The benefits are enormous: making new friends… having fun… teamwork… an enhanced sense of purpose through making a difference… enabling others to fulfil their dreams…. This surely explains why surveys show a consistent link between volunteering and happiness and mental well-being. Helping others turns out to be a very effective way of helping oneself as well. Volunteering was not just about passive inclusion but the dignity of active responsibility. These Olympic Games were the first to really throw open the door to volunteers with intellectual disabilities.
Even though volunteers had always been a vital part of a successful Olympics, this wonderful opportunity had not been generally available to men and women with intellectual disabilities. But the Olympic Games was different. For these games, the Organising Committee realised they had to find a way to make full inclusion work.
This meant that like any other French citizen, Elio could sign up to volunteer and play his own part in making the Paris Olympics such a success.
How did it work? The changes included the number of hours that a volunteer needed to be at the games, and the understanding that people would have some support needs. In total, there were over volunteers. I was really looking forward to this day. But it was worth it! Some memories will stay long in the mind: For his part, Sylvain was thrilled to be chosen to hold the flag for France for the tennis at the Roland Garros stadium. For Jason, it was the opportunity to share a bedroom with his friend Sylvain.
And now, the Olympic torch itself will be travelling. The excitement, effort and responsibility of volunteering have finally ended. France has passed the Olympic torch to the US, which will be hosting the next games in Los Angeles, in The torch carries forward a strong commitment to inclusion and active participation. As the Paris games have shown, the Olympics and Paralympics can be a beacon of hope all citizens: with and without intellectual disabilities.
