Do you have what it takes to be a London 2012 Games delivery volunteer?
London 2012’s official Games-time Volunteer Programme will launch this summer.
Volunteering at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity.
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 vitally important to 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 memorable events ever to be held in the UK.
Veterinary Services volunteer roles
Veterinary Services at London 2012 aim to provide effective and efficient veterinary and
farrier support at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This will be facilitated by the
construction of a temporary veterinary clinic on site at the Equestrian venue in Greenwich
Park. Veterinary Services will provide immediate first aid to any horse on the venue that
requires it. In addition, Veterinary Services will assist the work of veterinary staff of individual
teams and competitors as requested, and provide veterinary advice and care to teams that
do not have their own veterinary staff.
Volunteer opportunities available in Veterinary Services will include:
Veterinary Clinical Expert
Veterinary Surgeon
Veterinary Administration Team Member
Veterinary Technician
Veterinary Laboratory Technician
Veterinary Pharmacy Manager
Veterinary Media Spokesperson
Cross Country Vet
Cross Country Vet Technician
Screen Team Member
Horse Ambulance Driver
Specialist experience will be required for all of these roles. Please see the table below for
more information about each role and an indication of the experience required.
Later in the year LOCOG will be communicating other volunteer opportunities in areas such
as spectator services, Olympic and Paralympic Village operations and uniform distribution.
Key criteria
LOCOG aims to recruit volunteers who will bring passion, enthusiasm and energy to the
Games. In addition, volunteers must:
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;
be able to attend a minimum of three training sessions prior to the Games; and
agree to undergo, and pass, certain security and background checks.
Applicants for veterinary volunteer roles must also be available for the Equestrian Test Event
provisionally planned for 4–6 July 2011.
Veterinary Services role descriptions and criteria
Role title Role description Criteria
Veterinary Veterinary Clinical Experts will: Veterinary Clinical Experts must:
Clinical Expert - provide expert veterinary - be board certified in a
diagnosis and advice to team recognised veterinary
vets and national teams; and discipline;
- perform expert clinical work - be registered with The
where required, including on Royal College of Veterinary
a 24-hour basis. Surgeons (RCVS);
- be working in a referral
situation, including
providing out-of-hours
cover;
- have attended a
Fédèration Equestre
Internationale (FEI)
veterinary course since
2008; and
- have professional
indemnity insurance of up
to £1 million.
Veterinary Veterinary Surgeons will: Veterinary Surgeons must:
Surgeon - provide first-opinion - have a minimum of five
veterinary evaluation and years’ post-qualification
advice to team vets and experience;
national teams, including on - be working in full-time
a 24-hour basis; and equine veterinary practice,
- cover the training areas and including performing out-of-
competition arena when they hours work;
are in use to provide - have attended a
immediate first aid. Fédèration Equestre
Internationale (FEI) course
since 2008; and
- have professional
indemnity insurance of up
to £500,000.
Administration Administration Team Members will: Administration Team Members
Team - run the front of house of the must:
Member veterinary clinic. - have experience of working
in a specialist equine
veterinary practice, in a
client-facing role;
- have IT skills; and
- have at least two years’
experience in an
administrative position in
the equestrian industry.
Veterinary Veterinary Technicians will: Veterinary Technicians must:
Technician - assist the veterinary - be working in a specialist
surgeons with their work; equine veterinary practice
- clean and maintain all with portable diagnostic
veterinary equipment; and equipment; and
- clean the horse areas of the - have at least two years’
veterinary clinic. experience in a veterinary
support role.
Veterinary Veterinary Laboratory Veterinary Laboratory
Laboratory Technician will: Technician must:
Technician - carry out haematology and - have at least one year’s
biochemistry analysis on experience of working in an
blood samples submitted to equine clinical pathology
the clinic. lab.
Veterinary Veterinary Pharmacy Veterinary Pharmacy
Pharmacy Managers will: Managers must:
Manager - will manage the pharmacy - hold the Animal Medicines
within the vet clinic, including Training Regulatory
ordering, stock control, Authority – Suitably
invoicing, dispensing Qualified Person (AMTRA
medicines to the team and to SQP) qualification or
treating vets. equivalent; and
- have experience of
managing a pharmacy in an
equine practice.
Veterinary Veterinary Media Veterinary Media Spokespeople
Media Spokespeople will: must:
Spokesperson - present informed comment - have experience of
on the veterinary aspects of commenting on horse
any horse injury sustained injuries during high-profile
during the cross-country equestrian events on
phase of the Eventing television media.
competition.
Cross Country Cross Country Vets will: Cross Country Vets have:
Vet - be stationed on the cross- - at least five years’ post-
country course to provide qualification experience;
immediate assessment and - have attended the
first aid. Association of Racecourse
Veterinary Surgeons
(ARVS) Casualty Seminar
in the past five years; and
- have professional
indemnity insurance of up
to £500,000.
Cross Country Cross Country Vet Technicians will: Cross Country Vet Technicians
Vet - be stationed on the cross- must:
Technician country course to assist the - currently be employed in a
veterinary surgeons with role that involves handling
their duties. competition horses on a
frequent basis.
Screen Team Screen Team Members will: Screen Team Members must:
Member - put up and hold screens in - have experience of working
case a horse or rider with injured horses.
requires veterinary or
medical treatment.
Horse Horse Ambulance Drivers will: Horse Ambulance Drivers must:
Ambulance - drive the Fellowes horse - be eligible to drive in the
Driver ambulance on site at UK and have a full and valid
Greenwich and the Equisave driving licence; and
ambulance to referral - have experience of driving
centres off site. a horse ambulance and
operating the Fellowes
ambulance unloading
mechanism.
Horse Cooling Horse Cooling Team Horse Cooling Team
Team Members will: Members must:
Member - assist with the cooling down - have experience of working
of horses as instructed by with elite level competition
veterinary staff. horses in hot climates.
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.
How to apply
LOCOG is asking individuals who are interested in applying for veterinary roles, and who
meet the above criteria, to register their interest now. To do this, please email a one-page
CV to veterinary@london2012.com by 16 July 2010.
Every applicant will be expected to go through the full LOCOG recruitment process, which
will include completing an application form and attending selection and training events.