"Dear Michal,Congratulations! You’re now one step closer to joining the volunteer team that will host the world for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. ... "
Those are the first few words of my first official e-mail from the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) received on Feb. 12, 2008 (exactly 2 years before the opening ceremony), announcing the beginning of my very own Olympic journey...
The Volunteer Journey is long. My application to become a Volunteer in Feb. 2008 was followed by three phone interviews and an orientation session, at which the Olympic team conducted face-to-face interviews with us, the potential candidates, and the RCMP blessed us with clearance for accreditation.
It wasn't until July 27, 2009 that I officially got selected to join the team:
Dear Michal,Congratulations. We would love to offer you a volunteer role!The position we’d like to offer you is:
Job title: Host
*Event: OLYMPIC
Venue: CYPRESS MOUNTAIN
Functional area: EVENT SERVICES
The Vancouver 2010 Volunteer Recruitment Team was "delighted" to have me on board; I was simply ecstatic!
Over the following months, I received my schedule and started preparing for the Games by following online courses designed for Volunteers. The job-specific and venue-specific training will be provided to us just before the Games, on site, once we collect our uniforms and accreditation cards.
So, in a nutshell, this is my 2-year journey: from the day I decided to embark on it till now, Jan. 13 - 28 days until my arrival in Vancouver and 30 days until we welcome the world at the opening ceremony at BC Place. It's been very rewarding thus far and the Games haven't even started yet. I can only imagine what it will be like to live the excitement right then and there, for two weeks!
I'm ready... Bring it, Vancouver!
