The volunteer file

With over 60,000 volunteer applications received the profile of the Athens 2004 helper is young, well educated and multi-linguar. Greek Olympic organizers (ATHOC) revealed that three-quarters of those interested are under 34. The majority of applicants are living in Greece, while 12% are diaspora Greeks and another 23% come from non-Greeks.

But ATHOC doesn't want one type of volunteer. "We want everybody," says Olga Kikou, Volunteer Programme Manager. When ad companies Fortune and Upset launch the new volunteering ad campaign (television, radio and print) in the next months, the message will be aimed at people of all ages or educational and social backgrounds.

Only those 18 and over (at the time of the games) and enthusiastic need apply. The interviews, which thirty new staffers will conduct, will be get-to-know-you sessions, not job interviews or psychological/ security screenings. The first 15 minutes will be devoted to confirming application form info. Applicants will then have 30 minutes to ask questions, go over their qualifications and elaborate on volunteer interests. Hopefuls must then wait to be contacted by particular functional areas. In 3-4 months, they will receive a letter offering them a specific volunteer task (and a second choice).

So far, among the many categories, the most popular are Sports (topped by athletics and basketball) and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. However, interest is well distributed, according to Kikou. It looks as if the Paralympics will have its 15,000 volunteers too.

Incentives needed?

2002 featured a grand ATHOC tour of Olympic cities, a concert with stars like Mario Frangoulis and talks by Olympic athletes - all in the name of volunteerism. But as the pressure for volunteer numbers increased, ATHOC (for a second time) named a new General Manager of Volunteering (Dimitris Karamitsos-Tziras) and Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos even hinted Greeks required more than the glow of the Olympic spirit to volunteer.

ATHOC officials insist that volunteering should be an incentive in itself. However, a few steps have been taken to make it easier to participate. Conscripts who are ending their service or haven't yet started will receive a 20-day-leave to volunteer. Private sector union (GSEE) has agreed to help workers take the time off, while public sector union (ADEDY) is hammering out a volunteering package.

"We want to encourage people to volunteer, but we don't want to push people into volunteering," notes Kikou. "Most of the people who volunteer, do so because they love the games and want to see them from the inside, because they want to see Greece be successful in this and themselves as a big group." Few expect financial or other rewards, she points out.

Planting seeds of volunteerism

Deputy Education Minister Eleni Kourkoula, who spearheads volunteering education (including Olympic volunteering), agrees. She would like to see young Greek students "take the initiative by themselves to join". Within the context of the ministry's Olympic Education Programme, she's sent out material to schools concerning the Paralympics and Olympics. "In this way, we're preparing children to be spectators, volunteers and participants in the 2004 Games," says Kourkoula. However, the goal is that students "be conscious of what they are doing". She stresses that it's not enough for them to sign up for 2004. They need to become lifelong volunteers.

Deputy minister and ATHOC alike admit to being up against a historical problem - volunteerism is relatively new to Greece. Kourkoula explains: "We have a tradition of Greek hospitality, but none of organized social volunteering." In Greece, the creation of nonprofits has only taken off on a big scale in the 1980s and 1990s, observes Kikou. The ATHOC official adds that older Greeks in particular are not used to joining non-regional or non-political groups. There is resistance among the young too. One 26-year-old Athens graduate student says, "The 2004 games were supposed to create jobs to Greece. Why should I volunteer for free?"

Though many youngsters won't be old enough to volunteer in 2004, Kourkoula hopes to shake off such individualistic attitudes. "Our job is to build a volunteering consciousness for the future," she explains. Adding that children need to learn that "You aren't well, if your neighbour isn't."

Avoiding the rush

In countrywide presentations planned for 2003, ATHOC must not only attract new recruits, but retain previous "converts". Though Kikou proudly notes that Athens is "way ahead of Sydney " in terms of recruits so far, Athens could suffer the 20% volunteer no-shows experienced in Australia.

Volunteer selection and training will continue through the summer of 2004. However ATHOC wants to avoid a rush: "We don't want everyone to come in at the last minute," says Kikou. Each volunteer requires three sessions - for orientation, venue training and job-specific training. Participation in upcoming test events is also crucial for many volunteers. Time must also be allowed for volunteer accreditation, including all-important security checks by ATHOC