A peaceful army of 18,500 volunteers, all wearing sky-blue jackets, is one of the inspirations of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. These mostly Canadian volunteers are often led by an itinerant, highly skilled team of operations and logistics experts who migrate from one Olympic city to the next.
If the Olympic Movement had a French Foreign Legion, it would probably be populated by Australians and New Zealanders. They began with the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, widely perceived as a successful edition, and then migrated to Salt Lake City, Athens, Torino and Beijing. If you go to the Olympics in London, Sochi or Rio de Janeiro, you will meet Aussies and Kiwis and be impressed by their arcane knowledge of operating the world’s most complex athletic event.
Alastair Cameron
Alastair Cameron is one of these Australian Olympic Legionnaires. He operates Global Nomad, a sports marketing consultancy, and has spent the last 18 months getting ready for Vancouver.
What is your role in Vancouver?
I am senior manager for workforce accommodation, responsible for securing and management of all beds allocated to the Olympic workforce, whether volunteer, paid or contractor. This has hit a peak of 8,500 beds now. The majority of these are in the Sea to Sky corridor (Squamish to Whistler to Pemberton). It has been necessary to provide a much larger number of beds than normally would be secured by an Organizing Committee due to the low population base to draw from in the Whistler area.
You’ve done four editions of the Olympics: Sydney, Athens, Beijing and Vancouver. Plus two Commonwealth Games (Manchester and Melbourne), the Sydney Paralympic Games, and the Doha 2006 Asian Games. What moments stand out?
A couple of big highlights were at the beginning of my Olympic journey. As manager of the Olympic Youth Camp in Sydney I was responsible for the organization and management of a cultural program for 400 youth from around the world under the Olympic banner. I convinced the Governor General of Australia, our head of state, to open the Youth Camp on the day before he opened the Olympic Games. I made the speech for Opening Ceremonies and was honored to introduce him. My sister saw it on television in Hong Kong. Another highlight was being in the Olympic Stadium in Sydney, watching Cathy Freeman win the 400 meters with the entire weight of 20 million Australians resting on her shoulders. Truly magic. I shared one highlight with you, Bob, being on the plane carrying the Olympic flame for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. I traveled to 22 countries in 33 days as part of that.
For the people working behind the scenes, each edition of the Olympic Games takes on a different personality. Sydney set a standard for logistical excellence, Beijing showed off dramatic, spectacular set pieces and Torino felt intimate, almost like a family celebration. What does Vancouver feel like?
Vancouver is a green and friendly Games. Canadians are extremely hospitable and very proud to be Canadian. Walking around the streets, you see Canadian flags and clothing everywhere. I have spent a little time in downtown Vancouver and a lot in Whistler. Both seem to have a great party atmosphere. But they’re family friendly too.
Like the name of your company, you truly are a Global Nomad. What is your average stay in an Olympic city?
I am typically in a city 18 months to two years. Some of my stays have been much shorter, just arriving really to work through the Games period and then leaving again. Doha was two years, Beijing was 21 months and Vancouver will end up being 18 months. I love to live in the center of town, so I can walk out my front door and find myself amid the daily hubbub of the city. In Vancouver I am right downtown, a supermarket across the road, two good pubs within 200 meters and a great Asian takeaway half a block away. There is a Starbucks downstairs but I prefer to go further afield for decent coffee.
What bar in Vancouver has been taken over by the insiders behind the Games?
Dix Brewery on Thursday of late. But we did not really get one going until a month or so ago. I really think it depends where you are in the world as to what degree of an expat lifestyle that one has. In Doha and Beijing we were definitely the foreigners in town working on the Games and we had our gathering places. Here in Vancouver one is less of an expat in that sense so you really just go to your local. As an expat you often need to search out the essentials of life, discover where you can get those daily necessities that make you feel at home. They are everywhere here in Vancouver.
Is there any specific event in Vancouver you’re looking forward to watching or participating in?
I am enjoying the Women’s Alpine Downhill events as I have a friend competing. Chemmy Alcott from Great Britain was one of my Olympic Youth Camp participants in Sydney and is now competing in her third winter Olympic Games. It always gives an event a different flavor if you know someone in the event.
People working behind the scenes realize the enormous number of hours required in preparation and the Herculean schedule during the 17 days of the Games themselves. What do you enjoy most about these assignments?
It’s all about the satisfaction once the event is up and running and you can see all your hard work coming together, your staff working as a well-oiled machine and helping to make people’s Olympic experience great.
As a Games veteran, what do you think television viewers worldwide should realize about the Vancouver edition?
It’s a beautiful city blessed with some of nature’s greatest gifts. Mountains, sea, beautiful countryside. I never ever get tired of the 70-mile drive between Vancouver and Whistler. The Howe Sound on one side of the road, mountains on the other. I hope the coverage makes people want to come and visit for themselves.
Alastair Cameron photograph of Olympic ring installation at Whistler alpine venue, Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
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BIG AL – You ROCK!
Such an honour to know you and to have worked alongside you are many of the games. And I know if there was a question — who is your favourite non-competing Olympic addict junkie — you would have said, ‘the little crazy Aussie, Cassidy’! See you soon, when we cheer on Chemmy!
Cassidy Jackson-Carroll
Good work Big Albert; we need another couch surfing date sometime!
Vorn