Events & Games
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- What are Events & Games?
- What is the aim of the events and games programme?
- Who organises events?
- What roles are available to volunteers?
- What support do volunteers get?
- How can volunteers get involved?
- What training do volunteers get?
- Other FAQs
What are Events & Games?
An Event is a single day sports competition that involves athletes from several affiliated groups (clubs, centres, schools) accompanied by their coaches, gathering in one location with the primary aim of participating in that specific sports competition. Numerous events take place in all regions each year.
A Games is a multi day sports competition held on a residential basis involving a number of sports. It can incorporate many different venues and usually has other aspects such as entertainment, cultural and educational activities. Games take place less frequently than Events. They usually only occur once or twice every few years. The last major Games was the 2006 Special Olympics Ireland Games which was held in and around Belfast from the 21st to the 25th June, 2006.
What is the aim of the events and games programme?
Our aim is to build on the excellent work which has been done by volunteers and work together to further develop how our events are planned and managed. It is very important to ensure a consistent high quality and successful event regardless of the sport or location. A successful event is one that:
- offers quality competition, facilities and services to participating athletes, coaches, family members and spectators
- is safe for all in attendance
- runs efficiently and on time
- results in a positive experience for athletes, their coaches, family members, volunteers, spectators and all involved
Who organises events?
All our events are primarily planned and managed by volunteers. Moving forward our aim is that every Special Olympics event will have an Event Management Team. This applies regardless of the sport, the venue, the number of participants or stage in the advancement cycle. Each individual on the team will have their specific role and responsibilities but it is the team as a whole who will organise and deliver the event.
Event Management Team Structure
Depending on the event, all roles on the Event Management Team structure may not require a specific individual assigned to them. For some smaller events one person could combine roles (e.g. the Operations Manager might also organise Logistics and Communication for a small event).
What roles are available to volunteers?
There are number of different roles available to volunteers who would like to become involved in events. Whatever your skills and experience you can become a valuable member of an event management team. For a full list and description of roles click here (PDF file 9kb).
How can volunteers get involved?
If you are interested in volunteering for an event contact the Volunteer Support Centre in your Region as below:
What support do volunteers get?
The Event Management Guide is made available to all Event Teams; it is a tool for use by teams of volunteers who organise and deliver Special Olympics events across the island of Ireland. The aim of the guide is to provide these volunteer teams with the information they need to successfully plan and manage their event.
The Event Management Guide:
- outlines the key components and management structure for an event
- provides the volunteer team with the know-how to deliver a high quality event worthy of the athletes participating in it
- is full of practical advice and tips and presented in an accessible and user friendly format
- will enable each member of the team to undertake their role effectively, whether they are an experienced event volunteer or a brand new addition to the team
Included with the guide is the Event Management Toolkit; a pack of materials (forms, templates etc) needed when planning and managing an event.
What Training do volunteers get?
Event Management Training - All volunteers who take roles on an event management team will be given the opportunity to attend training in their region.
Support personnel - Whatever your role in the event team their will be other team members working with you. In addition, there is a Regional Event Officer working in each region to support all event teams.