Olympics ‘Games Makers’ and why students perhaps aren’t as lazy as we think

(GETTY IMAGES)

Let’s be honest, the perception most people have of students is that they spend most of the day in bed, get up and watch a bit of afternoon TV and spend their evenings drinking and of course attend the odd lecture. Isn’t that what student life is all about?

This stereotype has now been vanquished by the initiative of a large amount of students who have become ‘Games Makers’(volunteers) for the Olympics. Since the latter part of last year, students along with others have been queuing up at the Excel Centre in London (and other centres around the UK) to be assessed as possible Games Makers for the Olympics.

70,000 volunteers were needed for the British Olympics; it has also been cited as the largest military mobilisation since the second world war. Volunteers went through a fairly rigorous interview process where they were put through their paces to show their abilities in areas like customer service.

Well, of course they will volunteer; it’s free food and they get to watch the Olympics for free. However, consider this, would you be prepared to drive an Olympic VIP around for seven hours in London during the Olympics, ensuring that the contestant got to their location on time? Or would you be prepared to stand for hours on end, help people find their seats or keep them in the right queues for various facilities? Yes, you might be lucky and be part of the cordon for a bicycle race but at the speed they rush by how much will they honesty see?

Sophie Billington, who is aged 22 and recently graduated from Bristol University, has enrolled to volunteer for the upcoming Olympics. She said on the subject: “I think students are going through a massive image change. By volunteering for the Olympics it proves to the whole country that we are not as lazy as they think.” I believe Sophie’s opinion reflects that of most of the country as it proves students do possess the get up and go to improve their CVs.

There are some interesting roles, like a bum spotter: during the Paralympic games they ensure that the player’s buttocks remain seated during fencing events. Still, these great events will provide some great memories for these volunteers. In years to come when they reminisce about their contribution to the British Olympic Games in 2012 to their children and grandchildren, I wonder if they will ponder why students are so lazy “it wasn’t like this in my day!” I’m sure we will hear them say.

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• fleabite

  Since my grant did not arrive until after the end of my first term at University I did odd jobs (some were ODD) both before and after going to lectures and several students, like me, worked to earn money during the holidays. Who made up the idea that students spent half their days in bed?

• Pingback: JEFFREY

• http://twitter.com/Write2reply Write2reply

  some students are lucky to be well funded by Mummy and Daddy. But loads have to work their way through the whole time with all sorts of part time work. I worked 3 of the 4 years in part time and temp jobs as a BT 100 and 999 operator, phone order taker, customer service, database input blah blah blah but the best ones were cutting the grass in a cemetary or driving the council lorries to be serviced. And it still took me 20 years to pay back the loans and overdraft.

  Drink, pubs, student union, nightclubs, sport and heavy duty studying in the final year. Well worth it!

• bobbellinhell

  I’d rather students sat around all day watching telly than see them collaborating with the o£ympics.