The power of sports through intercommunion

Voice of a participating student

Waseda University sent six student volunteers in February 2018 to the 23rd Winter Olympics held in PyeongChang, South Korea. The students, who received pre-service training in autumn last year and on-site training early February this year, conducted volunteer activities at various venues during the Games held from February 9 until February 25. Ayumi Shoji, a third-year student at the School of Political Science and Economic, who is back from the event, speaks about her experiences there.

Profile:

Ayumi Shoji, 3rd year at the School of Political Science and Economic, Waseda University

Experiencing the power of sports that promotes international exchange

I want to see the Games with my own eyes

I joined the student volunteering program for the Winter Olympic Games held in PyeongChang, South Korea from February 9 until February 25, 2018. I was into basketball and swimming when I was in junior and senior high school. I love playing sports and watching them. I was interested in international exchange partly because I am studying international relationship. I participated in the program, wishing to be part of the Olympic Games, which promotes sports and international exchange.

I volunteered at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre. Outside the center, I worked as a guide for visitors who go to event sites on a mountain top, and at the information center inside, I took turns to provide tourist guide information and answer questions and inquiries from visitors.

Intercommunion beyond languages and national boarders

I was at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre, where Alpine skiing competitions were held. As I was given an hour of rest after an hour of work, I was able to see athletes skiing toward the finish line. Live games are totally different from on-air games. I was surprised at their skiing speed; they came and went away in a blink.

I was really moved and felt the power of sports when I saw a crowd of spectators cheering wildly for athletes who skied well while cheering up athletes who did their best, irrespective of their nationalities. I was also impressed when I saw the scene where supporters of athletes from different countries that competed were taking pictures together after the games.

I speak little Korean. When on-site directions were given in Korean, other student volunteers kindly translated them into English, so I was able to work smoothly. I think I was able to communicate well with Korean spectators beyond the language barrier; some of the people I helped spoke to me after games and some said to me, “Well done.” A little language with smile and gesture will help build good relationship. I was also glad when visitors from Europe said hello to me in Korean.

There are things that you can experience only through the Games

I want to work in an international environment in the future, so it was a valuable experience in my life moving forward that I was able to experience volunteer activities at the Olympic Games. Students have a lot of time to spare and can have a lot of experiences that might change their perspective. The Olympic Games will provide great opportunities for such experiences. I would like students to participate in volunteer activities for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games if they can. I am looking forward to seeing the Games to enjoy differences between the atmosphere of the PyeongChang Games and that of the Tokyo Games.