As BCU is the Official University Partner of the European Athletics Championships, students got opportunities to volunteer in various roles across the event. Ahmed, a Postgraduate Research student, got the opportunity to volunteer at the Activation Zone. We spoke to him about his role and what he got up to.
What was your role at the European Athletics Championships?
I was a student volunteer based in the main Activation Zone.
How did you get this opportunity?
I found out about the opportunity through a link circulated by the BCU Sports team, and I applied directly through that.
Talk us through a day at the EAC – what did you get up to, what were your tasks and responsibilities?
My days were incredibly eventful, packed with different activities. We were located right in the middle of the action, just before the entrance to the stadium zones, so the energy at the BCU stall was brilliant.
Our main job was engaging with the massive crowds of sports fans coming through. We handed out event goodies including clappers and custom BCU Croc charms, which were a big hit, and ran a series of live fan challenges.
We also put the public's fitness to the test using actual sports science equipment, running reaction time tests, vertical jump power tests and grip/upper-body strength tests. It was non-stop from start to finish, but it was brilliant to see people of all ages getting competitive and having a go.
What was your favourite moment from working at the EAC?
My favourite moment was when a Portuguese relay racing athlete gave me a big thumb-up as he was heading out after his event. I didn't catch his name, but he was incredibly kind, and it felt really special to get that moment of recognition from a world-class athlete.
Did you learn anything new?
I learnt a lot about teamwork when managing large-scale public crowds. I also learnt how to operate and explain the various sports science testing equipment we had at the stall. It was fantastic to represent BCU on such a massive international stage by the end of the event, it felt like everyone walking around was wearing our custom Croc charms!
What advice would you give to students who want to do similar opportunities?
I would highly recommend that every student throws themselves into volunteering opportunities like this. It is a fantastic way to represent BCU, build your network and portray a genuinely positive image of our university to the wider world.
My advice is to not hesitate when these emails come through and just apply! It builds your confidence, teaches you how to work under pressure and gives you hands-on experience that you simply cannot get inside a traditional classroom.