With less than a month to go until the Olympics get underway, Bournemouth University School of Tourism is heavily involved in the Games. From Gamesmakers, to Torchbearers, volunteers, venue managers and researchers, the School of Tourism is heavily involved in London 2012.
The School of Tourism has 3 lecturers who were nominated to be Torchbearers. Dr. Debbie Sadd, Dr. Dorothy Fox and Alexis Major were all chosen to carry the torch when it comes through the Dorset area from July 12th. Dr. Keith Wilkes, the Dean of the School of Tourism, commented that “the fact that Alexis, Dorothy and Debbie were chosen is a fitting recognition and reward for their long standing contributions to various communities and groups within Bournemouth and Poole”.
Dr. Debbie Sadd has also completed her PhD concerning the Olympics entitled: Mega-events, community stakeholders and legacy; London 2012 around the impacts on the site residents in London and she will be working as a volunteer during the Games in the Basketball arena.
Dr. Matt Frew is also pursuing research around the Olympics. His ground breaking research looks into the use of Live sites and social media: ‘Live Sites and Social Media: from policy to practice’ This is a study that focuses on how the policy of mega-event Live Sites translate co-created convergence/promotion to active participation through social media.
As well as lecturers being involved in London 2012, the School of Tourism have also helped place lots of current and former students from the school in high profile positions associated with the Olympics. Below are highlighted a few examples of the varied roles that our School of Tourism students have acquired:
- John Millard: involved in a consultancy project on motivational techniques for staff at Sodexo Prestige for the Olympic Games.
- Rachel Rhodes will be a London ambassador for a week during the Games at Heathrow Airport
- Emma Lincoln is working for a ‘behind the scenes’ catering company supplying catering services to the Olympic Broadcasting Services. She has also been offered a Games Maker role in the Events Services team at the Handball Arena for the Paralympic Games.
- Aini Maensivu, position as an assistant venue manager at Eton Dorney the rowing venue.
- Charlotta Eriksson, volunteering during the Olympics, as part of the Press Operations Team as a photo team member at Excel
- Zoe Poole, Rongrong Zhang, Eleanor Cole, among many students working for Sodexo
- Sophie Ridge – will be working working within the Sport Information Team for the Gymnastics and the North Greenwich Arena.
- Shun-Han Chang working in Weymouth as an interpreter
- Jessica Bailey working with one of the marketing partners to deliver their hospitality programme centred around the Games.
- Mustafa Saricalar is also working on the Games as a transportation team leader
- Leroy-Winston Scott will be working at both Games looking after the National Olympic Committees with roles including driving the delegations around from athletes to ambassadors and will be based at the Olympic village.
- Valentina Tkachenko is working with Jet Set Sports an Official Olympic Games sponsor
- Harriett Clarke – is going to be a volunteer at the Paralympic Swimming. In addition she will work on the Ceremonies in Weymouth & Portland.
- Lucy Vollborth – will be part of the protocol team, particularly language services and will be based in the Athlete’s village.
In addition to this the School has been asked to arrange and supply the volunteers for the ceremonies at the sailing academy affectionately known as ‘WAP Vollies’ and the internal interview process has been managed on behalf of LOCOG by Caroline Jackson and Virginia Bailey. Students involved include: Sophie Wrench, Rosemary Carter, Amy Unwin.
Former School of Tourism student Emma Needham has got a job as a Hospitality Co-ordinator for the Corporate Hospitality side of the Olympics. Emma commented that “Being a former Events Management student having the opportunity to work on one of the largest international hallmark events is a once in a life time opportunity and I am so very excited to be a part of it.”
With so many people involved in the Games this summer, it looks set to be an interesting summer for the School of Tourism.