BackShrenik Avlani | How I became a volunteer at Fifa
The selection process, which included an interview over Skype, online training and tests, took over a yearand was not without its hiccups
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A colleague at my previous assignment had just returned from South Africa after a month of covering the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) World Cup 2010 and said, “Next World Cup, whether I cover it or not, I will go as a volunteer." And that’s when I decided I would do the same.
I am now in São Paulo, Brazil, as a volunteer.
There are seven other volunteers from India who will be travelling to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre and Curitiba between May and early June to work alongside 15,000 volunteers (according to figures released by Fifa.com) to ensure a smooth and successful World Cup.
The applications for the Volunteer Programme 2014 Fifa World Cup opened in September 2012. Apart from personal details and a résumé, I had to fill a form, which ran into several pages and had questions like “Why do I think I would suit the role of a volunteer?", “What previous volunteering I had?", “Had I ever worked with any sports event?"
Aspirants also had to choose two cities they preferred and the three departments they wanted to work in. I chose São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Given my journalistic background, I picked “New Media" and “Press Operations" as my preferred area of work, with “Accreditation" as the last option.
In December, I was informed that I had been selected as a volunteer and needed to complete online training, take a test by January and indicate my availability for the World Cup Volunteer Programme between May and July to continue in the selection process. I completed the training—comprising a module on Fifa, its history, the World Cup, basic etiquette of volunteers, a brief introduction to the 12 host cities in Brazil and language tests for English and Spanish, quite like the Toefl (Test of English as a Foreign Language) test—within the deadline and then waited. It was during this training that it was made very clear that being a volunteer doesn’t guarantee that you will get to watch a game and that every volunteer has to arrange for his/her travel, stay and food.
An event of this scale is never without hiccups. The training did not start till the end of April and the official accreditation letters came only on 9 May, three days before my departure. Though the bulk of the volunteers will start work only in June, a Fun Day was organized in the 12 host cities for those of us who had reached on 17-18 May, to enable the volunteers and the local organizing committee to meet and greet each other.
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If you want to volunteer at the next World Cup...
u The local organizing committee and Fifa decide when to open registration for the volunteer programme. The announcement is made on Fifa.com. Keep checking this site for the announcement about two years ahead of the World Cup.
u The registration happens online. You will be asked to create an account and fill up your personal details and work experience, and answer questions like why you want to volunteer, previous experience in sporting events or volunteering, etc. After this you wait.
uFor Brazil, they conducted a Skype interview about which they informed applicants through email. At the next World Cup in Moscow, Russia, the format may be different. Usually, it’s at this level that applicants are culled.
u Have clear answers for every question. Avoid saying things you don’t know. Don’t make up things. Be confident during your Skype interview. Don’t brag too much but don’t downplay anything. The basic interviewing etiquette you will find in any interviews for dummies guide.
u In Brazil the proficiency test was in English and Spanish, though they speak Portuguese. The language tests should remain the same. But the process evolves with time.
uThe tournament lasts a month. You should look at taking at least a month off. But if you can, take two months off because work starts much earlier. Work on areas like airport services, accreditation and information technology starts a few weeks before kick-off. On the other hand, areas like spectator services and media operations kick in only when the tournament starts. Choose the areas of work depending on how much time you can spare.
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Volunteer numbers
u 152,101 applied for the Fifa World Cup Volunteer Programme 2014. South Africa got 70,000 applications in 2010 while Germany had 45,000 in 2006.
u 15,000 volunteers have been selected.
u 1,427 Colombians applied for this year’s programme, making them the single largest foreign group. The US (772), Spain (760), Mexico (742) and Argentina (731) complete the top 5.
Source: Fifa.com
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