Becoming a volunteer is not easy, the selection process is rigorous and time-consuming. "I applied to help out at the Olympics two years ago," Anna said. "I wanted to contribute my time and experience." Almost a quarter of a million people from across the globe applied to volunteer at the Games, with 70,000 being selected. Sixty percent of volunteers in Rio are locals with most of the rest coming from the US, China, Russia, and the UK.
Volunteers are expected to give up hours and hours of their own time and face a litany of challenges. "There is often a language barrier with athletes and officials from different countries," Anna said. "I faced the challenge of helping a South Korean delegation which didn't speak English. In the end I used Google Translate to try to find out what they needed."
 |
|
Members of Spain's Paralympic team arrive at the Welcome Center. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] |
It turned out that the South Korean team wanted to take a packed lunch to their venue as they would have little time to eat between events.
"The next day they rushed into the Welcome Center to thank me for my help, they gave me a South Korean Olympic pin and key ring. I was really touched," Anna said.
As much as the athletes who compete both together and against each other, there is a real sense of community and family among volunteers at the Games. "This is the most supportive and inclusive team I have ever experienced," Anna said, "They helped me when I first arrived and had no knowledge about what I was about to do. They took me home after work. We talked, we joked, and we cheered together. I met some of the most loving and passionate characters in my life and I very much admire their team spirit."
"My experience in Rio has been unforgettable. Last night a pair of gold medal winners and athletes from other nations came into the Welcome Center. We just stood there, clapped our hands and cheered them as they walked by," Anna said. "It was a very touching moment, not because they won, but because we saw how they really care for each other, how they rely on each other and how they remove obstacles and cross barriers to achieve something bigger and even more important."
When the Paralympic Games come to a close on Sept 17, it will not just be the athletes who will travel home with their heads held high, but also the selfless volunteers who made it all happen.
