That you are a Resident of the Island of Ireland aged 16 and over
Volunteer Areas
Accommodation
Athletes and Coaches will be accommodated in UCD Belfield and DCU, Glasnevin from Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th June.
Volunteers will be needed daily for general operations in both locations, front desk duties and other tasks as deemed necessary.
Experience in the hotel / hospitality industry would be ideal but not required.
Athlete Entertainment and SO Town
Special Olympics (SO) Town is an area specifically for athletes where they can relax in between competitions. SO Town will be located on the National Sports Campus and activities can include such things as arts & crafts, music, games, dance and theatre.
There will also be evening entertainment in the accommodation venues (UCD Belfield and DCU, Glasnevin) as well as a disco on one night during the Games.
Volunteer roles in this area involve the planning and co-ordination of fun activities for athletes in SO Town and also in the accommodation venues.
Catering
Athletes, coaches and volunteers will need to be fed in all venues during the Games. Responsibility for this will fall to members of the Catering Team. They will co-ordinate the distribution of lunches, snacks and drinks in all venues.
Please note this role does not involve food preparation! No catering experience required for General Volunteer catering roles in venues.
Healthy Athlete
Special Olympics Ireland put a huge emphasis on the mental and physical health of our athletes and this will continue throughout the Games at the Healthy Athlete Village on the National Sports Campus.
In the Village athletes will be given free health screening and education in the disciplines of optometry, dentistry, podiatry, audiology, physiotherapy, nutrition and health education.
Professionals in these disciplines will be approached to volunteer in the Healthy Athlete Village. We will also need general volunteers to help manage the Healthy Athlete Village and ensure that Athletes get the most out of their visit
Training
Every volunteer assisting during the Games will need to be trained in advance of June 2018. The Training Team will co-ordinate and plan the delivery of this training.
This is a Pre-Games role so you will not be required during the Games themselves. This leaves you free to take on a general volunteer role if you would like to!
Radio Communications
With so much activity at every venue, communication will be key. The Communications Team will manage all radio and fixed line communications within venues, providing support, training and technical assistance to radio users as needed.
Previous experience in communications would be helpful, but not compulsory.
IT Telecommunications
In the lead up to the event and during the Games themselves we will rely on phones, computers and other IT infrastructure to ensure the Games run smoothly and efficiently. The IT & Telecommunications team will be responsible for planning, delivering and supporting applications, hardware and networks for the event.
Skills in related technical areas are essential.
Delegation Services
Each of the 5 competing Regions (Munster, Connaught, Ulster, Eastern and Leinster) are called a delegation. This delegation is made up of athletes, coaches, chaperones and medical staff.
Delegation Services is a support network for the 5 delegations and they will act as a liaison between the Organising Committee and each regional delegation for any queries that may arise.
**please note positions on each of the Regional Delegations are selected and filled through the respective Region, not through this application process**
Medical Services
Medical Services will be active at a Games Organising Committee level. They will plan for the provision of medical and first aid services in both accommodation venues as well as all Competition Venues. They will liaise with the doctors, nurses and other specialist practitioners who will be volunteering at the Healthy Athlete Village and in competition venues.
Volunteer Services
With over 2500 volunteers needed to run the Games the Volunteer Services Team will be kept very busy! They will assist with volunteer registration and role assignment in advance of the Games.
During the Games Volunteer Services will be present in each venue and are the support network for all of the volunteers there on the day. They will run volunteer check in, ensure volunteers are distributed where needed and getting breaks etc.
Logistics
Plan for the procurement and delivery of equipment & supplies to venues. In venue, management and distribution of equipment, signage and supplies. Manual handling involved.
The logistics team will be responsble for the procurement and delivery of equipment and supplies to the various venues.
In the venue itself the Logistics team will be responsible for managing and distributing the equipment, signage and supplies to the area it is needed.
Manual handling will be involved in this role
Warehouse
We need Warehouse Volunteers in advance of the Games to help receive goods such as food, signage, drinks, medical supplies etc. During the Games the Warehouse team will work on a roster and again immediately after the Games support will be needed to retrieve, organise and manage equipment and stock.
This role will involve a lot of manual handling and please note the time commitments from April, during the Games and in the week after!
Signage (Ops)
Planning for distribution of signs and banners to venues. This role is only available at planning level (GOC)
Transport
Athletes and coaches will need to be transported from their accommodation venues to competition venues each day and home again that evening. The planning of this will be the responsibility of the Transport Team. This team will also oversee traffic management to ensure everyone is transported safely each day.
This role does not involved driving the bus but rather the planning and implementation of the transport plan.
Event Services
Event Services are the eyes & the ears of the Games. They provide assistance and information to spectators and other accredited persons. They will ensure the flow of people in the and around the venues, monitor access to certain areas and support venue operations at each venue.
Guest Services
The Games will attract national attention as the most prestigious sporting event of the summer, as a result we have invited many distinguished guests. From politicians to sports stars, corporate sponsors and supporters of Special Olympics Ireland, these guests will attend the Games and may also be involved in medal ceremonies.
Guest Services will be responsible for managing these guests and ensuring that they have a memorable experience.
This role operates at GOC level only.
Information Services
As you can imagine there will be a large volume of people moving around the venues including members of the public. The Information Services Team will be responsible for the organisation and manning of an Information Desk at each competition venue.
They will provide information to any one attending the Games including spectators, family members, general public, etc.
Media Services
The Media Services Team will be active before and during the Games. Before the Games the Media Services Organising Committee will plan all media including print, social, radio and TV to ensure that the Games are well promoted and covered across Regional and National media.
During the Games the Media Services team will welcome and assist media personnel (journalists and photographers) as they attend competition venues. There will also be regular updates on social media channels.
Music and Sound
The Sound Production team will be responsible for all public, safety and competition announcements during the Games as well as music and awards ceremony support in all competition venues. Roles included in this team include MCs or Announcers and assistants.
Merchandise
Types of Roles Available
Games Organising Committee (GOC)
This is a high level planning and strategy team that will be needed from now until the end of the Games in June 2018.
Members of this team must have excellent communication skills, be able to work as part of a team as well as having strong negotiation and project management skills.
A lot of responsibility for the planning and executing of the Games lies with the GOC.
Venue Management Team (VMT)
There will be a Venue Management Team at each venue and they will be responsible for the smooth and safe running of their respective venues.
VMT members will implement the plans created by the GOC at a venue level. VMT members must have strong leadership and interpersonal skills as they will have to manage multiple aspects of the venue as well as supporting volunteers in the venue.
General Volunteers
Over 2,000 General Volunteers are needed for the Ireland Games. General Volunteers are assigned a venue and are required to commit to the 4 days of the Games (Thursday June 14th -Sunday June 17th).
Within a venue the General Volunteers will be organised in teams supported by a member of the Venue Management Team. General volunteer roles vary across all Volunteer Areas in a venue.
Pre-Games training is required for all general volunteer roles, this is estimated to take 3 to 4 hours. The times and dates are not available yet but all Volunteers are required to attend this training.
General Volunteers must be friendly and enthusiastic team players with a positive attitude, they are integral to the success of the Games.
National Indoor Arena - Basketball, Bocce, Badminton, MATP, Gymmastics
One of the newest additions to the Campus, the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena is a fully accessible multi-sport arena built to world class standards. It houses the National Indoor Athletics Training Centre as well as the National Gymnastics Training Centre.
This venue will host Gymnastics, Badminton, Basketball, Bocce and MATP over the course of the Ireland Games 2018.
Irish Wheelchair Association, Clontarf - Table Tennis
The Irish Wheelchair Association in Clontarf will host the Table Tennis competitions in their indoor sports hall.
National Aquatics Centre, Sports Campus - Swimming
The National Aquatic Centre is one of the world’s largest indoor water centres. It comprises of a 10 lane 50m international standard swimming pool, a 25m diving pool and seating for 2,500 spectators.
The venue of the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2003, the National Aquatic Centre will once again host the Swimming competitions.
Leisureplex, Blanchardstown - Ten Pin Bowling
Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot - Equestrian
Cherry Orchard Equine Centre in Ballyfermot boasts full-sized indoor and outdoor arena and will host the Equestrian events.
Address: Cherry Orchard Green, Ballyfermot
FAI Pitches, Sports Campus - Football
Morton Stadium, Santry - Athletics
Morton Stadium Santry features a full 400m track with 8 lanes, four outdoor Long Jump pits, High Jump area and an all-weather Shot-Put & Hammer Throwing area. With seating capacity of 8,000 it has hosted many large athletics events and will host all Track & Field events for the Ireland Games 2018.
Royal Meath, Clonee - Pitch & Putt
Located in the heart of Clonee Village, the Royal Meath Pitch & Putt Club will host the Special Olympics Pitch & Putt competition.
The stunning 18 hole course boasts many wonderful well maintained greens that will challenge and excite athletes and spectators alike.
Salmon Leap - Kayaking
Located on the River Liffey where it flows in to Leixlip Resevoir Salmon Leap Canoe Club caters for everyone from beginners to top international racers.
It will host the Kayaking events for the Ireland Games
St. Margaret’s - Golf
The picturesque parkland course of St. Margaret’s Golf & Country Club is hosting the Golf competitions of the Ireland Games.
Accomodation- Dublin City University & University College Dublin
Delegations, made up of Athletes and Coaches will be split between DCU and UCD for the period of the Games. The accommodation venues are not open to the public or anyone other than official Delegations.