A story from the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olymics

Hi all, I was going to share this story with one of my readers in Vancouver - but I thought well, it's a good story and it does show that the same chaos we have seen in all recent Olympic events happens everywhere: London 2012, Singapore 2010 YOG and Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010. Sigh, it's sad to see that organizers don't learn their lessons and get their act together. I was criticized and received a LOT of hate mail when I spoke up and criticized the organisation of the Singapore 2010 YOG - I was criticized for being unpatriotic, for not supporting such an important event in Singapore.

But the fact is I did try to volunteer then and was rejected for any meaningful role and I was rejected again for 2012 for any meaningful role despite having an arsenal of skills (sports media experience, 10 foreign languages + formal national champion) that would've made me an ideal volunteer at any Olympic event. I have already talked about the Joshua Bell effect when it comes to volunteers offering their skills for free. Well, this happened to my friend Grace in Canada who is one of Canada's top sports photographers (and yes she gets a mention in my vlog piece as well at 4:24) - here is part of her email to me, expressing her empathy for the same shit has happened to her in 2010 at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Here is her story:

"Sorry to hear about your disappointment with Olympic volunteering for London. I went through the same nonsense for the last Olympics in Vancouver. I had applied to volunteer in Media Services, very specifically. When I got accepted, background checked, and went for training, I discovered that I was assigned for Event Services instead. When I inquired about that, they were very vague, but I managed to glean that it was for ushers and ticket takers. I decided to pass on that, sending a similar letter to VANOC.

While being in Vancouver anyways, I was re-recruited as a standby volunteer as they were expecting either a lot of no-shows or they wanted bodies around to shovel snow if needed. Nothing happened & I was basically roaming the streets & pavilions for a week, some of which was great fun there. I had learned there that many of the volunteers recruited into the positions that I desired were "insiders" -- friends, relatives, acquaintances of those hired as managers.

Basically, unless you are recruited from The Inside, volunteering through the regular public channel is a farce and a waste of time. VANOC/LOCOG rely on the general population of volunteers who are willing to do anything for a uniform and credential. Their knowledge is limited and they are just happy to be worker bees. Getting into the Olympics is never easy. This is my third Olympics to cover as a photographer and I still have to jump through the same ridiculous hoops to get accredited through the Canadian Olympic Committee.

I wish I could be of more help to you. Best of luck and hope to meet you in London in any event."