Quotarians Volunteer at Paralympic Games

Immediately after the Olympic Games, an event follows in the same facilities that offers handicapped athletes a chance to go for the gold. Although far less celebrated in the media than the Olympics, the Paralympics attract world class athletes from around the globe to compete in various sports.

Just as they had volunteered to help at the 2000 Olympics, Quotarians filled many volunteer roles during the two-week Paralympic Games in Stadium Australia in Sydney. Camden club members Nan Cottle and Pat McDonnell worked in the Equestrian Centre as Technology Staffing Coordinators. In another area, Campbelltown's Barbara Edney helped spectators at the Tennis Centre, while Liverpool's Judy Blackburn kept score during tennis matches.

            Barbara Edney and other volunteers with Swiss tennis
            paralympian Carlo Tresch.

"During the Paralympic Games," notes Judy, "not only did I see a lot of tennis, but I also took the opportunity to see athletes perform in seven other disciplines. The athletes I saw could swim, run, jump, throw, ride, and play their sports at such a level to give us all a new outlook on the term 'disabled.'"

Barbara said, for her, the Paralympic experience was even more memorable than the Olympics. "To meet and get to know these passionate, courageous people and to understand that you can do whatever you want in life if you try," she explains, "gave me a very warm feeling of respect that I will carry with me for many years. These athletes have shared part of their lives with us, and we should be grateful for the chance to learn more about them."

Liverpuddlian Quotarian Pam Graham took long service leave from her school to work with over 100 volunteers on the Mobile Operations Support Team. "I worked four days at the Dunc Gray Velodrome, then four days road cycling at Centennial Park,"says Pam. "To be able to witness the courage of those athletes was something I had never dreamed of. A great memory was seeing an American mother's face when she congratulated her son after he received his Paralympic silver medal in cycling. What an inspirational 12 days!" Adds Judy, "It was one of the most fantastic and rewarding experiences of my life."

—Mary Margaret Yodzis, Senior Writer
© 2000