Athletes gained useful career tips and advice at the workshop. Photo courtesy of Adecco Personnel Pte Ltd
The first-ever International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athlete Career Programme Job Preparation Workshop was held on 7 November 2009 to
provide eligible athletes with job placement opportunities, career counseling and transitional support, access to skills training and educational guidance.
The programme aimed to support the integration of athletes into the workplace both during and after their sporting career without compromising theirsporting objectives. The programme was a result of a tripartite collaboration between the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), the IOC and Adecco Personnel Private Limited, one of the world’s leading manpower staffing companies. Patrick Glennon, Global Director of the programme, led the four-hour workshop and was assisted by a team of facilitators from Adecco Personnel Pte Ltd.
James Wong, nine-time SEA Games Gold medallist for the discus and hammer events and vice-chairman of the SNOC Athlete's Commission, was present to regale the audience with his inspiring stories.
Sixty-one athletes who were either working or preparing to join the workforce gained useful career tips and advice from the programme. Experienced facilitators from Adecco energised the audience with a well-paced, power-packed agenda. The session kicked-off with an inspirational ‘Road to Beijing’ video and gripped everyone’s imagination from the start. The video, calculated to get pulses racing and hearts thumping, was a recap of the most glorious, awe-inspiring and memorable sporting moments of the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
The facilitators roused the participants further with an energetic ice-breaker called “Autograph Bingo!” where everyone had to move around the room to get “autographs” from different participants. It got everyone out of their seats as they mixed around and mingled freely. Five lucky winners with the most signatures were rewarded with very attractive prizes sponsored by the SNOC.
It was an exciting morning as the athletes were led through a number of interesting activities designed to help them learn more about themselves. They discovered possible exciting career paths which suited their personalities, skill-sets and values. In addition, the athletes also gained powerful networking tips. To cement the learning process, athletes went around the room exchanging ‘name cards’ and getting to know each other better in a fun networking game.
What Did Our Athletes and Coaches Have to Say?
· I strongly recommend this workshop. It was so fun and useful!
- Nurul Amira Azman, silat athlete
· Go for the next one! Learn important skills such as networking which you cannot acquire on your own.
- Keong Yumei, softball athlete
· I learnt many life-skills today. The best Saturday I had!
- Anja Chong, ice-skating athlete
· I urge fellow coaches to send their athletes to the workshop to learn essential life-skills that help them find their ideal career. I’ve also noticed that our athletes are now more focused in sport and raring to excel in all areas of their life!
- Zuhrah Sabri, silat coach
Coaches, register your athletes and give them an opportunity to take part in this useful session as they prepare for the next phase in their career. Only 80 slots are available for the next workshop scheduled in May 2010. Please e-mail to Beena Doshi, Athletes Services, Sports Development Group, SSC at beena_doshi@ssc.gov.sg or call her at DID 6500 5318.