The Volunteer Experience At London 2012: Marcus Adams

Name: Marcus Adams
Role: Ball Patrol Team Member
Area: Sport
No. of Days Volunteered: 16
Current Location: Newcastle University (Hometown Perth)

Q: Tell us about your role at the hockey venue at the Olympics Games in London?

A: As a member of the Ball Patrol for London 2012, I was lucky enough to be right in the thick of the action, as part of a team of 36 individuals tasked with keeping the games flowing at the high pace. Strategically placed inside the boundaries of the pitch, we were one of the few groups of volunteers to be on the actual field of play during competition time, feeding the ball back into play when needed. This, of course, required an intensive selection and training programme, different to the general volunteer’s training.

After registering my original interest all the way back in November 2010, I was contacted soon after to say that I had been selected for the final 100, and to begin the final selection process, which would see 100 become the final 36. This afforded us the opportunity to experience international hockey first hand with the London Cup 2011, and then the high pace of the England Hockey League both during the season and with the promotion/relegation playoffs. This finally led to selection after the playoffs, with a nervous wait to receive an E-mail from Bev (our Ball Patrol Leader). The e-mail eventually arrived, with the good news that I had been selected for the final 36. Our final training was in the form of the Visa International Test Event, where I got to meet my fellow successful team members and was a great chance to bond pre-July for the Olympic Games.

Q: What previous experience did you have before the Olympics and how do you think it helped you to get selected as a volunteer? How did the experience compare to the other voluntary roles you do here in Scotland?

A: Prior to the Olympics, I had only experienced volunteering as a hockey coach, both at Strathallan School and at a local sports camp in Glenfarg. This minimal experience really spurred me on to want to become a part of London 2012, and my playing experience, along with my enthusiasm and effort that I put into the selection process helped me gain a place in the final team. Working as part of the team to deliver the Olympic Games was a very different experience from helping out at school, although much much better and far more rewarding.

Having played hockey since primary school, and being part of a Strathallan School team that reached the final of the U18 Scottish Cup, attending National Talent Days, and winning the BUCS National Trophy 2012 with my current team, Newcastle University, I had a valuable bank of experience to take to London. This knowledge of the game was vital in doing our role at the Olympics, as in order to pre-scan, work out what was going to happen and get ready to make a decision, it was important to think like the umpire and players.

London 12 walk on

Q: How did your experiences compare to your expectations before you started your role?

A: Before I started as part of the Ball Patrol, I was apprehensive as to what the experience was really going to be like. Having gone through the training programme, it was apparent that there was going to be a lot of pressure on us to make quick and correct decisions; decisions that can make the difference between making the quarter finals, or in extreme cases, the difference between going home with a medal or going home empty handed. On the first day of competition, the bar was set quite high, with high paced matches, however it wasn’t until the second day that I was really shown the weight on our proverbial shoulders. My first GB match, Mens vs Argentina, and the first chance to walk out to the sound of 16000 supporters cheering for the home team. There most likely won’t be any other way for me to experience that feeling again, the atmosphere was captivating, the noise was deafening, and after all that, we still had a job to do, know in the knowledge that in order for us to complete our task of “Remain Hidden! Fast in, Fast out”, we were going to need to really step it up! The game went without a hitch, and from that day onward, the experience became progressively greater, with matches become more important.

Q: What are your expectations for the volunteers who will be working at the hockey venue during the Commonwealth Games and how you think it will compare to the Olympics?

A: Volunteers working at the Hockey Venue for Glasgow 2014 can expect to become part of a great team of friends, who all value their position and really understand why they are there. This love for the sport and the attention to detail that comes with forges a fantastic bond between individuals, regardless of where you have come from, what experiences you have previously. The opportunity to be part of a large scale sporting event such as the Commonwealth Games really is quite likely to be a ‘once in a lifetime’ event, which really brings people together. I’m hoping that Glasgow 2014 can be on a par with, if not better than, the London 2012 games. We set the bar quite high down south, however I have no apprehension in saying that I believe that We can go one better, and make it an unforgettable experience for all involved.

Other Comments: Never in my life did I think that I would be walking out first onto the home Olympic Pitch, leading out the teams for the Mens Gold Medal Match, Germany vs The Netherlands. I certainly never thought that I would witness as many great goals first hand, especially for me, the winning German goal, scored and celebrated on 15m in front of me. After the game, I was lucky enough to be on the pitch as part of the Medal Ceremony, and a quick shower and change later I was outside Ball Patrol HQ, Gold Medal in hand getting a photograph with German Winner Moritz Fürste. All this in the space of 3 hours.

If you would like to share an experience like Marcus then it is not too late to apply for a voluntary position for Glasgow 2014.

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