09 September 2012
Volunteer chaplain Stacy
James
As the London Games draw to a close, the Head of LOCOG's*
multifaith chaplaincy team, Canon Duncan Green, says he and his
team have been inspired by the example of the 200,000 staff and
volunteers - as well as all the athletes - many of whom have made
sacrifices to play their part.
He describes a mealtime conversation with a volunteer from
Newcastle who told him how she had saved all year from her
unemployment benefit to pay for the train fares and the campsite
fees so she could be at the Games. She described it as a
"life-changing" experience he adds and is now hopeful of finding
paid employment as she has Olympic work experience on her CV.
Chaplaincy, adds Duncan, is about being alongside people and
dealing with their everyday lives.
The chaplaincy team, serving those of all faiths and none, was
made up of 162 volunteer chaplains, based at all the sporting
venues around the country with a central presence and chaplaincy
centre in Straftord. The team also served the 26,000 journalists
from all over the world.
Listen to the Church of England podcast with Duncan Green and
Paralympic volunteer chaplain Stacy James at:
http://www.churchofengland.org/media/1532530/cofepodcastolympicvillage.mp3
Notes
*LOCOG is the London Organising Committee of the
Olympic and Paralympic Games; see www.london2012.com
More information on Stacy James can be found at www.walkingvictorious.com