Volunteers want the Delhi Games to continue

The sea of red and white which over the past month had become a hallmark of the Commonwealth Games in the city may have slowly faded away after the closing ceremony signalling the culmination of the Games, but the group of young volunteers are finding it hard to let go.

Dressed in their bright red trackpants and white windcheater uniforms, the young brigade found dotting the city assisting at stadiums and press tribunes across the Games venues here are bidding goodbye to the mega event, which was more than just a sporting event for them.

"The Games brought people from diverse backgrounds together and the amount of time we spent together during the last twenty days formed a strong bond of friendship between us, thus, this very moment is very painful for me," says Neha, one of the volunteers.

Many like Neha joined the volunteer bandwagon for fun but seem to have taken away an experience they say will cherish forever.

"Initially I thought it was just a worthless job but the whole experience has been very rewarding... I can now tell my grandchildren that I was a volunteer at the 2010 Games," says another collegiate.

Their attachment to the whole set-up is such that many want the show to continue infinitely!

"We simply didn't want the Games to end, we wanted to keep working as long as we can," said Sarika, an army officer's wife who as a volunteer organised sight-seeing trips for foreign athletes.

The thrill of being in the vicinity of star-athletes has been one of the few attractions of the job that usually involved 8-10 hours of hard work per day.

"We got to interact with lots of people - athletes, officials, and the media. For me, the best moment was when I stood at an arm's distance from star boxer Vijender Singh. The other day I guided gold medallist Somdev Devvarman to his team bus," said Ankur Vasudeva, an engineering student who was attached to the British Virgin Islands contingent.

Vasudev, wearing a green team jersey of the Island nation said, "The chef-de mission gifted this shirt to me."

The 22,000 strong volunteer workforce found a special mention in the speeches of Commonnwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell and organising committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi at the closing ceremony.

Even the foreign athletes recognised their work and were all praise for their dedicated and unflinching service.

"They (volunteers) did a great job, in them India had a really big asset which was put to good use. I don't think the games would have done well without them," said a rugby player from Tonga, Ratu Maafu.

Meanwhile, the volunteers clicked loads of pictures with fellow workers and foreign athletes to ensure that even if the memories fade, they can be relived and refreshed anytime.

"I have made friends with lots of volunteers and they also helped us a lot in the daily work," said Abbey Burton, an English trap shooter.

However, as they say "there is always a next time", many volunteers are banking on the success of the Delhi Commonwealth Games for India bag an Olympics very soon.

"I hope India gets a chance to host the 2020 Olympics and no matter what, I shall be the first person to enroll as a volunteer," says Jatin Kalra of MD University.

Jatin also has hope that social networking would enable him to stay in touch with his new friends, he made during his volunteer posting at the Games Village Press Center.

"Facebook haina uske liye (Facebook can be used for that)," the computer engineering student adds.

Others volunteers like Sushant who was involved with the press operations say they plan to use the experience as a building block in their careers.

"I am going for a good holiday now ... When I get back I plan to get involved with the media management of games," he says. Sampat Kumar who is a college student says he plans to go back to his college and then will hunt for a job.

"I have learnt to speak in English and am confident of giving any interviews," he says. For some like Shivani, the event was a bonanza. An Australian radio commentator was so pleased with the volunteers that he gifted her his wireless keyboard as a parting gift.

"All of the are so bright and talented. It is a delight to have them around," said the journalist. Others have succeeded in collecting several lapel pins as souvenirs from the athletes.

"I am so proud to have these pins and am now all my friends are envious of me. I used to exchange the pins with the athletes and have more then a dozen with me," says a volunteer attached to the polyclinic that was set up in the village housing the athletes.