The 2010 Olympics Winter Games Homestay Program

Local Vancouver Residents Open Their Homes to Olympic Volunteers

Sep 19, 2009

In 2010, Vancouver will host the world for the Winter Olympics and locals will host volunteers who are working for free to make the Canadian Olympics the best ever!

This cool 2010 Olympic Winter Games Homestay Program strives to bring together Olympic Game volunteers who live outside of the Vancouver area and hosts living in the Sea to Sky corridor of Vancouver. The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) has put together an incredible program to bring more people into the city as much needed volunteers during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, and as a result is using a unique Homestay Program to house the volunteers.

What does it mean to be a Host?

VANOC is currently inviting residents of the above Greater Vancouver Region to apply to be a host family during the 2010 Olympic Games. They are advertising a promise of diversity and international exchange as the fullest way to enjoy and experience the spirit of the Olympic Games.

Volunteer hosts will provide room and board for 2010 Olympic volunteers (Guests) with bathroom facilities and breakfast. Access to laundry and kitchen facilities is not necessary but would be preferred. Hosts are also asked to provide transportation for the guest from the point of arrival, such as the airport, to home.

Hosts need not worry about being fluent in certain foreign languages. While this is helpful, fluency is not mandatory.

In return, VANOC rewards the hosts by announcing their contributions in public, and providing tickets to various Olympic events. Events for the provided host tickets will be held in specific locations, depending on the host location. To qualify for these tickets, hosts should apply to board and care for guests before the end of September 2009.

The number of tickets available depends on the host’s level of bronze, silver or gold. These levels are based on how many guests a host can accommodate and for how long. The more guests and nights a host can provide accommodation, the more tickets to events. For example, two guests for 20 nights equals 16 earned ticket events! These tickets can be transferred as gifts but may not be sold.

For those that don’t meet hosting requirements, but still want to help it is possible to apply to become a Team Leader, assisting guests and hosts make a very smooth transition.

What does it mean to be a Guest?

Guests will all be 2010 Olympic Games volunteers who have had background checks done by the Vancouver Organizing Committee, so the Host family can feel secure they are not inviting anyone dangerous into their home. The Vancouver Organizing Committee has approved the volunteers who have also been fully trained and certified, as well as having completed police checks.

Guests are matched with hosts based on location of the host home and the venues where the volunteer Guest has been assigned. If a guest volunteer and a host are already acquainted, it is very likely they can be assigned together as long as this information is provided on the host’s application. Guests and hosts will find out about their matches by the end of January 2010.

The Olympic Games are the one platform where the world is brought together as one global community, joined in one interest to see athletes excel and to explore the full possibilities and abilities of the human body. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games Homestay Program brings qualified guests and host families together to share as much of the games as possible with others from around the world.

Other articles about the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada:

The copyright of the article The 2010 Olympics Winter Games Homestay Program in Winter Olympic Games is owned by Tracey Drake. Permission to republish The 2010 Olympics Winter Games Homestay Program in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.