand of these interviews will take place in Glasgow.

The Glasgow selection event is the fourth to launch outside of London. A further four selection events will take place in different parts of the UK before the end of August 2011. A dedicated interview centre at London’s ExCel Centre opened on 1 February 2011 and will remain active until March 2012.
Last year, Seb Coe and John Scott, Chief Executive of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Scotstoun Stadium, a Glasgow 2014 training venue. The benefits outlined in the MOU will include sharing of information and knowledge about the London 2012 volunteer programme and opportunities of first-hand experience for Glasgow 2014, such as secondment opportunities to London 2012.

Sir Craig Reedie said: ‘London 2012 volunteers will be the face of the Games – every role counts, from collecting tickets to welcoming athletes at the airport. It’s vital we find the right people for these roles, and are delighted to bring the search to Scotland today. Games time volunteers are vital to the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games – their contribution is invaluable. From the athletes to organisers, from the media to the public, we all rely on the volunteers to deliver successful sporting events. The Games Makers will make London 2012 the greatest show on earth.’

The selection event comprises of meeting LOCOG staff recruiting for the volunteer roles, an exhibition about Olympic and Paralympic volunteering and a 30 minute interview. Where possible, applicants will be invited to attend the selection event nearest to them.

George Thomson, chief executive, Volunteer Development Scotland said: ‘Being selected to be a Games Maker volunteer for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a potential life-changer! Volunteer Development Scotland congratulates and thanks all those people who have stepped forward to give their valuable time to help make the Games something special and unique for the UK. The Games tap into human qualities far deeper than simply its hosting and everyone, without exception, in the UK has something they can offer. Whether in sport, culture or other passions the Games provide an opportunity to build on a spirit of solidarity at home and abroad. With the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 soon to follow, we all have to step up to the plate and the Games Makers will, I’m sure, be an inspiration to us all.’

Given the numbers involved in the UK’s biggest peace-time recruitment drive, no two applications will proceed at the same pace. LOCOG will take most of 2011 to contact applicants and arrange interviews via email and the Games Maker online portal.

The Games Maker interviews in Glasgow will be conducted by a team of 86 Selection Event Volunteers who are lending their time to help LOCOG select the best possible Games Maker team. The interviewers have relevant Human Resources and/or significant recruitment and voluntary sector experience. All have completed comprehensive training led by LOCOG to ensure a positive, fair and enjoyable interview experience.

Worldwide Olympic Partner McDonald’s is the Presenting Partner of the Games Maker volunteer programme. McDonald’s used its nationwide presence to help attract candidates for the diverse team that will be needed to make the London 2012 Games a success. The LOCOG Volunteer team held training sessions for many of the volunteers conducting interviews at the world-class training facilities at McDonald’s head office in East Finchley, London.

Local McDonald’s franchisee, Andy Gibson said: ‘This is a great opportunity for local people to help deliver the 2012 Games. The volunteer interviewers have a critical task ahead to find people who possess the enthusiasm and dedication needed to be a true Games Maker. At McDonald’s we have extensive experience of recruiting people with the right attitude and qualities to thrive in a fast paced environment while delivering excellent customer service and hospitality, so we’re delighted to be working alongside LOCOG to build a first-class Games Maker team.’

Cadbury is an Official Supporter of the London 2012 Games Maker programme and will help LOCOG build great Games Maker teams through fun and friendly game play delivered by programmes such as the Spots v Stripes campaign.

– Ends –

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100 or visit the website at www.london2012.com. Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog http://blog.london2012.com or follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/london2012

Notes to editors:

Games Maker selection events

London: 1 February 2011 – 31 March 2012 at ExCeL London
Weymouth and Portland: 8 - 20 March at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy
Salford: 24 March -16 April at The Digital World Centre, Salford Quays
Belfast: 20 April – 28 April at Queen's University Physical Education Centre
Glasgow: 4 -15 May at the Glasgow Science Centre
Gateshead: 19 May - 3 June at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Cardiff: 7 – 18 June at the Coal Exchange
Coventry: 22 June – 7 August at the University of Warwick Sports Centre
Plymouth: 11 – 17 August at the University College Plymouth, St Mark & St John’s Sports Hall

Games Maker timeline

January 2011 onwards: short-listed applicants begin to be invited to a selection event
February 2011 – March 2012: selection events take place
Late 2011 onwards: offers made to successful applicants
February 2012: orientation training begins
February 2012: role-specific training begins
March 2012: event leadership training begins
April 2012: distribution of uniforms and accreditation passes begin
April 2012: venue training begins.

McDonald's is the Presenting Partner of the volunteering programme. The organisation currently employees 80,000 people across the UK and each year invests over £30millilion in training this workforce. McDonald's gained recognition by the Great Places to Work in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and has also been in The Times Top 100 of Graduate Employers for ten consecutive years. The company has been ranked as one of Britain's Top employers to be granted awarding body status and is currently one of the UK's biggest providers of Apprenticeships.

Cadbury’s association with the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as Official Treat Provider to the 2012 Games will be the biggest programme ever undertaken in Cadbury’s history – underpinning commercial, marketing, merchandising and employee engagement up to London 2012 and beyond.

To celebrate its support of London 2012, Cadbury has launched Spots v Stripes, an ambitious and exciting campaign that aims to get people of all ages and walks of life to play games again.

Glasgow Science Centre is one of Scotland's must-see visitor attractions - presenting concepts of science and technology in unique and inspiring ways. Glasgow Science Centre is an independent Scottish Charity the aims of which are:

• To create interactive experiences that inspire, challenge and engage to increase awareness of science for all in Scotland
• To enhance the quality of science and technology learning
• To communicate the role of leading edge science and technology in shaping Scotland's future
• To build partnerships to develop our national role in science communication and education
• To promote Scotland's science, education and innovation capability

Atos Origin - The Games Maker volunteer portal has been designed and built by Atos Origin - Worldwide IT Partner for the Olympic Games through to 2016. In the run up to the London 2012 Games, the portal developed by Atos Origin will enable London 2012 to recruit up to 70,000 volunteers. The portal will be the main channel of communication between the Games Maker volunteers and the London 2012 Organising Committee.

McCann - The Games Maker idea was created by McCann Worldgroup, the official Marketing Services Provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. They are also responsible for developing and executing the fully integrated advertising campaign to attract applicants in 2010.

As it heads towards its £2bn budget for staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games, LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are now twenty-four domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, Next, The Nielsen Company, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Ticketmaster and Trebor.

There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games Partner, Sainsbury’s and one domestic Tier Three Paralympic Supplier, Otto Bock.

The Worldwide Olympic Partners signed up for London 2012 are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos Origin, Dow Chemical Company, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.


Source
www.london2012.com