Training of Vancouver 2010 volunteers: a legacy opportunity?

Abstract

The successful delivery of a mega sport event depends upon a volunteer workforce. It is often asserted that the training of event volunteers contributes to the creation of a social legacy via the transfer of learning to other volunteer contexts, thereby creating an enhanced volunteer pool after the event, which will support the tourism and events industries in the host communities. This article reflects upon the reality of that assertion and argues that in order to achieve legacy both training and development strategies are required. As such an analysis of data collected at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games around training and legacy is discussed. A Legacy Training and Development Model is offered and subsequently applied to the case study. The article concludes by suggesting that training at Vancouver 2010 was a missed opportunity in achieving legacy.

Keywords:

• training
• volunteers
• legacy
• mega sport events
• Vancouver 2010

Notes on contributors

Angela M. Benson is a Principal Lecturer in Tourism at the University of Brighton. Angela has published extensively on Tourism, Volunteering, Sustainability and Research Methods. She is the Founding Chair of the ATLAS Volunteer Tourism Research Group and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Tracey J. Dickson is an Associate Professor at the University of Canberra, where she has worked since 2005. Tracey's research interests include volunteering, alpine tourism, risk management in outdoor recreation, snowsport and mountain bike safety. She is currently the National Secretary (Australia) for the International Society for Skiing Safety.

F. Anne Terwiel is a Lecturer of Tourism at Thompson Rivers University, British Columbia, Canada. Prior to her academic career Anne was a tourism training and business development consultant. Her research interests include volunteering and ski safety. Currently she is the National Secretary for International Society for Skiing Safety (ISSS).

Deborah A. Blackman is Director of Graduate Research Office and a Professor in Management at the University of Canberra. Deborah's academic background is in HRM, change management and organisational behaviour. The common theme of her work is developing effective knowledge acquisition and transfer in order to improve organisational effectiveness.

Notes

1. vInspired is a charity that helps young people discover the value of volunteering – for themselves and for others.