We talk to CSSC Volunteer Pete Button about his experience at a 2012 test event!
Pete Button and CSSC
I have been a CSSC member since joining the MoD in 1987. My main sport is 
volleyball, having represented the MoD at the CSSC National Championship for
the past 17 years and have been in the winning team a few times. I am captain of
the work volleyball team and have been MoD National Champions once and Sports Day champions three times. I am the membership secretary for our site, which has
a membership of over 480 people, 95% of the staff, so am always keen to see what CSSC are up to. (95%!! We're impressed! Ed.)
On our site, at the Defence Geographic Centre in Feltham we have just under 500 people on site. We have an onsite Sports and Social club, the FGSSA (Feltham Garrison Sports and Social Association) which has been going for 48 years since 1963. This is part of the CSSC as all our members join the CSSC to become FGSSA members. We get a rebate from the DSRA (Defence Sports and Recreational Association) who get their money from the CSSC. I am the membership secretary of the FGSSA so I am in charge of looking after the membership list, ensuring the latest forms are available for new members to join and sending them off to CSSC among other things.
Our members take part in many CSSC activities including the CSSC Games, CSSC National events such as Ten Pin Bowling finals (we have won the London Qualifier many times), Badminton finals, Angling and more, so as an organisation we are very active and possibly one of the biggest sites in London for CSSC members.
Pete and The Olympic Games
Since 2005 when London was awarded the Olympic Games I had always wanted to be part of it. There were many reasons, most similar to others, but my main reasons to be a volunteer and help out was that it's a once in a lifetime experience. London has had the Olympics twice before and it won't happen again in my lifetime! Also, my brother, who lives in Sydney, Australia, was a volunteer at the 2000 Olympic Games and he told me what a wonderful time he had - so I had to be part of it.
My journey began when I applied online back in 2010. I have always had a keen interest in Volleyball having played since I was 19, so this was my angle of approach. In February 2011, I was selected for an interview at the Excel Centre in London to be part of the Volleyball Team, which was step one out of the way - at least I could be part of something I loved. In May, I was invited to be part of the Beach Volleyball Test Event in August 2011. So I was now in the Test Event which meant I had one foot in the door.
The Test Event took place at Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall. It was a 7 day experience with the competition lasting 5 of those days. The purpose of the event was to get the logistics, timings, practices and procedures in place for when the Olympics come to town. Run on a much smaller scale, the event was a ladies only event comprising of 24 women's teams from around the world. There were teams from GB, USA, Australia, Canada, China, Malaysia, Spain, Brazil and even Uganda plus many more. In the Olympics there would be 24 men's teams also. The arena was very impressive but much smaller than in 2012 - the test event held 1500 people while the Olympics will hold 15,000 people and be the same size as Centre Court at Wimbledon!
My experience at the Test Event began with two days training. I had an induction meeting where we were told about the event, the ethics and what was required of us. Everyone was extremely enthusiastic and you could feel the buzz around the room. 150 volunteers all ready to do their part. My role was being an IF Team Services member. IF stands for International Federation and my role was to assist FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball) delegates and officials in their day to day duties. I was based just off court and my responsibilities were to help out with anything they required, ranging from office work, fetching refreshments, running errands and being a general PA to them. When it came down to it they seemed quite self sufficient and required little help, but I was on hand to help them whenever they needed anything. So this left me with quite a bit of time to watch the volleyball and even help out doing some sand raking and ball retrieving practice, which was really enjoyable.
The test event was a tremendous success and there was a small party afterwards where all the members of staff were congratulated on their work. There were delegates from Rio 2016 there and they were quoted as saying "we can't top this" which was a big boost to us all.
I have since been selected to be part of London 2012 in the same role and I can't wait. Even writing this is giving me goosebumps as I am so excited to be part of this monumental and unique event. Roll on London 2012!
