Volunteers Recruitment and Training for Olympic Games - Assignment Example

Volunteers Recruitment and Training for Olympic Games Project and Strategies The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympics Games (LOCOG) is the responsible board to stage a highly memorable Olympic Games in 2012. It has been estimated that 70,000 volunteers are required to run the Games at the proposed standard of quality (Olympic 2012 website). In order to carry out a range of essential activities well trained volunteers are highly required. As per the notification, procurement for the contracts commences in 2009. This paper introduces a project including the various strategies for the recruitment and training of 5,000 volunteers, and its estimated cost for each activity. Criteria for the volunteers Recruiting potential individuals for the volunteer training is a significant task. Therefore, the organizers would follow certain criteria to identify the right candidates. Following are the standards for the recruitment of expected candidates. 1. Individuals with volunteering spirit 2. Individuals seeking opportunities 3. Individuals who are energetic and enthusiastic 4. Individuals with specific qualifications and skills 5. Individuals with leadership quality 6. Individuals with pleasing personality 7. Individuals having history of volunteering service People with some or all of the above mentioned qualities will be selected to serve as the volunteers for the big Games. The recruitment and training will focus on developing two categories of volunteers as Specialists and Generalist. Individuals with special existing skills or qualifications, for example, sports or medical qualifications will be included in the Specialist Group. Whereas, the generalist Group consists of the people with no special skills who can be deployed in event services, uniform distribution, village service etc. ( LOCOG). Other services The volunteer training has to cover an array of service areas and tasks. Some of them can be listed here for the better understanding; Public campaigns, teaching new skills and interests, enhance the local environment, transformation of the vacant plots, street enhancement, transportation services, language services, spectators’ service, medical care, food and accommodation, public relations etc. are some of the services the volunteers have to undertake. Selected candidates have to undergo training and rehearsal in various sessions in order to display their caliber in their assigned tasks. Strategies for attracting candidates Attracting individuals to volunteer in Olympic Games and Paralympics Games is comparatively easy. Yet, specific methods have to be determined to ensure the participation of the most potential candidates for the service. Obviously the best and effective way of attracting the public attention is launching advertisements through media. Among the electronic and print media, TV, internet, newspapers, and sports magazines influence the majority of the population. They can be utilized for inviting public participation by describing the various benefits volunteering training and further service. Celebrities from various sectors have to be deployed to attract youth of different ethnic groups. Advertisements and campaigns can highlight the service remuneration as well as the social advantages of the program. Campaigns and awareness programs can be conducted to improve the public opinion. The organizers would conduct all possible activities that would enhance the public awareness of volunteering for the national integrity and cohesion. Recruitment process Among the various recruitment options newspaper advertisement and office interview seems to be more trustworthy because it is the best and practical way to assess the proficiency of a candidate. Unlike online recruitment and interview, this method seems to be more reliable to find out expected behaviors. Moreover, it is the cheapest and best method which would catch the attention of local inhabitants. A candidate from within the Borough is more preferable because presumably he can offer more time for the service as compared to others. Besides, according to the policy of LOCOG, the unemployed youth from the neighboring localities have to be given enough representation in the team. Further, the selected candidates have to be categorized according to their skills, qualifications, interests, and experience. Before assigning them to certain tasks their physical and intellectual fitness will be tested through the proposed assignments and exercises. For instance, a candidate for the service of a driver has to demonstrate his skill in driving in order to get the admission. This procedure would ease the difficulty of further training in every sector. Professionals from cultural associations, sports clubs or other organizations can be given priority because they are more likely to adhere to the instructions and training activities as compared to the general public. Moreover management task can be shared by professionals, CEOs of major organizations and public leaders (Romney & Robinson, 2004 p.268). The team will be headed by one volunteer and he will recruit other ten captains under him. Each captain would find out five volunteers under them who have better leadership quality to lead and monitor the activities of 100 volunteers. The major responsibilities ‘to recruit, retain, motivate and lead’ would be the responsibility of all these captains and leaders. Certain activities such as community relationship program, recruitment campaign and media relationship program will be conducted to make the recruitment more effective. The chart below shows the structure of the team Head Volunteer Captains (10) Leaders (50) (Source: Romney & Robinson, 2004) Training Design Content Volunteers are to be trained for a range of services such as laundry, driving, security, usher, feed, entertainment, healthcare; physical training etc. training program is proposed to enhance effective communication, professional approach, and speed and accuracy of delivering services. ‘The recruitment, training and management of voluntary staff is often very difficult’ (Webb, 2001 Cited in; Smith, 2007). Therefore trained volunteers have to be recruited to lead the activities of each group. In order to make the training more effective, time to time feed back has to be collected from every section. Further, discussion sessions will be conducted to assess the progress and to resolve the drawbacks. Overview -initially, volunteers will be asked to sign the volunteers’ agreement form - Pamphlets will be distributed to give practical knowledge about the training program -familiarize volunteers with the specific competition and non competition sites where they would be working -job specific training through seminars and interactive sessions -classes in practical English and in effective communication -customer relations training to ensure the speed and best service (Walker & Gleeson, 2001) The total training program will be a complete project that includes human service activities, environmental activities, and games and entertainment activities. The beginning sessions of the training includes ice breakers, group energizers, and team building activities. Further programs include the training of event volunteers and working together games. The proposed training schedule 1. Language training 200 hrs 2. Leadership training 350 hrs. 3. Training culture, etiquette, laws 350 hrs 4. Transportation & healthcare 400 hrs 5. Training in Olympic events & games 400 hrs 6. Village & community service 200 hrs 7. Training in personality development 50 hrs 8. Seminars 50 hrs 9. Rehearsal ceremonies 200 hrs 10. Entertainment 150 hrs The training project has been designed strictly adhering to the instructions of the LOCOG in order to develop an incompatible team of volunteers. It has included the provisions to ensure the active participation of all ethnic groups and minority communities. It envisages a multicultural volunteer team for the great Games. The training is intended to ensure the overall development of the individuals. Recruitment process would particularly focus on certain regions and segments where special consideration is required. For example, ‘Newham has the highest number of young people who are not in employment, education or training’ (links UK, 2008). Representation from such weak areas would enhance the enthusiasm among the youth. Training program would also pay high attention to the environmental development of the Olympic village and the surrounding areas. In order to motivate the volunteers, during the training hours there will be tour programs, cultural activities, group activities, interactions, and flexible training programs at games and tournaments. Since the recruitment process to the closing ceremony, team would ensure the support of various governmental and non governmental organizations, religious groups, clubs, schools, universities and other social groups. The notion behind this wide participation is that The Games must inculcate a feeling of oneness among the people, and it would enhance the national integrity. The designers of this project believe that LOCOG and London Borough of Greenwich would find this plan worth enough to award the contract to its organizers. It has covered a variety of service areas which are essential to stage a memorable event in the history of Great Britain. Besides the training plan it has also designed appropriate strategies to meet the requirements of the volunteers such as their food, accommodation, leisure and other personal needs. The training program would ensure the accreditation from Red Cross and from other important agencies. The participants will be given proper instructions to comply with the regulations and concepts of the Olympics and Paralympics Games. For instance, communication with the media will be restricted in order to maintain the confidentiality of the training program and of the Olympic ceremony (Lenskyj H., 2000). It is for the smooth running of the whole program and for preserving the friendly nature of Olympic Games. The estimated cost of the total program is ₤1million. The following chart shows the expected cost of the program. Recruitment ₤ 75 000 Training ₤ 5 00 000 Accreditation ₤ 75 000 Uniform ₤ 1 50 000 Food, accommodation, transport ₤ 2 00 000 Total ₤ 10 00 000 References Great Britain, Parliament, House of Commons & Transport Committee, 2006, Going for Gold: Transport for London’s 2012 Olympic Games: Third Report of Session 2005-2006, The Stationary Office, p. 222 Lenskyj H., 2000, The Best Olympics Ever? Social impacts of Sydney 2000, SUNY Press, p.118 links UK, 2008, Social Change Series 1: Regeneration, Community Links, p.1 LOCOG official website, viewed 25th July 2009 Romney & Robinson, 2004, Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games, Regency Publishing Smith M K., 2007, Tourism, Culture, and Regeneration. Illustrated, CABI p.88 Volunteering, 2012 Olympics Official Website, viewed 25th July 2009, Walker & Gleeson, 2001, The Volunteers. Illustrated, Allen & Unwin p.261 Read More