Few sports event devotees would balk at a chance to work for the Olympic Games, but competition for these jobs is as fierce as the games themselves. Formal Olympic job programs are few and far between, so aspiring Olympic Games employees must use their creativity to prepare for and win these gold medal jobs.
Meteorological Training
Most people have experienced listening to their local weather report, only to discover that the meteorologist was completely off-base. Inaccurate weather reporting during the Olympics can cost the team their game, or cause athlete injuries. During the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Meteorological Service of Canada conducted mountain weather workshops for meteorologists from across Canada and form the United States National Weather Service.
College Training Programs
College students majoring in sports management may have the opportunity to do field work at the Olympic Games. A group from George Washington University, for example, went to Vancouver to study Olympic Games marketing and management. They met with members of the International and Vancouver Olympic Committees, as well as volunteers, sponsors and suppliers.
Post College
London's 13-month Get Ahead School Leavers program trains college graduates to work with the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Applicants must have a Grade C average or above, as well as community-based volunteer experience. Students receive on-the-job training in Olympic games technology, human resources, services and applications. This program is only open to people with a valid United Kingdom or European Union passport.
For Unemployed
London's Personal Best runs a program called "Preparation for Event Volunteering." This free, 13-work course, teaches the unemployed applicant the skills needed to get a volunteer position for the London 2012 Olympics, and possible future employment with the Olympic Games. Applicants must be unemployed, and at least 16 years old.
Journalists
The Young Reporters program is for aspiring sports journalists between age 18 and 24. This program began at the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games. Applicants from five continents received training from renowned broadcast, photo and print sports journalists. The Worldwide TOP Partner Acer provided the journalists with limited edition laptops.
Volunteering
If you are not a student, a young person, unemployed or a journalist, volunteering may open doors to Olympic employment. In March of 2002, the Salt Lake City Olympic Committee began a volunteer recruitment drive. More than 68,000 applied, and 35,000 were selected. The committee contracted with AchieveGlobal, an employee and volunteer training organization. Volunteers learned customer service and problem solving skills that were unique to the Olympic Games.
References
- American Meteorological Society: A Comprehensive Training Program for Forecasters at 2010 Olympic Games
- Voice of America News; US College Students Get 'On The Job Training' at Vancouver Olympics
- Get Set London: Get Ahead School Leavers' Programme 2011
- 5E LTD: Personal Best
- Olympic.org: IOC announces the Young Reporters for the Youth Olympic Games
- BNet: Going for Customer Service Gold
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