GENEVA : THE VOLUNTEER S/DIE „VOLUNTEER S“/ LES BÉNÉVOLE S Rolex grand slam magazine The CHI and its volunteers The souls of Geneva 58 F our days of equestrian sport in a class of its own. A superlative programme. A setting that impresses the athletes as much as the spectators. “Geneva is the heart of our sport,” says Steve Guerdat, a local hero and the crowd’s favourite. “You feel like a star when you ride into the ring. You definitely want to leave the arena as the winner!” But what makes the traditional show so unique? Is it the perfect infrastructure? Is it the gigantic indoor jumping arena? Or is it perhaps the euphoric crowd that the top international riders attract to the foot of the Swiss Alps every year? For General Director Sophie Mottu Morel, the answer is quite clear: “Our volunteers! Without them the show wouldn’t be possible. Their passion and motivation turn the CHI Geneva into what it is.” Around 700 volunteers – more than at any other indoor event on the equestrian sporting circuit – make sure that the show runs smoothly every year. Not only do they help build the course, but they also help with the ticketing, seat allocation, secretariat and VIP areas, as well as with the decorations or in the press office or the stables. The volunteers are involved in all of these areas, as well as many others. They work tirelessly, from early morning hours until late at night. “They are onsite from the moment the show starts in the morning and are still busy long after the riders and visitors have gone home. Many of them even take extra holiday for the occasion,” says Sports Director Alban Poudret, praising the commitment of his volunteers, who are on average aged 23. However, since some of the work can be carried out by volunteers as young as twelve, the majority of them have already been on board for years. In other words, they are young in years, yet rich in experience. It’s a successful strategy that also has a positive impact on the grandstands: “The youthfulness of our volunteers rubs off on the crowd and helps us attract young people to the sport and, in particular, to our show.” A big family But there is also the other extreme too. Now and again, the Genevans also celebrate the 50-year anniversaries of their volunteers. The most recent was two years ago. Five decades of voluntary service – that is something that not only the person celebrating the anniversary can be proud of, but also the Geneva Organising Committee. “We are simply one big family! It is the passion for the sport that unites us,” says Poudret regarding the loyalty of the volunteers. Since nearly all of the volunteers are also riders, the jobs in the stables and in the arena are particularly popular. It is here where they can come close to their two- and four-legged idols and can get to know them behind the scenes. Between the 150 and 170 available jobs, these are the two biggest areas in the Geneva volunteer programme. Is it really necessary to have 170 people to build the courses? “The teams are enormous, it’s true,“ says Sophie Mottu Morel. “We don’t want to overtax the volunteers; we want to give them the opportunity to also experience a bit of the show atmosphere.” Enjoying the show is also an important principle at the CHI. That is why many tasks are double staffed. “We could also manage with 400 volunteers, but then the atmosphere wouldn’t be as sensational,“ says Alban Poudret. “And that is precisely what the Genevans are famous for! Everyone profits from the fantastic atmosphere created by the volunteers in Palexpo – the riders, the horses, the grooms, the spectators, the sponsors
Rolex Grand Slam magazine Number 3
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