Posts Tagged ‘olympic experience’
Day 15 – February 26, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 26th, 2010
Second to last day!
Another early start, at 5:30. As I requested, I was again assigned to “Seat 10″, the seating stands. In terms of crowds and crowd control it was a quieter day than the last time I worked that area. There were fewer people overall and as a result fewer issues with people not sitting where they were supposed to be. The media were also better behaved today. The only excitement was that the Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, came to the race and sat in the stands for approximately one hour of the first run and then left.
Today’s race was the ladies Slalom which involves skiing between up to 60 poles or gates spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, causing quicker and shorter turns. There were two runs; the first at 10 am with 87 racers and the second started at 1:30 pm with approximately 7-10 fewer racers. While no Canadian finished in the top 10 a few racers did respectably.
In the morning, I happened to meet the father of one Canadian racer,
Erin Mielzynski , 19 years old and from Ontario, racing in her first Olympics. She only found out three weeks ago that she would be in the race and understandably her father was very excited and got there early to secure a good standing spot. She looked great in both her runs and finished in 20th spot.
The theme for today was wet! It snowed all day and it was warm. We were all wearing ponchos over our jackets but still we all looked like a group of wet puppies at the end of the day. My feet felt like they were sitting in pools of water, every part of me was wet and soggy and not one item of clothing stayed dry. But despite the wet weather it was a great day.
Understandably some volunteers are tiring yet today’s team was great, we all worked well together and everyone commented on it being a great day. One more work day and one more alpine race scheduled for tomorrow, the men’s slalom.
Day 13- February 24, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 24th, 2010
Another day, another posting and another day of waiting to see if the race would run.
I started at 10:30 am, on the second shift, and relieved the team leader at the bottom of the chair lift that spectators (and workforce) take to the plaza leading up to the viewing stands. The hosts in my group were stationed up a small slushy hill at the first entry to the venue. We had to scan tickets and direct people down the slope to the chair that would take them up to the stands. At the bottom of the chair Other hosts directed people onto the chair, ensured they removed their packs, loaded four to a chair and make sure everything was smooth and safe. The first run of the Ladies Giant Slalom started at 10am but there were still a lot of people entering the venue. The rush ended fairly quickly and hosts were able to take a break.
The first run ended by 11:30 with the second scheduled to start at 1:15 pm. A lot of people, including many of the 1400 sponsor guests exited after the first run to walk around or grab lunch so we had to direct people out the right way and tell them where to get their hands stamped so they could re enter. Many did return to view the second run. However the weather did not cooperate as fog settled over the course and after many delays, the race was finally officially postponed at 3 pm. The second run will now be held tomorrow at 9:30 am.
Today was also about volunteer recognition. I received three scheduled gifts. Two new pins to add to my collection in recognition of my first shift, a small Miga, one of the Games’ mascots, and a Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games participation medal for completing the third and sixth shifts. John Furlong, CEO of VANOC came to Creekside and as he loaded and unloaded from the chair lift shook volunteers’ hands and thanked us for “all you do.” He was also very patiently posed for pictures with as many volunteers as wanted to (my camera was not at hand).
Another great day despite the rain and postponed race. While some hosts are tired no one complained or said they would not return to finish their scheduled shifts. A couple did have lower back pain from standing in one spot for too long. Again I counselled regular movement, bending the knees and pelvic movements.
A ski day tomorrow and then two more shifts on race days, Friday and Saturday.
Day 10- February 21, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 21st, 2010
After 3 days off I headed back to Whistler this morning for an 11 am start. I was assigned to “Path 20″. The path is an 800 m walk up from the bottom of Creekside to the top of the chair lift that leads to another path to the viewing stands. I thought the picture posted at the top of the path said it all: “As beautiful as the scenery is around you, it’s not as beautiful as you are right now for making this hike! 
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The race started earlier in the day so I was part of the second shift. My hosts and I didn’t have much to do as the crowds had already gone up to the race. There were only a few late comers and we just waited for all the spectators to leave the stands. Since the top three racers were decided fairly early, the crowds started to leave early. It was a quiet day for us and not as busy or exciting as the previous two days working the downhill.
The only excitement we had was a family with two children in a double stroller and a German Shepard dog. Only service animals are allowed in the venue. There was a lot of chatter on the radio as staff were not sure what this dog was doing in the venue and were even more confused when the family said their daughter has allergies and the dog works for her – sniffing around for things she might be allergic to. My nursing background came in handy here as I understood what they were saying. When the family was leaving the venue we discussed with them that in Canada we easily identify service animals who wear coats or other identifying marks. We got some more information from them about their needs so that when they come again on Tuesday, all staff would understand their needs and hopefully their visit would be more pleasurable, without so many stops and questions.
I am now back in Vancouver for a couple of days. Next work day is Wednesday with another late start at 10:30.
Day 6 – February 17, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 18th, 2010
The Olympics bring out the best in people, and on rare occasions, the worst.
Wednesday, was a picture perfect day at Whistler Creekside and a great day for the women’s downhill. By now most of you know that the Americans took first and third and that unfortunately at least 6 skiers fell and did not finish. One, the sole Romanian Olympian, was seriously injured, requiring a helicopter to airlift her off the mountain.
I was assigned to team lead at the seating stands. As the attached picture of me shows, it can be quiet and serene before the hoards of spectators arrive. And they started to arrive 2.5 hours before the 11am start. I had 6 hosts working with me who were great at directing people to their seats and dealing with unusual situations as they arose. The venue has a capacity of over 7000 spectators, over half in the seating area.
It was a busy day; helping people get into the venue and then out in an orderly way. There were many situations to try to resolve and many stairs to walk up and down numerous times to check on the hosts and make sure they were rotated around the different positions. Some were standing at the bottom of the stairs behind the stands and were cold, others were on the stands and were in full sun but saw the hill, large screen and were amist the excitement.
The best of people were those that were pleasant when told they could not sit in the accessible seating area or who waited patiently while seating mishaps were clarified. One volunteer, working as an official translator for the Andorra delegation, was so eager not to make trouble for me that she gave me one of her country’s coveted pins. Two points for the first person who knows where the Principality of Andorra is.
The “bad apples” that made the day harder were members of the media who refused to go to their designated “mixed zone” area at the foot of the finish line and insisted on taking “only one picture” with their huge telephoto lens while wearing a huge back pack and blocking access for people trying to walk behind them. There were several volunteers not working who felt entitled to sit in accessible seating to watch the race and did not want to leave. That was a difficult situation for me as who could blame them for wanting to see a great event after having put so much time into the games yet they did not have tickets for the event.
The bad apple prize goes to the man who could not stand because of a bad knee and wanted to sit in the accessible area on his own stool. That was fine. However when asked to produce his ticket, he reluctantly brought out a ticket for Feb 14 and very forcefully claimed it was valid because the original race was postponed (it wasn’t). When he took his hand out to strike me and asked for a manager, I backed off and let the people paid the big bucks deal with him.
Despite the long day with no time to eat or drink, the experience continues to be inspiring. Each day I meet more people that have come from all over the country or further afar who want to be part of the Olympics. Everyone I have been working with is pleasant and keen to help in whatever way they can. The management of Events Services are great and supportive. They have been working 12 hour days for weeks and will not have a day off during the Olympics!
After the long day (5:30 to 3pm) I drove back to Vancouver, taking my sister and nieces to the airport. Time for a few days at home to relax and recoup before heading up again on Sunday for another day. 
Day 4 – February 15, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 15th, 2010
Well today was the exact opposite of yesterday; full of action and very busy because the men’s downhill was finally held. It was very busy for Events Services as thousands of spectators came to view the event and then had to leave.
When I arrived at 5:15 am, there were many volunteers, workers and people working on the ski run there ahead of me. The line up to get breakfast and lunch was long so I checked in and went to our briefing. I was assigned to be team leader “Plaza 20″ which was the area above where the chair lift lets spectators off. Then they walk for 10 minutes up a fairly steep slope to enter the viewing stands or general admission standing. The approach to the stands was our area.
There were four men in my group and me. We all got along and everyone was keen to help. Two of the guys were on access control at two doors to the media centre, making sure that no one without proper accreditation got in. One was a marshall, helping direct people to the viewing stands or to the “mixed area” which is reserved for press. They congregate at the finish line where they then interview the racers as they finish the race. My last position was another marshall who sits on a lifeguard chair with his megaphone directing people to the right area. In the attached picture you can see one of the guys taking turn in this role. There were supposed to be more team members but not everyone made it so we all rotated positions, including me. There was no way however that I was going up on that lifeguard chair!
The busy times were when everyone came into the venue to watch the race, called “ingress”. The gates opened at 7:30 am for a 10:30 start. The crowds were intense between 9 and 10:30. Everyone was pumped and excited and we could see some former racers and other sports people arriving and chatting.
Once the first 30 racers went down and the race was decided, a lot of people decided to leave. So instead of one large crowd leaving at the conclusion of the race we had a steady stream of people leaving or “egressing”. At the crunch it was all hands on deck, from our team and several others as well, helping to direct people to either the chair lift or the path to walk down. Finally at 2:15, 2 hours after the race was over, the last of the spectators were led off the mountain. The athletes, coaches, press and doping personnel stayed on the mountain long after that.
One of my dreams for these Olympic games was to see a ski race at the side of the mountain. It was realized in part today, as I was able to see the end of the race and the finish line from my vantage point and caught a glimpse of a few racers. There was a large screen that I had a partial view of.
It was great to be part of such an enthusiastic group of people all of whom were happy to be helping out and enjoying the ambiance of an Olympic race. On several occasions, fellow workers talked of their sore back or bad knee and I found myself giving them some movement tips and talking about my work as a #Feldenkrais practitioner.
The day that began at 5:30 ended at 3 pm. Tomorrow is another 5:30 start. In a little while I will go into Whistler Village for an hour to be part of the party atmosphere in town and then early to bed for another early morning start.
Vita
Day 3 – February 14, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 14th, 2010
My first actual volunteer shift!
I arrived at 8:30 am as advised yesterday. The weather has not been cooperative. The men’s downhill was supposed to go yesterday but was postponed. Today’s events were also postponed so my 5:30 am shift start became an 8:30 start! There wasn’t much happening at “the venue” today so I had a chance to practice being a team leader. The team leader supports hosts working in the different areas related to spectator and accredited functions.
I spent time getting to know the venue, meeting other team leaders and supervisors and talking to the two hosts that were checking the credentials of the few athletes that wanted to practice and a few journalists trying to interview them. I also had a chance to practice the technical aspects of the role such as using the radio and the scanner to check credentials. Because things were so quiet, we shut down Event Services at noon but then spent a couple of hours calling hundreds of hosts to ask them to work tomorrow, when the downhill is now scheduled to run.
It is amazing to meet people from all walks of life who are volunteering or working at the Olympics. Today I met a woman from the UK who normally teaches skiing for Whistler, another woman from Seattle who is volunteering, a woman from Squaw Valley who is a ski coach who decided to come to Whistler for a month to work. All the workforce leaders are young, competent and very friendly. Everyone is supportive and works well together. We are well taken care of with lots of coffee, water, juice or pop and good food that includes a choice of two soups, choice of sandwich, fruit, granola bars and cookies and coffee or tea. The key is to remember to drink enough fluids.
Tomorrow is the first event at Creekside. The men’s downhill starts at 10:30 am. I start dark and early at 5:30.
Here I am in full uniform as I arrived home at the end of the day.
Day 2 – February 13, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 13th, 2010
The Olympic Games have begun!
All afternoon yesterday I kept giving my head a shake, finally realizing what it meant to have the Olympic games in our city. I was busy all day finishing off work and doing fun things with my daughter who is in town for her school break and to enjoy the Olympics. You could feel the excitement in our local shopping area. Many merchants had signs out saying they were closing early for the Opening Ceremonies. It was great to watch the Opening Ceremonies, again, this time on TV where you could really feel the enthusiasm and excitement.
However the excitement was dampened by the death of a Georgian luge athlete yesterday morning. This is not supposed to happen in the Olympics. I was touched by how the organizers marked the event on two occasions during the ceremonies. We have tickets for a luge event this evening in Whistler. There is still no word if this event will proceed as planned.
I am leaving for Whistler shortly to begin my participation in the games. My first scheduled volunteer shift is tomorrow morning, Sunday Feb 14. I am due to start at 5:30 am and work until 4pm.
I can already foresee schedule changes. This morning’s men’s downhill has been postponed due to weather likely impacting other alpine events this week. Flexibility will be the modus operandi this week. When I teach #Feldenkrais classes I often repeat Moshe Feldenkrais’ quote: “I am after flexible minds, not flexible bodies.” I will have to try to have a flexible mind while keeping my body flexible to withstand the long days ahead.
Enjoy the games. More tomorrow.
Vita