The info of the Orientation for the Olympic Volunteer

I found the information of the volunteer orientation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Although it's quite important info, I don't receive any mail or don't see any announcement on the MY Page. It was just listed in the news column on the website.

Isn't the place to post wrong?
Shouldn't this kind info be sent by email in the first place?


Actually, I have often had the feeling that...
at least regarding volunteer-related activities, the RWC2019 Organising Committee is much more organaized and doing more properly than the TOCOG.
What the TOCOG has been doing is vague and unclear, and sometimes sloppy.
I know the event scale is different though.

I wonder if the TOCOG is not sloppy and just the RWC2019 Organising Committee is doing too great?
I'm not sure because it's my first time working for an international sports event.


The information I've found includes the steps to the orientation with the orientation reservation manual (PDF file), the schedule, the venue, etc.
Is it OK that those information is posted just in the news column??
I think that many of the applicants haven't found it.

The orientation in Tokyo will be held from early in February to the end of May.

I also found some information in the Volunteer FAQ.
The TOCOG doesn't invite all the applicants. They say that they will invite necessary number of people plus expected number of refusers.
The TOCOG never mentions "lottery." They uses the word "matching." But I don't think they can check matching for all 200,000 applicants. I think that's why they keep the criteria unclear.

And what is more, they don't say anything about whether to inform the people who are not invited to the orientation, more than half of the applicants won't be invited though.


The RWC2019 Organising Committee clarified the lottery, informed both successful and unsuccessful applicants of the results, and often (too often, haha) sends us emails to give information.


Organizing committees have to be very organized. Otherwise... it takes a toll on athletes and stuff especially volunteers.

The following is a part of the article I wrote here regarding the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.

Volunteers boycotted.
Due to crude working conditions, about 2,400 volunteers quit by 3rd February.
The remaining volunteers have requested the country’s Olympic committee to provide decent or basic working conditions.
And, in the end, over 100 volunteers boycotted the rehearsal for the opening ceremony.

The outcome of the Interview Roadshow

As I wrote, I attended the Interview Roadshow for the Rugby World Cup 2019 Japan Volunteer a month ago.

Then finally, I received the outcome.
I logged in the My Page and found "Acceptance." Goody!!


I promptly received the mail which said "Welcome to "TEAM NO-SIDE."

It also informed the renewal of the volunteer site and its new URL.
However! it's impossible to access it! An error message I have never seen appears. I guess that it's not due to too much traffic but due to server setting or so.

Also, I received the mail about an Orientation held in March.
I wonder why, but it's an optional, not must-attended event. Optional orientation?

I'm going to attend it, I can't sign up for it so far because of the current website trouble though.


Anyway, I'm very happy becoming a member of the TEAM NO-SIDE!!

Candidates of Volunteer Name

2 years between the volunteer application and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is named "Volunteer Journey", which is described as "opportunities to meet other volunteer applicants that share the same ambition and spirit, and the solidarity as a team member will grow stronger."

It's also described that the important first step in the Volunteer Journey" is to name the Games Volunteer.
It will be decided by a vote of the volunteer applicants.

There are 4 naming candidates.

Game Volunteer: Field Cast
City Volunteer: City Cast

Game Volunteer: Games Anchor
City Volunteer: City Anchor

Game Volunteer: Games Force
City Volunteer: City Force

Game Volunteer: Shining Blue
City Volunteer: Shining Blue Tokyo

The meaning and the intention f each naming is here.


Hmm... my impression is;
"Field Cast" sounds quite ordinary and is like Disneyland?
The word "Anchor" is less familiar to Japanese people. "Force" might be the same.
And so, I voted "Shining Blue", it's quite a novel name though.
"Shining Blue" is based on indigo blue color used for the Tokyo 2020 Games emblem.

The result will be released at the end of this month.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For reference;
At the RWC 2019 Japan, the name of the Volunteer Program (not volunteer, but the program) is "NO-SIDE."
There is the program emblem.

(frm: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/volunteers)

The Number of the applicants

The number of the applicants

The TOCOG has announced that the number of applicants for volunteers was 186,101.

There were 9,350 people who weren't able to complete their application due to system failure, and they can be included. So  the total number is 195,451.

Necessary number of the volunteer is about 80,000.

So, the applicants who can work for the Olympics are;

about one in 2.4 people ..... 40%

Hmm... Only 40%...

The figures of the 2012 London Olympics given by Tim, (Thank you for giving me this info on your comment!) are;
The necessary number of the volunteer: 70,000
The number of the applicants: more than 240,000
People who could proceed to the interview: 86,000


The applicants consist of;

Japanese:63%    Foreign nationals: 37%

I was surprised that so many foreign nationals have applied.
However, according to the IOC, there has been the case that foreign nationals didn't come to the events.
I think it's VERY hard to secure accommodation for people coming from overseas. Even if you could secure it, it's TOO expensive.
I was wondering if I would apply for the 2024 Paris Olympics and possibly for the 2028 LA, but it might not be realistic, considering arranging and paying for accommodation.

By the way, foreign nationals who worked for the 2012 London Olympics as a volunteer for real was under 5%.


Men: 37%    Women: 63%

This was also surprising for me.


by Roles

There are 9 roles and applicants was able to put their 3 choices on their My Page.
The 9 roles and each necessary number are as follow;

Guidance  16,000 - 25,000
Events  15,000 -17,000
Mobility Support  10,000 - 14,000
Personal Support (Attending VIPs etc.) 8,000 - 12,000
Operational Support  8,000 - 10,000
Healthcare  4,000 - 6,000
Technology  2,000 - 4,000
Media  2,000 - 4,000
Ceremonies  1,000 - 2,000
(The details are here.)

I strongly want to support athletes ("athlete first" spirit!)
So, I chose "Events," "Ceremonies" and "Operational Support."

You might think "Operational Support" is a bit far from athletes, and yes, I think so. But it includes working in the Olympic Village so I thought I can help athletes in the village. Even if I can work as the Operational Support, I think the possibility of being assigned as the Village work would be very small though.
But, I imagine the scene that I'm working in the Village!!

Regarding "Events", 15,000 -17,000 is needed, and 108,000 applicants chose it. Oh---.....
Even "Ceremonies", only 1,000 - 2,000 is needed, and 55,000... 55,000! applicants chose it. I knew that "Ceremonies" would have become very popular. It's almost impossible to be assigned this role.
But, I imagine the scene that I'm working at each ceremony too!!


"Imagination is stronger than willpower." (It's not the precise translation.)
(Émile Coué)

"You can realize what you can imagine with actual feeling." (It's not the precise translation.)
(William James)

The application has been closed.

The application for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics volunteer was closed on 21st.
I, of course, have applied.

For the application on the My Page, entering language skills, uniform sizes, volunteer experience etc. and uploading a face photo were required.

CODE
Also, There was a "Code" section.
In my case,
the RWC 2019 organizing committee has gave one code for the people who won the lottery for the volunteer.
So I was able to enter this code.

There seems to be various "code." For example, the employees of the companies which are partners of the Olympics are given a code.
I think that this "partner company code" must be strong! The TOCOG can't eliminate their important partner company's employees.

There are people who have several codes. Hmm... I have only one, but it's at least better than nothing.

THE NEXT STEP
According to the mail from the TOCOG, people who CAN proceed to the next stage will be informed about an interview and orientations between January and July.
Between Janyary and July!?!?! What's a vague and long period!
And, people who CANNOT proceed to the next stage will be informed accordingly on September. September!?!?!?!?!

OK, I guess,
if I can't receive anything by February or at the latest by March, I will consider it as failure.

Two Olympic cauldrons

I wrote before...
After big twists and turns, the design of the Olympic main stadium was decided 3 years ago, but also it was found that the design didn't have the Olympic cauldron!! a big mistake, a big problem!
My article at that time
The Olympics Main Stadium Issue

Three years have already gone by, then finally, something about the Olympic cauldron was decided, and it was announced this Monday.
Two Olympic cauldrons will be set. One is in the stadium and the other is out of the stadium which is not close to the stadium but is near the Olympic village.

The reason why two Olympic cauldrons will be set is obvious.

It is because the design in which there is no place for the Olympic cauldron was selected, needless to say.

So...

Only during the opening and closing ceremonies, it will be set in he field of the stadium.

But...

If it is in the field, of course, some events, such as track and field, can't be held.

So...

When the field is used, the Olympic cauldron is set outside the stadium.
Or, it will be outside all the time other than the ceremonies?


Too much cost again!

But there is one good thing. Even people who don't have a ticket for events in the stadium can watch it, the places around it will be definitely too crowed though.


By the way, in the Rio Olympics, it was also set out of the stadium. The same. But I don't think it was a reason that the Rio Olympic committee forgot securing the place for the Olympic Cauldron. haha.

The Interview Roadshow for RWC volunteer

I attended the Interview Roadshow for the Rugby World Cup 2019 Japan Volunteer yesterday.

I thought the interview for volunteer was something like having a group interview and being asked such as motivation, but it was quite different.
There was no opportunity that the participants and the staff talk directly for screening.

1. Check-in

Reception booth

My nameplate

2. Orientation - 30min
The participants were received an explanation about the Rugby World Cup, the activities of the volunteers, etc.

3. Group Work -30min
The participants were divided into a small group which consisted of around 8 people.
Each group was given the name of qualified countries. My group was Argentina.
The participants wore a wristband of their group with country flag design.

My wristband

And, we played a game, which was called a collaborative activity (teamwork).

A staff member was standing by each group with a notepad. Probably they were screening by watching the activity?

4. Admin work(?) and experience contents
- Taking a face photo for an ID card
- Checking uniform sizes - Trial fitting

Considering #3 and #4, I wonder if most of the participants get an offer??

Next step
By the end of this month
Entering information about language skills, uniform sizes, volunteer rolls roles of one's choice, etc. on each MY Page. I've done.
January
Getting an interview result and also a roll role offer.

I hope I can hear good news next month!