Im half way through my 16 days as a contractor working as a steward in the olympic park. Ive seen GB win gold in the velodrome a few times over the last 3 days. A magical moment this evening when our girls won gold in the team pursuit and every Brit in the crowd was singing 'Hey Jude'. GB are so dominate at the Velodrome its unreal.
Ive seen quite a bit of handball aswell, which was suprisingly entertaining to watch.
Im gana keep this short and not list everything thats happened etc.
Ive heard there are roughly 70,000 volunteers and 7,000 of us temp staff members. The volunteers are neally all British/White Caucasion, whatever, and the people actually working for money are about, judging by what ive seen, 90 odd percent multicultural.
Im not racist in any way (to cover my back before anyone gets the wrong idea) but I find that I am suddenly a mionority in a working enviroment, and what was alarming and annoying to me today was that one of my team leaders spoke terrible english, could barely understand me, and we just wasnt on the same wavelength. He is also a bit of an annoying person, but if I saw him as an Englishman, matched with his behaviour, I would think he needed to be sectioned (bit Ott but not far off).
I dont want to take orders from him again as its uncomfortable to work for him in a way. There are English speaking team leaders, all nice people etc.
I like the friends ive made which are mostly black people. Very friendly chaps.
I dont know where this thread is going and the point im trying to make, but I found it a bit alarming how even I could probably do a better job than 1 or 2 of my team leaders and that is not a compliment!
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The volunteers/workers at The Olympic Stadium were also very very good, but not quite as excellent.
@Dave21 there can be a whole load of issues behind the racial mix and social mix you talk of. I look forward to the can of worms you may have just opened.
Any charlton fans out there volunteering? Not that we'd meet up for a charlton chat but just out of interest?..
It's the behind the scenes workers that are making this a success and every little task and job makes the big task of staging this Olympics an easier one
Long hours hard work and commitment are the key ingredient and when your cv is compiled to say you were part of it will be a great integral part of your future employment IMO
well thats the Welsh for you.
As part of my job i've been liasing with the volunteers in Greenwich, black, white, Muslims et all. A friendlier more helpful bunch would be hard to find.
I agree but SOME football fans are not like the happy, peaceful people at the games. I think it's been great seeing fans from different countries standing next to each other supporting their athletes without finding it necessary to 'banter' each other with insults or threats.
The volunteers are so hard working it made me feel guilty at first that I was being paid. I just do what they tell me at the end of they day so no problem really.
Off to the velodrome now, hopefully I will be inside it today.