Tokyo 2020 Volunteers: Interviews Wrap Up & Rejection Letters Come Out
What To Expect Next & Other Opportunities
While some may start feeling confident about their chances to get a volunteer position, many others have already received their email of rejection. Tokyo 2020 started handing out thousands of rejection letters this last week, leaving many people either sad or frustrated. With over 200,000 people signed up to volunteer from around the world, unfortunately over 60% of hopeful applicants won’t be given one of the roughly 80,000 available positions.
While some have been vocally upset at the lack of an interview, we need to look at the facts that ultimately have led to thus and the things that had to be considered by the volunteer committee. More than anything, it is important for people to know, that there are plenty of other opportunities at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games. Whether you believe you will get a position or are confirmed not to be eligible, it is important to look forward, and this article aims to help people finding themselves in both situations.
Maybe In? What’s Next.
So you didn’t get a rejection letter, and you’re feeling positive about your chances? Then why not look ahead at what may be to come. When planning to help with such a big event, one must know what is to come. Here is a general timeline that was released by the Tokyo 2020 organizers regarding what their volunteer applicants can expect in the upcoming year.
Mid September 2019: Rejection messages will be sent to those who were unable to be matched to a vacant slot.
Late September 2019: Notifications will start to be sent out for specific training dates at this time.
October 2019: Generic training will begin to take place. Applicants will be required to attend one general training session, lasting 3–4 hours. Training location and preferred dates can be selected by the applicant.
- In Tokyo (October 2019 — February 2020): Training will be offered five days per week at a facility in Tokyo.
- Outside of Tokyo (October 2019 — January 2020): Generic Training will be offered two times per region. The regions listed are identical to that of the orientations.
- Overseas (From June 2020): Overseas volunteers will be trained in Tokyo, but at a much later date. These training sessions will begin within months leading up to Tokyo 2020.
March 2020: Volunteers will be notified of locations and specific roles to be performed during the games.
April 2020: Additional training for role-specific jobs and leadership training will begin.
May 2020: Uniforms will begin to be distributed.
June 2020: Venue specific training will be given to those who need it.
July 24th 2020: Tokyo 2020’s Olympic Opening Ceremonies.
August 9th 2020: Tokyo 2020’s Olympic Closing Ceremonies.
August 25th 2020: Tokyo 2020’s Paralympic Opening Ceremonies.
September 6th 2020: Tokyo 2020’s Paralympic Closing Ceremonies.
Many of these dates are a general guideline and are subject to change. It may help you realize where you stand in the grand scheme of things. If have some other questions regarding the process, the Tokyo 2020 FAQ page offers some answers.
Got Rejected?: The Reality Of The Situation
With the recent emails starting to be delivered, dashing potential volunteers hopes, it’s important to realize there are plenty of other opportunities. There are those who have relayed positive responses to the unfortunate news, while seemingly many others who have voiced their displeasure with the outcome. This is unavoidable as more than half of the applicants simply can’t be matched to a position.
There have been questions as to what was the percentage of accepted foreign applicants, with people posting seemingly random numbers from 1% to 16%. The truth is we don’t have an exact number. It is undeniable that a far greater percentage will be Japanese residents, and understandably so. Before looking at what other opportunities there are, let’s take a look at the factors that the volunteer organizers had to consider when choosing candidates.
- 1). A higher number of domestic applicants were willing to volunteer for more days. On the application, three options were given: 10 days, 20 days or 30+days. From the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee’s point of view, would you rather train someone who can volunteer for 10 days or someone who can volunteer a whole month?
- 2). Japanese residents are also less likely to cancel due to the costs. Many people who volunteer think it’s a good idea, until they see the actuality of the financial situation. It would costs thousands of dollars to volunteer for many. Rio found itself in a situation where many volunteers canceled due to the expenses last minute, and had to find replacements.
- 3). A worry of also supplying enough reasonable accommodations for visitors coming to vies the games in Tokyo is a big concern. To combat the overcrowding of hotels, applicants living in the Kanto area who can commute to and from home are highly desirable.
- 4). Although it’s a global event, the vast majority of spectators will be Japanese, Chinese, and English Speakers, with the majority of tickets being allocated for Japanese residents. They simply need volunteers who can speak Japanese, English and Chinese more than any other language.
So What Other Opportunities Remain?
If you weren’t able to secure a position as a volunteer, it’s important that you don't give up, as there are hundreds of other worth while positions that one can apply for to be part of Tokyo 2020. Here are some alternatives to the volunteer program that could be enticing.
1). Volunteer For Your Nation’s Olympic Team
When looking for opportunities many tends to flock to become a game’s volunteer, as it may seem like the best way to get close to the action. In many cases there is an even better opportunity for those who volunteer directly for their own nation’s team. This comes with possibly more responsibility and face to face experience with athletes. It is incredibly easy to find these pages with your affiliated team, as you can simply google them. The earlier you search the better, as some of the volunteer applications seem to close as early as September. Even if you are reading this too late, it’s still worth a shot emailing someone to see if the positions have indeed filled or not.
Here are links to Team Canada and Team USA respectively.
Team Canada:
Team USA:
2). Work For A Business
While some may not be looking to exactly “work” during Tokyo 2020, there is much to be gained from finding a business to work for. This could be valuable experience in your chosen field, and you could even get paid for it. The job titles range drastically, from Venues Energy Managers to Caterers. There are a quite a few websites that are looking for people of various backgrounds to fill in these positions.
Some business like Jet Set Sports specialize in offering accommodations for guests attending large sporting events like The Olympics and The Paralympics. They need individuals who can support them as they also take on the role as in-venue hospitality services, seeking people who bring enthusiasm and a hard work ethic.
3). Freelance
There are ample opportunities to do some freelance work in relation to Tokyo 2020. This could be as a blogger, photographer, or graphic designer to name just a few. As one of the worlds largest media events, there are plenty of freelance gigs one can pursue. This could be an incredibly rewarding experience, as you aren't necessarily set to a fixed schedule. Prominent Japanese news outlets like the Japan Times, are always looking for writers with interesting scoops.
4). Enjoy As A Fan
This doesn’t seem to be such a desirable option for many who got rejected. Sure it sucks you can’t help in the capacity you originally wished, but simply interacting as a fan can be just as enjoyable. With millions of people gathering to celebrate the games, there is ample opportunities to make friends and network!
If you wish to contace me, you can reach me at Shotarohmoore@hotmail.com
