LONDON 2012 GAMES VOLUNTEERING UPDATE

BY LYNN BOOTH, CLINICAL LEAD – PHYSICAL THERAPIES FOR LOCOG AND SPORTEX MEDICINE EDITOR

London 2012’s official Games-time Volunteer Programme will launch this summer. Volunteering at the London 2012 Games will be a truly memorable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) will recruit volunteers from across the UK – from a range of communities and backgrounds. The selection process will be transparent, open and fair. Should you be selected as a Games

delivery volunteer, you will be vitally important to the Games, representing the UK and delivering services that are essential for a successful and inspirational event. You will have the opportunity to use and develop your skills and play a key role in one of the largest and most unforgettable events ever to be held in the UK.

VOLUNTEER ROLES Volunteers will be needed to help put on a truly memorable Olympic and Paralympic Games. There will be two kinds of Games delivery volunteer – specialist and generalist.

Specialist volunteers will have specific existing skills or qualifications that are needed for them to complete the role – for example, sport or medical training.

Generalist volunteers will not need any special skills or qualifications and will receive all the necessary training. They might be given roles in areas such as spectator services, Olympic and Paralympic Village operations or uniform distribution. There are volunteer opportunities within medical services for physiotherapists. Working within their scope of

practice, physiotherapy volunteers will use their knowledge, skills and experience to assess, treat and rehabilitate. The primary aim is to return athletes to the field of play safely and quickly, but it is also essential that volunteers understand the importance of working within a multidisciplinary team and refer to other members of the medical team when necessary. The team will include chiropractors, osteopaths, sports massage practitioners, sports medicine doctors, radiologists and podiatrists. Physiotherapists will provide sport- specific expertise to both individual national teams and field-of-play medical teams. Depending on the sport and venue, volunteers may be based in the Athlete Medical Centre or on the field of play. Physiotherapists will have a particular responsibility to see athletes who do not have their own national team medical staff and will also provide advice and support to national team medical staff.

WHO CAN VOLUNTEER? LOCOG aims to recruit volunteers who will bring passion, enthusiasm and energy to the Games. In addition, volunteers must: n be 18 years old by 1 January 2012 n be available to volunteer for a minimum of 10 days at either, or both, of the Games n be eligible to volunteer in the UK according to UK immigration laws n be able to attend a minimum of three training sessions prior to the Games and n agree to undergo, and pass, certain security and background checks. Applicants for specialist sport

volunteer roles must also be available for the test event in their chosen sport.

Physiotherapists must also: Essential n be registered as a physiotherapist with the Health Professions Council (HPC) n have suitable professional liability insurance to a minimum of £5 million have been qualified for at least three years at the time of application (2010) n hold a current basic first aid in sport or life support qualification n have experience of working in a multidisciplinary team n have four years’ experience of working in a musculoskeletal field or have experience of working in a Games-related discipline, such as. neurology or amputee rehabilitation, by 2012

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sportEX medicine 2010;45(Jul):32-33