In a spontaneous outburst from the audience at the Closing Ceremony of the London Games on Sunday, the Gamesmakers were recognized for their efforts. This I found embarrassing to say the least given I for my part did very little to deserve such an accolade. A thanks would have been enough. I’ll still volunteer in the future whatever the outcome of London2012.
As a way to balance things up I have published below some of the various comments I read on Twitter. Some are funny, some are not so funny, but most importantly they are all honest opinions. Make of them what you will. My own lasting impression of ‘Gamesmaking’ is that there were too many, the roles were ill-defined, sponsors were manic and over-zealous and that Lord Coe, Boris Johnson and LOCOG are the absolute masters of the bullshit!
I am one of the volunteer, and so far I can see why so many people have not even been contacted. There’s way too many of us and I think the whole thing has been slightly mismanaged. Did my 7th shift today, so 70 hours in total so far and I’ve been busy for 1 hour. What a huge waste of time and resources. Considering I also took UNPAID time off work, just to waste my time, you can see why I’m considering abandoning the whole thing… I thought it would have been a nice experience but so far it’s just been seriously frustrating.
Had a fantastic day volunteering today, just a shame the workforce canteen ran out of sandwiches and the majority of the hot food before all the volunteers got their lunch
Why moan on Facebook if you are unhappy with your role? Get some initiative and go and ask for something to do, feed back where it’s not working, instead of sitting on your backside being miserable. So many people didn’t get the chance to be a games maker. Use the opportunity. Had a great day volunteering at the road race today. Exhausted but looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow
ask any of my team (T2 drivers), they’ll say the same thing, we’re all bored to death, with nothing to do 90% of our time. I applied for VOLUNTEERING, which means helping out DO SOMETHING for the greater good, not sitting there DOING NOTHING.
you obviously misunderstood me. I didn’t say I don’t want to be part of it. Actually I’m more than happy and proud of being a tiny piece of the jigsaw and last night I was at the Olympic Park and stood outside the stadium for hours till the very end and froze to death (bloody windy and I forgot my jacket). I’m just saying I committed to it cos I wanted to help and I’m dying to do it by actually doing something rather than being asked to check out the car and go for a 10h ride!
7 shifts so far – that’s good going. Respect! I’m a T3 driver and cancelled my 4th shift yesterday. Doing nothing for 10 hours at a time is wearing me down. I call Eton Manor the drivers’ graveyard…
I volunteered for the games and was treated with nothing but contempt as was one of the women I work with. There was no thought as to where you were placed nobody I spoke to got the venue they asked for. When you got through to the volunteer help line it was manned by kids who had absolutely no respect for the people they were talking to. This is definitely NOT the British Olympics.
Packing my own tea bags and food for #Olympics2012 shift tonight. Everything else great but catering for #Gamesmakers missable
The cheek of #GamesMakers! I’m the only unpaid member in my team today, we’re all instructed to tell the public we’re volunteers
no one is pretending to be Games Makers; paid staff are pretending to be volunteers.
was only doing a few olympic shifts had no clients & felt totally unsuited for role hoping to do something different at paras
It seems I’m not the only young person hugely demotivated and hating the stuff we doing #Olympics
Friend said teenage daughter is being ‘exploited, not fed & expected to travel home alone at 2am
@sebcoe hearing news that food for #gamesmaker volunteers is running out & those spending all day on their feet going hungry. Can you help?
Usually love the v helpful #Gamesmakers but was verbally assaulted by one up at the park today. Gamesmaker? More like painmaker!
apparently games makers to take in extra tops today to look like reg punters in empty seats
It’s ok offering empty seats to games makers.What’s NOT ok is making them wear civvies so the public think empty seat problem is solved.
Make the games makers stand out and name and shame the sporting authorities who waste seats.
#Gamesmakers sitting in seats can wear what want say #london2012 – they were asked if could change out of uniform so emailed that they could
Does anyone know a person who has actually got these “released tickets” or is it all using games makers in civvies?
Seems to be a big problem ensuring GM’s are adequately fed and watered
Dear Games Makers, I get that you’re volunteers but that’s no reason for you to be seriously useless & know absolutely nothing.
Disgraceful attitude of “Show and Security Staff” at St Panc really highlights the fantastic Games Makers and Service Personnel.
Today I have put 6 cable ties on barriers!
It’s awesome! But I’ve been here since 6 and Games Makers don’t get to sit down…
ah mate, all them games makers are jarring me u’d think they were usain bolt the way they go on lol
After a week of seeing this happen I’ve got to ask: what’s up with ‘Games Makers’ and other official types using priority seats on the tube?
All the #GamesMakers on the First Great Western 01:00 train from Paddington have been upgraded to first class!
Early shift and check-in has run out of coffee!!!! THIS IS A DISASTER OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS!! #gamesmakers
BREAKING OLYMPIC NEWS – Several high profile pre-Olympic cynics have now tested positive. #London2012 #TeamGB
meant to have a 6 hour shift, after an hour and 10 mins they give me a ticket to the football and say watch it then go if you want
In the aquatics centre for free in £95 seats
the #gamesmaker helpline has utterly failed to provide reasonable adjustments we discussed. Now challenging & causing a fuss 🙁
disappointing from a #gamesmaker T3 drivers perspective. Hardly any passengers, sitting around for hours, terrible food, sad 🙁
LOCOG admits to taking on too many Games Makers for #London2012. Fortunately for them all 70,000 volunteers are unpaid!
Well, it turns out tonight was my last #gamesmaker shift -no-one required tomorrow afternoon. It has been brilliant. Rarely laughed so much
Games Makers are essentially like rats- wherever you go in London during the Olympics you’re never more than 5ft away from one
“No taking photographs on the stairs,” says a second Games Maker, “No walking on the stairs, no breathing on the stairs.”
Ticket office at #olympic park: there’s no tickets spare at all for today. Crowd of Games makers on way to sit in empty seats at handball.
Games Makers seem to think they are better than paid staff. They keep sending spectators to us for issues they should be dealing with.
Back at the Park – big crowds, games makers not quite so perky – a little fatigued I guess.
BMW, YC12 RSK, call sign R395, driver breaking no-smoking rules. Please investigate. People assume ALL #gamesmakers are like this
T3 driver shift. Lasted 45 mins as no work so sent home. What a disappointing experience it’s been 🙁
#Atos sending round security notices at work about wearing Olympic lanyards in public.Been in town 10 mins and seen hundreds! #gamesmakers
Last #gamesmaker shift as they’re over-volunteered for the weekend!
My last two #GamesMaker shifts have been cancelled. Literally distraught!
Slightly jealous of the great stories. It’s been very quiet for the car service. We’re the Radio 3 of #gamesmakers
THe Games maker with a giant megaphone ‘God, the French, we really can’t stand them. Losers’ (cheers)
The volunteer unpaid #gamesmakers at #London2012 were trained and supervised by full time paid professionals.
I don’t understand the media banging on about the voluntary Games Makers “making the games,” being friendly etc- they all looked so bored!
I think the Games Makers are getting a bit demob happy. One of them called me ‘a windowlicker’ yesterday. I was being dim but still…
Gamesmaker interviewed on Sky News, just admitted to getting entry to 5 events for nothing.
very sad we didn’t get to see athletics or cycling. Park was awesome but games makers outnumbered people. Lots of empty seats in waterpolo.
The Victoria Gate is now closed. There are no Games Makers, only a lot of lost Closing Ceremony spectators facing a long unsigned detour.
Just saw a games maker give commemorative baton to a kid on tube who obv excited about Olympics.
Our PM insults #gamesmaker “purple tracksuits” condescending git!!
Just tapped my #gamesmaker oyster card at Stratford. It said ‘soon expires’ 🙁
my parents moved my house while I’ve been a games maker!
Just walked into my local pub wearing my #gamesmaker uniform and got the biggest cheer and applause.
RT if you think the Olympic stadium should be filled with #Gamesmakers tonight and not businessmen and rich sponsors
maybe we all need to learn a new trick about being together as part of legacy. Thnks for ur personal contribution
Word on the #Gamesmaker street is that Sue Barker in real life is an absolute bitch.
Dammit. Trevor. Effing. Nelson. How did he get through security at the Olympic park? Couldn’t a #gamesmaker have dealt with him?
Despite popular belief not every games maker was a volunteer. I got paid to do what they did for free. LOL. LOLLANDAISE SAUCE, ROFL, ETC
Being a Games Maker has been one of the best things I’ve ever done
Hope none of the athletes end up in a dreadful East London hipster bar. Get a four pack from Londis and sit by the canal.
I hope every single Games Maker gets a lighty-up-bowler-hat to keep for ever.