Inside the Volunteer Paralympic Centre in the Grand Palais, Paris
Pink deck chairs and a bean bag or two …
Volunteering at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, from inside the Grand Palais – the Grand Palace – includes rest breaks in the Volunteer Centre. The Volunteer Centre, a temporary space, is next to the Dining Area, where volunteers eat, drink, and meet volunteers from around the world.
Volunteer Centre caters for all modes of seating – dining tables, sofas, individual seats, stools, deck chairs, and bean bags. Coffee, beverages, and snacks are available. Large screens display the Games’ action. Volunteers can charge their phones and tech people are at hand to sort out any app issues. There are also activities available.
Unlike the Olympic Games where free snacks were not provided to volunteers – due to the sheer number of them – one snack a day is provided at the Paralympics. Like the Olympics, one free hot meal is provided each day of mobilization. To “claim” the meal, volunteers scan their accreditation card. However, there is a catch. At the start of each day of mobilization, volunteers are required to “clock-in” – check-in – using the volunteer portal, online, or with the field assignment manager. No check in, no meal.
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Photographer: Martina Nicolls