VTCT EQA Steve Smith reveals the interesting journey of how he got involved with the World Para and Athletics Championships using his First Aid and Sports Massage experience.
“It all began having responded to an advertisement for volunteers to work at the 2017 World Para and Athletics Championships being held at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in, London. In October 2016, I completed an application identifying the roles I was interested in and from 15,000 applications, I was successful resulting in an in-depth interview in London. In April, an email confirmed the offer as a First Aid team member.
“Training took place in June in what was the media centre of the Olympic Park. It was here that successful applicants attended for a morning of generic training with volunteers from all over the world. Adam Gemili, the GB Olympic sprinter appeared via the big screen to help cheer us along the training process.
“We were there to be turned into ‘Runners’ for the World Para and Athletics Championships, a title used for all volunteers irrespective of their role. In the afternoon, the Medical Services team consisting of doctors, nurses, osteopaths, physiotherapists, sports massage therapists and first aiders came together for some basic trauma and pitch recovery training.
“Duties were allocated for the Championships and when it started I was utilised in a First Aid and Sports Massage role which I found very rewarding. My roles were in providing Sports Massage to the athletes or assisting those attending the Championships in a First Aid role. Watching the International athletes train and then participate was a bonus.
There is talk of the Para Athletics coming back again in 2019 and I will be volunteering!”
If this story has inspire you, find out more information on VTCT Sports Massage qualifications here.
