POSTED: Thursday July 30th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VANOC launches employee loan program to fill remaining jobs for the 2010 Winter Games

VANOC is offering businesses and governments the opportunity to give their employees a once-in-a-lifetime professional experience through working temporarily for the Games.

 

VANCOUVER, July 30 - As part of its efforts to find creative solutions in a challenging economy, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) is offering businesses and governments the opportunity to give their employees a once-in-a-lifetime professional experience through working temporarily for the Games.

VANOC has launched an employee loan program to fill most of its remaining 1,500 short-term jobs. Positions will last between eight weeks and six months, and the longest terms will begin as early as this August. Accommodation remains a challenge, so organizations able to loan employees already residing in the Vancouver and Sea to Sky regions are particularly encouraged to participate. Similar secondment programs have been used at previous Games, including Calgary in 1988.

Jobs are available in 32 of VANOC’s 53 departments. A small sample of the Organizing Committee’s 1,500 remaining positions include: Accreditation Coordinator, Broadcast Operations Coordinator, Performer Services Coordinator, Cultural Olympiad Program Manager, Energy Deputy Manager, Venue and Language Service Coordinator, Delivery Driver, Remote Vehicle Screening Site Coordinator, Housekeeping Representative, Rigging/Lighting Manager, Sport Writer, Venue Transportation Manager and Venue Communications Centre Manager. A list of VANOC departments requiring additional workforce is included in the attached backgrounder.

“For the past year we’ve been implementing a limited secondment model similar to recent Olympic and Commonwealth Games. However, to proactively manage our way through the realities of the economic downturn we have decided to significantly expand this program,” said Dave Cobb, deputy chief executive officer and executive vice president. “It’s a creative solution to maintain a balanced budget and everyone from corporations to government can be part of the solution. We’re not only offering a unique opportunity for the public and private sectors, we’re navigating through an extraordinary downturn in the economy, and the use of seconded employees will ease some of the pressure on our budget.” While the final value and number of loaned employees will not be known for several months, the program will result in significant savings to VANOC’s operational budget.

“We believe the employee loan program is a win-win situation for everyone,” continued Cobb. “VANOC is looking to fill out its 2010 roster with talented people from a wide range of disciplines. Those involved in the program will get the experience of a lifetime and will take their inspired new skills and confidence back to their respective employers when it’s over, creating another lasting legacy for the Games.”

“We have 45 seconded staff from 20 different partners already part of the secondment program, such as Deloitte, the Canadian Tourism Commission and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport,” said Donna Wilson, executive vice president of human resources, sustainability and international client services at VANOC. “They are examples of how companies can make a huge contribution to the Games and benefit by gaining energized employees with supercharged skills honed at one of the largest international sporting events in the world. Loaned employees will broaden their skill set, while getting all the benefits of being a Games-time worker such as an official uniform and a lifetime of memories, secure in the knowledge that their regular job will be there to return to when the Games draw to a close in March 2010. We invite all companies in the business community to participate.”

VANOC has already been working with the BC Public Service on seconding employees to fill key roles. Building on this approach, other public and private partners will be encouraged to loan employees to help deliver the Games. “This approach is consistent with the delivery of past Games and will use available resources to their best possible potential as we all work together to ensure success,” concluded Wilson.

Interested businesses and employees can find additional information on getting involved in the program by emailing teamworkforce@workforce.vancouver2010.com.

“Numerous companies and Government Partners loaned us staff in the lead up to the ‘88 Games to help ensure success,” said Frank King, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Calgary Organizing Committee for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games. “From some of the most senior executives in our organization to those who had front-line jobs in Games venues, the community and our partners stepped up to give their employees the extraordinary opportunity to share the experience of working with the Organizing Committee. That was over 20 years ago and the enduring pride in the community remains strong. I still hear from people who were seconded to the Games, what it did for their careers and the memories and friendships that came with it. I strongly encourage the public and private sector to seriously consider putting people on the 2010 team, not only to help VANOC but to enrich their companies with the skills and experience gained by being part of it.”

About VANOC

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Please visit www.vancouver2010.com for further details on programs and schedules.

                                 Backgrounder

VANOC will be filling positions in the following departments:

Accommodation

The Accommodation function is responsible for securing, managing and providing and/or coordinating lodging for specific categories of accredited people attending or participating in the 2010 Winter Games, and ensuring that quality and operational standards are met.

Accreditation

The Accreditation function is responsible for registering and identifying all potential participants to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and accrediting only eligible persons by issuing Games accreditation cards with appropriate access privileges in order that the person can perform his/her Games official roles.

Anti-Doping

The Anti-Doping function is responsible for VANOC’s doping control/anti-doping program. The program includes Games-time testing and the operation of a World Anti Doping Agency-accredited anti-doping lab during the Games.

Broadcast Integration

The Broadcast Integration function is responsible for liaising between Olympic Broadcast Services and VANOC to ensure planning, preparation and the provision of the facilities and services required for the operation of the Olympic Broadcast System are met.

Ceremonies and Spectaculars

The Ceremonies function is responsible for the planning and staging of Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Cultural Olympiad

The Cultural Olympiad function is responsible for planning and presenting an exciting, innovative and accessible Olympic and Paralympic arts and cultural program as well as festivals.

Energy Services

Working in close collaboration with the venue construction and overlay teams, and in consultation with corporate partners, the Energy Services function is responsible for the provision and implementation of all permanent and temporary, reliable, redundant power infrastructure required for the Games. Key activities include planning and implementing of electrical safety initiatives, emergency preparation and the testing of operating plans and Games-time power infrastructure operations.

Event Services

Event Services is responsible for planning and managing the spectator experience at all Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games competition and ceremonies venues as well as at celebration sites. While the group’s primary focus is to assist spectators, it also serves accredited participants such as athletes, media and other VANOC workforce members.

Finance

The Finance function is responsible for financial reporting and accounting services, budget development and management, tax services, oversight of the Rate Card program, treasury and foreign exchange management, and dissolution planning and execution.

Food and Beverage

The Food and Beverage function is responsible for delivering safe and high-quality food and beverage products to all constituent groups during the Games.

International Client Services

International Client Services is responsible for the management of all pre-Games and Games-time National Olympic Committee/National Paralympic Committee (NOC/NPC) meetings, Olympic/Paralympic Family services at Games time, management of the Games observer program, management of the Olympic and Paralympic Family hotels, language and interpretation services at competition venues, IOC meetings and the Main Media Centre, and pre-Games and Games-time dignitary and protocol services.

Legal Services

The Legal Services function provides legal services to internal clients including support to VANOC functions in the drafting and negotiation of contracts and with interpretation and enforcement of contracts. The function also engages in brand management and works with the Commercial Rights Management function on required programs and legislation. The Legal function is responsible for VANOC’s privacy program and Freedom of Information (FOI)/Access to Information (ATI) management and corporate secretary services to the VANOC board of directors.

Logistics

The Logistics function is responsible for management of the assets and materials of the 2010 Winter Games (excluding the Olympic and Paralympic Villages) including material planning, receipt, storage, distribution/deployment at venues and the recovery and disposition of these items, inclusive of competition venues, non-competition venues, ceremonies and Look of the Games.

Look of the Games

The Look of the Games function is responsible for creating a memorable visual experience for athletes, spectators and the international broadcast audiences through the integrated application of Vancouver 2010 Look of the Games treatments and signage.

Medical Services

The Medical Services function is responsible for Games-time medical services for athletes, team officials, workforce, IOC/IPC Family, spectators and media. The service is provided through two Polyclinics located within the Olympic and Paralympic Villages and is delivered by a trained workforce, volunteers, medical professional contractors, in liaison with local heath authorities, external agencies, and supplies and equipment providers.

National Olympic Committee/National Paralympic Committee Services

NOC/NPC Services serves as the primary liaison and only point of contact between VANOC and its National Olympic Committee (NOC) and National Paralympic Committee (NPC) partners, in the period leading up to and during the 2010 Winter Games. NOCs develop, promote and protect the Olympic Movement in their respective countries in accordance with the Olympic Charter.

Official Languages

In keeping with Canada’s proud linguistic duality and great cultural diversity, the Official Languages function works in close collaboration with francophone communities across Canada as well as other VANOC functions to promote Canada’s two official languages to ensure the delivery of bilingual Games.

Olympic/Paralympic Villages

The Olympic/Paralympic Villages function is responsible for VANOC’s Olympic and Paralympic Villages planning, oversight of the development and implementation of all operations, services, temporary facilities and equipment required to operate the Olympic and Paralympic Villages.

Overlay

The Overlay function is responsible for developing an integrated venue design and installing the temporary infrastructure required to provide a good working and spectator environment for all Olympic and Paralympic client groups.

Press Operations

The Press Operations function is responsible for the planning, preparation and provision of services required for the efficient and professional operation of accredited written and photographic media and their technical and support staff.

Procurement

The Procurement function provides centralized procurement services and contract management support for all VANOC functions.

Project and Information Management

The Project and Information Management function provides a central service to all VANOC’s functions and assists in the development of processes and tools to support integrated Games-wide planning including operation readiness exercises. Additionally, the function provides information management services including maintaining and managing VANOC information management systems, corporate records, research and reference services.

Security Integration and Contract Security

The Security Integration function is responsible for working in close collaboration with the national and local public safety authorities operating as the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit (V2010ISU) to coordinate overall planning. This function also manages venue security pre- and post-Games during overlay and decommissioning phases.

Snow Removal, Cleaning and Waste

The Snow Removal, Cleaning and Waste function is responsible for planning, designing and implementing a cleaning and waste management system to meet VANOC’s zero waste commitment, as well as a snow clearing and removal system.

    Sport
   
    The Sport function is comprised of three departments:
   
    -  Competition Management
    Competition Management is responsible for the development and management
    of the field of play within the rules of each International Sport
    Federation or International Paralympic Sport Federation.
   
    -  Sport Services
    Sport Services is responsible for managing any planning, projects or
    services that cross all sports. This includes; sport planning, sport
    equipment, weather, sport entries, sport publications, the Competition
    Schedule, Paralympic classification and International Sport Federation
    and International Paralympic Sport Federation services.
   
    -  Sport Production
    Sport Production is responsible for entertaining, educating and engaging
    spectators at the competition venues. This includes selecting announcers,
    programming the video boards and providing music that enhances the
    spectators’ and athletes’ experience.

Timing, Scoring and Results

The Timing, Scoring and Results function is responsible for providing timing and scoring systems (timing equipment, scoreboards and sportsboards), results systems, information diffusion systems, print distribution services and results data capture and distribution.

Technology

The responsibilities of the Technology function cover the entire range of technology equipment and infrastructure required for the Games including:

    -  Venue planning: responsible for technology infrastructure requirements
       definition, design co-ordination, implementation, venue space required
       for Games time operations, as well as Games-time operation practices
       and procedures. At Games time the team is responsible for technology
       venue operations.
   
    -  Telecommunications: The Games require an extensive telecommunications
       network to support the venues and interconnect them to the Broadcast
       Centre and VANOC headquarters and data centre. A wireless
       telecommunications infrastructure is also required for cellular
       traffic, WiFi access and support for two-way radios.
   
    -  VANOC office support: provides for the overall technology needs of
       VANOC staff, such as computers, networks, printers and telephones.

In addition, this function is responsible for technical rooms such as data centres, the operations’ centre and equipment rooms, providing computer hardware, operating systems and software.

Ticketing

The Ticketing function is responsible for ticket program planning including general sales and marketing programs, communication activities and logistics surrounding the sale and distribution of tickets.

Torch Relays

The Torch Relays function is responsible for all aspects of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays - planning, administration, management, operations, marketing and communications.

Transportation

The Transportation function is responsible for planning and implementing systems, policies and procedures that provide for the transport of people to and from Olympic and Paralympic venues, facilities and related sites. VANOC is directly responsible for developing and providing appropriate transportation systems to meet the needs of different groups as well as collaborating with external stakeholders and authorities.

Venue Management

Venue Management is responsible for operating the Games competition and training venues, for ensuring that all client group needs and services are met, and that operational plans and procedures are developed and then implemented for all venue activities.

Workforce/Human Resources

The Workforce/Human Resources function is responsible for all aspects of the workforce journey, including planning, recruiting, training, retaining and caring for the workforce staging the Games. The workforce includes paid staff, volunteers and contractors.
For further information: Media Contacts: Jennifer Young, VANOC Communications, (604) 403-3589, jennifer_young@vancouver2010.com; Paula Webber, VANOC Communications, (604) 403-2685, paula_webber@vancouver2010.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Keywords · VANOC · Vancouver 2010

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Name: Jason Macnaughton
Organization: Vancouver 2010
Email:
Phone: +1.(778) 328-6734
URL: http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/-/32678/q0c15c/index.html

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