Ice arena recruits Olympic translators
The Bridgerland Ice Arena is recruiting volunteer interpreters to help bridge the language gap between Olympic staff and Olympic teams from around the world.
In anticipation of the Chinese and Swiss hockey team, a Russian figure skating champion and a French figure skating champion, the Bridgerland Ice Arena is prepared to put volunteer translators on buses, in the ice arena and anywhere else the Olympic athletes will be.
“In the last three weeks, phone calls have come pouring in and now I have more [volunteers] than I know what to do with,” said Tiffany Rudd, travel council assistant director for the Cache Chamber of Commerce and volunteer coordinator for the ice arena during the Olympics.
Rudd said a subcommittee was first formed in July under the Olympic welcoming committee for the ice arena to gather volunteer translators. The subcommittee started advertising for volunteers immediately, but got little response.
“It was just too early for people to be interested in it,” Rudd said.
Recently, however, more people have become interested because the Olympics are right around the corner, she said.
Rudd said some senior citizens, though they lack the ability to skate, still want to help.
Volunteer translators are required to be 18 years old or older and have their own transportation to the ice arena, Rudd said. They also must complete two training courses in December.
“If they can’t complete both, then they can’t do it,” Rudd said.
Rudd said since so many people are interested in volunteering, they can afford to be particular about choosing candidates.
“If they’re not serious about volunteering and the time commitment, then they shouldn’t do it,” she said.
Volunteers will be given laminated photo ID badges, Rudd said.
“We’ve really beefed up security three to four times more after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack,” she said.
Despite heightened security, Rudd said, “People are excited about being a part of the Olympics.”