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Originally Posted by Osem
All credit to the volunteers who've contributed so much!
I saw some of them interviewed earlier and the experience seems to have inspired them to want to carry on with the volunteering after the games are over. If so, that's great - great for the good causes/communities that'll benefit and good for those young people who may not have jobs or high expectations but may now have realised they are of value and do have things to offer. If nothing else, volunteering looks good on a CV and there's no doubting how it can raise the self esteem and inspire others. If people find this experience has changed their viewpoint and given them some self worth that'll be a valuable added bonus. The games have raised London's profile but I also think the wonderful spirit evident on the streets will do a great deal to win London many friends and future tourists. The army of volunteers have done us proud and it'd be a really nice gesture if their role was offically recognised and rewarded with some free or heavily subsidised use of the facilities.
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The volunteers are outstanding. They really have contributed massively to the success of these games. They are very helpful if you require it, always happy and bubbly, and occasionally inject a sense of fun and humour into events. This isn't the kind of superficial charm you get from a salesman who has been trained to be a 'people person', this is genuine politeness and character from people who are pleased to be there and pleased to be helping you. They are unpaid after all. They are everywhere in London ready to help. It reflects very well on all of us.
I have also noticed that normal Londoners are in the sprit of things. Helping out people who are lost when there are no volunteers around, offering to take pictures when a family are taking them of each other, and so on. At the events people cheer supporters from other countries when they make a noise or cheer their success. It's all very friendly.
Finally, and I have already mentioned this, the army have been great as well. The queues for security are quick but effective. The army are very good at it and polite as well. Considering they had to give up their holiday they deserve a massive amount of credit for the
excellent job they have been made to do at short notice. I dread to think what it would have been like with G4S staff everywhere. The army get it done, they get it done fast, they get it done well, and they get it done with politeness.
We're still just under half-way so let's not jinx it too much but thus far it's been very good. We've shown what we can do and we should be proud of it. The biggest event in the world and we're handling with style and competence. To think how few votes we got to host the 2018 World Cup, FIFA's loss.