Volunteering at Olympics has long-lasting effects, says VUB researcher
Today is International Volunteer Day, and Dr Yan Wang has taken the opportunity to release the results of research into the long-term effects of volunteering at an Olympic Games
More employable
Organisers of the Olympic Games wanted to test their theory that volunteering at the Olympics lived up to their promises to change young people’s lives. The Olympic Committee flies in young people from all over the world to volunteer at the Summer and Winter Games with the promise of a hugely enriching experience.
Those were just words before, but Wang has indeed proven the theory. She won a PhD Students Research Grant from the Olympics Studies Center to carry out research into the subject.
“We have noticed that volunteers acquire new skills and knowledge, as well as make social contacts that are useful in their later lives,” she said. Wang was inspired to apply for the grant because she herself had been a volunteer at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008 and was curious about other volunteer experiences.
Volunteering is a good and efficient way to create a positive impact at individual and local level
Wang interviewed 385 people who had volunteered for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing or the Olympic Youth Games in Singapore in 2010 or in Nanjing in 2014. She used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including personal interviews, online surveys, focus groups and document analysis.
The results show that those who volunteered proved to be more employable and developed stronger social skills. In addition, volunteers who were active at the Games are more likely to volunteer again afterwards.
Finally, working at the Olympic Games also provides lasting memories and continued interest in the Games and the Olympic ideals. “Volunteering is a good and efficient way to create a positive impact at individual and local level through a major event such as the Games, even long after it has ended,” said Wang.
Dr Wang is a member of VUB’s Sport & Society research group, which conducts independent research into the impact of both recreation and professional-level sport on society, as well as policymaking around sport. By disseminating research results and educational activities, the group contributes to the development of sports policy and practice.
Photo: Eric Lalmand/BELGA
