Gallery of log for Sydney Olympic Volunteers
Finally got around to logging this. I was a volunteer at the Sydney 2000 games. I worked with Doping Control as an escort. I loved every minute of it, as I was track side, courtside, poolside and was directly involved with the athletes. I also worked pregames in the Olympic
Village where we not only undertook urine tests but also blood tests. And after the games finished I stayed on to do the Paralympics as well.
The athletes were wonderful and did not mind my company as I had to "follow" them ( well we actually walked around together) until they presented themselves for drug testing.
Favourite moments:
1. During the trials- Escorting Jana Pitman ( hurdles) who was very excited to have made the team, asked if she could go register first. So off we went and as I waited for her with Steve Monegehetti sitting next to me, another registration official told me it was my turn. I just looked at him in horror and told him you really don't want me on the Olympic Athletics team.
2. Pre -games ( Olympic Village) Knocking on Inge de Bruin (swimmer) door and being invited inside to meet the house mates. Meeting Haley Lewis (swimmer) at a training session and getting a personal email to thank me for the support.
3. Games time- Being in the dugout when Australia played Argentina at the hockey.
Being on centre court during the womens singles final and meeting Venus Williams (tennis) and her sister Serena.
Being courtside during the finals of the womens volleyball but the downer was walking into the losing Russian side ( they seem to have forgotten they won a silver medal) and seeing that the entire team was hysterical.
Being pool side when Ian Thorpe ( swimming) won gold in the 400m. The roof almost lifted off.
Befriending the Bulgarian weightlifting team only to see the entire team being sent home for testing positive. But they were not sad.
4. Paralympic moments: meeting Louise Savage ( wheelchair athletics).
Being poolside at the swimming to see swimmers severley disabled being able to swim 50m faster then me. Truly inspirational.
I will post some games photos when I find them. One of the happiest moments was being witness to the Opening Ceremony of both the games and the paras. And the most fun was at the Closing Ceremony.... that was just awesome.
I could go on and on...... so I;ll just stop now.
Village where we not only undertook urine tests but also blood tests. And after the games finished I stayed on to do the Paralympics as well.
The athletes were wonderful and did not mind my company as I had to "follow" them ( well we actually walked around together) until they presented themselves for drug testing.
Favourite moments:
1. During the trials- Escorting Jana Pitman ( hurdles) who was very excited to have made the team, asked if she could go register first. So off we went and as I waited for her with Steve Monegehetti sitting next to me, another registration official told me it was my turn. I just looked at him in horror and told him you really don't want me on the Olympic Athletics team.
2. Pre -games ( Olympic Village) Knocking on Inge de Bruin (swimmer) door and being invited inside to meet the house mates. Meeting Haley Lewis (swimmer) at a training session and getting a personal email to thank me for the support.
3. Games time- Being in the dugout when Australia played Argentina at the hockey.
Being on centre court during the womens singles final and meeting Venus Williams (tennis) and her sister Serena.
Being courtside during the finals of the womens volleyball but the downer was walking into the losing Russian side ( they seem to have forgotten they won a silver medal) and seeing that the entire team was hysterical.
Being pool side when Ian Thorpe ( swimming) won gold in the 400m. The roof almost lifted off.
Befriending the Bulgarian weightlifting team only to see the entire team being sent home for testing positive. But they were not sad.
4. Paralympic moments: meeting Louise Savage ( wheelchair athletics).
Being poolside at the swimming to see swimmers severley disabled being able to swim 50m faster then me. Truly inspirational.
I will post some games photos when I find them. One of the happiest moments was being witness to the Opening Ceremony of both the games and the paras. And the most fun was at the Closing Ceremony.... that was just awesome.
I could go on and on...... so I;ll just stop now.Rated: for Overall Experience.
