The first orientation training event for 10,000 London 2012 Games Maker volunteers and Games time employees took place on 4 February at Wembley Arena in London. The event was the first of six national orientation events on 4th, 5th and 18th February which will form the biggest London 2012 events outside of the Games this year.
The events are the first stage in the training programme for London 2012 employees and up to 70,000 ‘Games Makers’, the volunteers who will to help make the Games a success. Around 70% of the trainees at each session will be volunteers.
The Orientation Training events provide an introduction to the heritage and importance of the Games as well as an insight into what working at London 2012 will be like, including the sports, venues and the roles. Games Makers will leave the session prepared for the next steps on the journey to Games time. The sessions include welcome talks from hosts, presentations and mocked up scenarios which will introduce all Games time workers to the realities of putting on an event the size of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Six smaller regional orientation sessions will be held in March for Games Makers who have been offered roles at venues outside of London in Weymouth and Portland, Cardiff, Coventry, Newcastle, Manchester and Glasgow. Invites for these have started to be sent out.
By the time the Games Makers reach Games Time, collectively they will have undertaken 1.2 million hours of training. Around 8 million volunteer hours across the summer of 2012 will be used.
Games Makers will also receive role-specific training from February onwards where they will learn all they need to know to carry out their role successfully and also have the opportunity to try out the duties they’ll be doing at Games time. They will then receive venue-specific training in June which will familiarise volunteers with their venue. Team leaders will also receive event leadership training.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: “Today marks a significant milestone in our preparation for the Games. These orientation events are the start of our extensive training programme which will deliver over 1 million training hours for up to 70,000 people from around the country. Our Games Makers will contribute a total of around 8 million volunteer hours during the Games and simply wouldn’t happen without them. I hope that the orientation training they receive has made them even more excited about being part of the London 2012 team this summer.”
The orientation events are the first time Games Makers will be together following the selection events and the first time they will have the opportunity to meet the wider work force. The sessions will be attended by London 2012 volunteers, paid LOCOG staff and contractors.
2,000 young people will be taking up volunteer roles during the London 2012 Games, as part of the Young Games Maker programme. Approximately 250 teams of young people will join the adult Games Makers this summer to help stage the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Their training will take a similar format over the coming months.
Worldwide Olympic Partner McDonald’s is the Presenting Partner of the Games Maker volunteer programme. McDonald’s has used its nationwide presence to help attract candidates for the diverse team that will be needed to make the London 2012 Games a success. The LOCOG Volunteer team held training sessions for many of the volunteers conducting interviews at the world-class training facilities at McDonald’s head office in East Finchley, London and the restaurant chain will also be helping to facilitate the training of the volunteers in the run up to Games time.
Jez Langhorn, Vice President, People, McDonald’s UK, said: “With the first orientation event getting underway it feels like the Games are nearly here. We’ve been hard at work to help plan and design the training materials that will prepare the volunteers for the challenge ahead, drawing on our experience in delivering great customer service and award-winning training programmes on a large scale.
“As the Games Makers prepare for their role this summer, McDonald’s will to be on hand to support them every step of the way. It’s an exciting time to be part of the hospitality sector as we prepare to put the country on show to millions of visitors this summer and I’m proud of the role we will have played in making sure our volunteers are ready.”
Almost a quarter of a million people applied to the Games Maker programme in 2010 and a team of specially trained volunteer interviewers has been carrying out selection interviews since February 2011. Up to 100,000 interviews will have been conducted over the course of the programme and of these; 76,000 interviews have taken place to date in nine selection centres around the UK. Interviews will continue in London’s selection centre at ExCeL through to the end of March 2012.
So far 55,000 offers have been made for roles at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Offers are continuing to be made, with the final role expected to be filled at the end of April.
Cadbury is an Official Supporter of the London 2012 Games Maker programme and will help LOCOG build great Games Maker teams through fun and friendly game play delivered by programmes such as the Spots v Stripes campaign.