The CIES Conference on “Volunteer Management at FIFA” was conducted in an online mode by Ms. Amra Kubat, Volunteer Co-ordinator at FIFA for the participants of the 6th edition of the Sports Management programme on 15th December, 2024. Valuable inputs were also provided by Ms. Nicola Mccullough, Training Consultant -FIFA.
The conference provided a structured understanding of how large-scale sporting events successfully engage and manage volunteers. Key takeaways included:
- Definition of a Volunteer: Individuals who offer time and skills willingly, without monetary compensation, to support event operations and community engagement.
- Volunteer Motives: Driven by passion for sport, desire for social interaction, skill development, and contributing to a global event.
- Volunteer Benefits: Opportunities for networking, personal growth, skill enhancement, and experiencing world-class events from within.
- Barriers to Volunteering: Time constraints, lack of awareness, financial limitations, and logistical challenges.
- Responsibility of Organisers: Ensuring clear communication, proper training, safety, recognition, and a positive volunteer experience.
- Managing the Volunteer Journey: From recruitment and onboarding to training, engagement, and post-event appreciation.
- Process of Organising Volunteering: Planning roles, selecting candidates, scheduling, monitoring performance, and evaluating outcomes.
Overall, the session emphasized strategic planning and human-centric management for effective volunteer engagement. The session ended with some videos sharing volunteer experiences and an in depth understanding of the FIFA Volunteer Platform. It was an interactive session with great takeaways for all the participants.
