Boris Johnson today thanked the “unbelievable” volunteers at the Olympic and Paralympic Games and said London should capitalise on and learn from their “energy”.
He told them they had been a “crop duster of serotonin” over the capital in an “unexpected triumph” for volunteering. The cheerful faces of the 70,000 red and purple-clad Games Makers and further 8,000 London Ambassadors have been a key feature of the Games.
Meeting volunteers at the North Greenwich Arena, Mr Johnson said: “I think the reason why the Olympics have been such a success is because the people of London have made it one.
“The volunteers have been tremendous and I want to thank all of them. The important thing now is to look forward. We have to think about how to keep the energy in the volunteering life of the city. They have done an amazing job in welcoming people to London and we can learn from that.” He joked that he would ask Mr Cameron if the volunteers could hold workshops in Rio before the Games in 2016.
Dawn Tolan, 73, from Sydenham said her six days as a London Ambassador had been a “wonderful” experience. She said: “This is my first time volunteering but I will definitely be doing it more often.”
Mrs Tolan, who has been based at the Cutty Sark, added: “If you are nice to people, whether you are volunteering or just sitting on a bus, people are likely to smile back.”
Games Maker Rhoda Wambui, 22, from Edgware, said: “I’m delighted I volunteered. We can get consumed by our own lives, but just looking up and saying “hey” can make a difference.”
The majority of Games Makers gave up at least 10 days to volunteer. They took on a wide range of activities including welcoming visitors, transporting athletes and working behind the scenes.
Last month a new government and Locog-backed volunteer board was set up. The Join In Trust will promote volunteering in the local community.
