British Pentathlon - Performance

The world's greatest sporting events are coming to London! Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will go on sale in 2011. Sign up now and you will be among the first to hear about ticketing news and other exciting events and offers.

Registering is a quick and easy process which will only take a few minutes to complete. It will also save you time when tickets go on sale in 2011.

To register please visit www.tickets.london2012.com or call 0844 847 2012.

Do you have what it takes to be a London 2012 Games volunteer?

London 2012’s official Games-time Volunteer Programme will launch this summer.

Volunteering at the London 2012 Games will be a truly memorable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for members of the Modern Pentathlon community.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) will recruit volunteers from across the UK – from a range of communities and backgrounds. The selection process will be transparent, open and fair.

Should you be selected as a Games delivery volunteer, you will be at the heart of the Games, representing the UK and delivering services that are essential for a successful and inspirational event. You will have the opportunity to use and develop your skills and play a key role in one of the largest and most unforgettable events ever to be held in the UK.

Volunteer roles

There will be two kinds of Games delivery volunteer – specialist and generalist.

• Specialist volunteers will have specific existing skills or qualifications that are needed for them to complete the role – for example, sport or medical training. The specialist volunteers working within the Sport Competition Team will be known as Sport Specific Volunteers (SSVs)
• Generalist volunteers will not need any special skills or qualifications and will receive all the necessary training. They might be given roles in areas such as spectator services, Olympic and Paralympic Village operations or uniform distribution.

A further important distinction which is drawn by the International Olympic Committee (and with which London 2012 have to comply) is that between National Technical Officials (NTOs) and Sport Specific Volunteers (SSVs). National Technical Officials may be loosely defined as those who apply the rules or have a role in judging a competition. They will form part of the Games Family, rather than the workforce and will follow a different recruitment, accreditation and uniform process to specialist and generalist volunteers.

While many roles are clearly NTO positions and others fall firmly into the volunteer camp there are ongoing discussions regarding a number of roles as to which group they fall into.

Specialist opportunities in Modern Pentathlon are likely to include roles such as:

• Pool Sheet collector
• Armoury Control
• Marshall – run course
• Horse leaders
• Basket Carriers (swimming and combined event)
• Managing the athlete facilities
• Providing information to teams through the Sport Information Centre
• Assisting the International Federation
• Supporting Technical Officials
• Scoring operators
• Announcer

Who can volunteer?

LOCOG aims to recruit volunteers who will bring passion, enthusiasm and energy to the Games, and who meet the following key criteria:

• Be 18 years old by 1 January 2012.
• Be available to volunteer for a minimum of 10 days at either, or both, of the Games.
• Be eligible to volunteer in the UK according to UK immigration laws. In other words:
• Have the right to live and work permanently in the UK; or
• Hold a valid passport or identity card from any country in the European Economic Area; or
• Be in the UK or coming to the UK to work in accordance with the UK Points Based System; or
• Be in the UK for another reason with a permission to remain in the UK that allows you to work as a volunteer; or
• Be providing specialist sports specific skills at the Games or have extensive previous Games experience and can meet the requirements for a sports visitor visa.
• Be able to attend a minimum of three training sessions prior to the Games.
• Agree to, and pass, certain security and background checks.
• Applicants for specialist sport volunteer roles must additionally be available for the Test Event which will be the Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final on 9/10 July 2011.

In addition to LOCOG’s requirements, Pentathlon GB would expect specialist sport volunteers to have experience at one or more of the international events run in Great Britain since 2005.

Why volunteer?

• The main benefit of volunteering is the chance to play an integral role in one of the most exciting events ever seen in the UK.
• The Games will provide a unique and inspirational setting for volunteers to gain experience and develop their skills.

Note that:

• London 2012 will provide volunteers with free meals during their shifts.
• Each volunteer will be given an official uniform to wear and will have the opportunity to keep their uniform as a souvenir of their experience and contribution to the Games.
• Volunteer travel arrangements are still being planned. Details of these will follow shortly.
• Accommodation will not be provided.

Key Dates of the volunteer recruitment process

• Summer 2010 London 2012’s official Volunteer Programme launches. All applicants will be required to complete an application form.
• November 2010 LOCOG will commence inviting short-listed applicants to a selection event.
• January 2011- February 2012 Selection events take place where all invited applicants will be interviewed.
• 9-10 July 2011 Test Event – UIPM World Cup Final
• October 2011 Offers will begin to be sent out to successful applicants.
• February 2012 Orientation training takes place.
• March 2012 Role-specific training begins.
• April 2012 Distribution of uniforms and accreditation passes commences.
• June 2012 Venue training begins.

How to apply

To assist LOCOG with its recruitment, we are asking those who are interested in applying for Specialist Sport Volunteer roles in Modern Pentathlon, and who meet the criteria as outlined above, to register their interest with us now. Pentathlon GB would like to gauge the interest and skills of those volunteers within the Modern Pentathlon community who may be interested in volunteering in a sport specific role. If you are interested please complete the attached form.

Please note: members who are interested in applying for any other specialist roles (such as within Medical Services or Press Operations) or generalist volunteer opportunities need not register their interest directly with Pentathlon GB but should apply directly to LOCOG whenn the Volunteer Application process opens later in the summer.

Visit http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/volunteering for more information on the Games-time Volunteer Programme, and details of other ways to volunteer in your local community now.

National Technical Officials

In addition to the Sport Specific Volunteers there will be a number of Technical Officials appointed to each Sport. The National Technical Officials will form part of the Games Family, rather than the workforce and will follow a different recruitment, accreditation and uniform process to specialist and generalist volunteers.

The National Technical Officials for Modern Pentathlon will support the International Technical Officials (Jury) and may include roles such as;

• Discipline Directors and Deputy Directors
• Fencing Referees
• Swimming Referee and Timekeepers

NTOs will be expected to meet the following essential criteria

• Hold the relevant UIPM International Licence or qualification from an appropriate National Governing Body
• Have experience at previous Olympics, World Championships or World Cups
• Need to be available for the test event
• Team player

NTO positions are LOCOG appointments, which will be defined and agreed with UIPM. However, because the division between NTO and SSV positions has not yet been finalised, all of those interested in participating in any capacity are encouraged to register as volunteers when the volunteering programme is launched later in the summer and to complete the attached form in the meanwhile.