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Blog - The Big Olympic Challenge

March 1, 2010

To the men and women in the blue jackets, you are the undisputed heroes of these games. The class of 2010.”

Thus began John Furlong’s accolade to the thousands of volunteers who helped make these past 2 weeks a blur of memories. Fourteen gold medals later, I sit back and marvel at what I just witnessed.

I watched as hundreds of athletes had their experience of a lifetime. I watched new heroes who inspired me. I read amazing stories of accomplishment. I saw human triumph and tragedy. I saw humanity at its best.

But as I watched the closing ceremonies, bursting with pride and trying to figure out which were the giant moose and which were the giant beavers, I found myself captured by the section of Mr. Furlong’s speech that thanked the volunteers. 154 words. 8 sentences. Fifteen percent of his allocated time to thank whomever he wanted was dedicated to “the blue jackets”.

I look at the rest of the speech. One line for sponsors and partners. One line for paid staff. One line for the politicians. One line for the international visitors. One line for the security team. One line for the IOC. Even the athletes themselves only got 130 words.

It is quite clear that the world-class volunteers of these past two weeks were anything but window dressing. They did the heavy lifting and the heavy decision making.

And so now, this proverbial volunteer torch has been passed to the rest of the country. Volunteerism is poised to take another step in sophistication. Organizations are ready to make a shift in the way they include their unpaid personnel. I believe we have been challenged by Mr. Furlong. Whether we’re saving the environment or curing disease or eradicating poverty, we have been challenged.

I’ve included the rest of Mr. Furlong’s tribute for you to read. I hope you are inspired by the words as much as I have been.

A perfect team, you have behaved with great dignity, poured your hearts and souls into every task. You smiled, you cheered and you filled the hearts of our visitors with friendship and good will. For many of you who toiled behind the scenes no thanks will ever be enough. You took on a stubborn mountain with all your might. The result, Blue Jackets-1, Cypress Mountain Weather-0. You were tested again and again and reminded us all every day that there is a force that can sustain itself against the full thrust of a determined human heart. May your contribution here be worn as a badge of honour for the rest of your lives. For you have, through your service, defined for all to see what it is to be a proud, generous Canadian.

Thank you, the volunteers of the 2010 Winter Olympics, for making me a proud volunteer. A proud citizen. A proud Canadian.

And thank YOU, Mr. Furlong. Challenge accepted.

Posted by: Scott | In: IVC

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