Volunteer at the Paris Olympics: What’s It Take?

The Olympic Games would not function without the efforts of an army of volunteers. Whether it’s directing visitors around the venues, greeting dignitaries, offering an informal translation service to visitors, raking sand in the long jump pit or providing first aid medical care, volunteers do pretty much everything except compete in a sport.

Right from the very birth of the modern Games, in 1896, volunteers have been vital in making sure they run smoothly. In the early days, it was associations like the Boy Scouts, the army and amateur sportspeople who fulfilled the role, but from the London Games in 1948 onward, members of the general public who had come forward to volunteer began to figure more prominently. But it still took until 1980 with the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid before volunteering started to take on its modern role, when the tasks of recruiting, training and managing volunteers were formally incorporated into the organizing committee’s charter.

And as comparatively recently as 1992 the role of a volunteer was first explicitly defined in the report on the Barcelona Games. Since then, the number of volunteers for each Games has fluctuated between around 40,000 to an intended 80,000 for the 2021 Tokyo Games (the number was eventually reduced because of Covid restrictions). 

Paris, too, is relying on its volunteers to make sure the 2024 Olympics proceed as smoothly and hitch-free as possible. 45,000 people were required, and some people wondered if the French, known for their pessimistic outlook, would be bothered to get involved. They needn’t have worried: in total, 300,000 people applied. The 45,000 have been selected and now they are entering the final stages of the training process before being let loose on the millions of visitors who are expected to arrive in July and August. 

One such volunteer is Jo. Originally from Wales, Jo lived in Hong Kong for nearly a quarter century before moving to Paris in 2022 with her French partner. Her professional background is in marketing and business development for law firms, but while living in Hong Kong she also became involved in organizing sporting events. In particular, she was a member of the organizing committee for the Hong Kong Dragon Run, an international surfski and outrigging competition. This experience, she believes, stood her in good stead when she applied to become a Paris Olympics volunteer.

So why did she apply in the first place? “I had come to Paris because of my partner’s job,”  she explains. “But as I didn’t have a working visa I wasn’t eligible to work here, so applying to be a volunteer was a way of giving back something to the country that had welcomed me and had enabled me to stay here.” She adds, “Also, I had a couple of friends who had been volunteers at the London Olympics in 2012. They told me what a brilliant experience it was and the friends they’d made – and still have today. It really made me want to be part of the Paris experience.” 

So, when the selection process opened in March 2023 for Paris 2024 volunteers, Jo submitted her application. This being France, of course, there were lots of forms to fill in. The section on skills alone covered four pages. The questions were exhaustive: as well as submitting proofs of identity, applicants were asked which languages they spoke (French and English were compulsory), which sports they were interested in, whether they had any previous experience in running sports events, and whether they had any medical or paramedical skills, among a host of other questions. Bearing in mind that Paris is not the only place events will be held (Nantes, Lille, Tahiti and Marseille are also hosting competitions), applicants had to indicate which region they would be able to work in, and to confirm that they would be available for training beforehand as well as for the whole duration of the Olympics and Paralympics – a period of six weeks altogether, from 26th July – 7th September. 

It’s a big commitment but judging from the massive over-subscription, one which hundreds of thousands of people were willing to make. And a sizeable proportion of volunteers are non-French: Jo is one, obviously, but around 20% come from 150 countries, sometimes literally. Jo knows a woman who will be flying in from Boston, Massachusetts just to take part. The organizing committee is also proud that there is a 50/50 male/female split between the volunteers.

If the reasons why people applied are numerous, so are their expectations of what they hope to gain from the experience. ‘For me,’ says Jo, ‘it’s a sense of pride to be working with the Olympic Committee, and a sense of achievement. I’m thrilled to be part of this team.’ The sense of achievement is an important element of the Games’ legacy: volunteers will receive a badge and official acknowledgement of their contribution to put on their resumés – an important form of recognition for young people in particular. 

By early October Jo was able to register on the Olympic Volunteer portal and by mid-November she’d received notification that she’d been selected as a member of the Event Services Team. So what will she be doing?

Jo laughs. “I think I’m basically there to direct people. To point out exits, the restrooms, and help people with disabilities to their seats.” She will be working at the Stade de France where the athletics and rugby will be held. As a keen rugby fan, this was the perfect venue for Jo. Not to mention being at the heart of the glamor associated with top-level athletics and its star performers. 

On the 23rd March a large proportion of the 45,000 volunteers came together in a massive convention at the La Défense Arena, which will also be a swimming venue. “It was spectacular,” says Jo. “There were huge screens and well-known French sports personalities, including Tony Estanguet, who is a three-time gold medalist canoe champion and head of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, and Guillaume Gille who’s the coach of the French handball team.” It was the first, and probably the only, time all the volunteers were gathered together while they listened to talks about the catering (France, after all!), the pictogram, volunteers’ different roles, and the medals that have been minted for these Games. They also had a preview of their uniforms – a complete outfit including trousers that convert into shorts, shirts, jacket, socks, shoes, and a hat for anticipated heatwave weather, plus a sports bag to keep it all in.

There have been some complaints about the fact that accommodation is not provided or paid for. This is an issue for some people who don’t live in Paris or close to the other venues, although Olympic volunteers are usually expected to make their own arrangements. However, the cost of public transport will be reimbursed (again, volunteers are usually expected to pay their own costs), as well as the provision of a catered meal per shift. There is a big emphasis on sustainability – 50% of the dishes will be vegetarian and food waste will be recycled. People will be encouraged to refill water bottles at public fountains and the organizing committee hopes to halve the use of single use plastic.

Now, it’s time for volunteers to undertake the online training that’s been uploaded to the portal. Jo will receive her accreditation and uniform in May. While she knows she is working a two-week slot between 24th July – 11th August she’s assuming that nearer the time she will receive a more detailed timetable of her duties. The Olympic Torch is now making its way around France, after a journey aboard the Belem tallship from Greece to Marseille. Suddenly, the Games seem real.  

And which country will Jo, who is British, support in these French Games? “Both,” she says diplomatically.  “Coincidentally, both nations wear red, white and blue. Instead of shouting ‘Allez les Bleus’ I’ll be shouting ‘Allez les Deux!’” 

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