Friday, February 27
As part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Games Knowledge Management (OGKM) programme, around 300 people from current Organising Committees (OCOGs) and applicant cities have been participating in the Vancouver 2010 Observer Programme. As an integral part of the OGKM platform, the programme provides a unique opportunity to live, learn and experience real Olympic Games operations.
The programme is organised by the IOC in conjunction with the host OCOG and it gives each future organiser the opportunity not only to see how things are done, but also to study specific areas, so that they can learn and improve upon them within their own organisational and cultural context.
Today I took part in the Games Coordination Observation Program and visited the Main Ops Center, Technology Ops Center, Main Media Center (Press and Broadcast) and the Olympic Family Hotel? 22 participants from 7 different organising committees.
What did I learn? That the Games is a machine that just live it own life when get going, that both command, control and communication is essential, that all is about coordination accross entities and "out-of-the-box"-solutions and that it will come together in the end - although you do not think so several times along the project timeline and phases....
That the British are funny, the French are French, the Canadians are jovial, the Corean are shy, the Russian are many, the Brasilian are smiling. And that is why I just love these Games.
And tomorrow I leave....time for reflection!
2/26/10
A day in the office....
Thursday, February 25
Working in the office all day. Meetings with good all friends from Marsh.
And learning about how the OCOG trained their managers....
Nothing really to write aboute....
Working in the office all day. Meetings with good all friends from Marsh.
And learning about how the OCOG trained their managers....
Nothing really to write aboute....
2/24/10
"Black Tuesday" - yes and/or no?
Tuesday, February 23
"Black Tuesday" (BT) is the name of the second Tuesday of the Games - say the broadcasters.
That is the day everything goes wrong. People are getting tired, jobs are getting routine, everyone relax a little, details fail, and all of a sudden -ooooppps, what should not happen just did... So was today a "Black Tuesday" here?
Arriving Whistler Olympic Park to see the skijumping competition, the event service volunteer denies me ingress; I do not have the right accreditation. But his teamleder stops by and let me enter anyway. They want people on the stands to have a crowd. Could easily have been a BT for me, but not this time.
I have agreed with John Aalberg, responsible for this venue, to have a chat with him. A connection from yesterday told him I would be there, so he was looking for me....Definately not a BT.
The car is to pick us up at the venue....but where is he!??? We wait 5 minutes, 10 minutes. We call him. On his way. Another 15 minutes. We call again. He had not seen us and is now waiting somewhere else, do not understand where we are...Time for our debrief is getting closer. We need to leave. A transport volunteer suggests she takes us down, and have him drive down to meet us at the Olympic Village. Saved from BT!
Preparing a debrief with some athletes and officials in the Olympic Village, I discover there are no flipcharts, the room is so noisy due to the heating fan that it is not possible to hear people speak, and upon arrival some of the participants say they expected the focus to be different...... Definately a BT! But...4 people help me make "flipcharts" out of A4-sheets, someone manage to switch off the fan (although really cold after 1,5 hours we at least heard each other) and the participants with other expectations enjoyed it anyway and hope to meet again....Puhhh, we avoided a BT!
Maybe it is just about creativity....seeing possibilites in the limits....What do you think?
"Black Tuesday" (BT) is the name of the second Tuesday of the Games - say the broadcasters.
That is the day everything goes wrong. People are getting tired, jobs are getting routine, everyone relax a little, details fail, and all of a sudden -ooooppps, what should not happen just did... So was today a "Black Tuesday" here?
Arriving Whistler Olympic Park to see the skijumping competition, the event service volunteer denies me ingress; I do not have the right accreditation. But his teamleder stops by and let me enter anyway. They want people on the stands to have a crowd. Could easily have been a BT for me, but not this time.
I have agreed with John Aalberg, responsible for this venue, to have a chat with him. A connection from yesterday told him I would be there, so he was looking for me....Definately not a BT.
The car is to pick us up at the venue....but where is he!??? We wait 5 minutes, 10 minutes. We call him. On his way. Another 15 minutes. We call again. He had not seen us and is now waiting somewhere else, do not understand where we are...Time for our debrief is getting closer. We need to leave. A transport volunteer suggests she takes us down, and have him drive down to meet us at the Olympic Village. Saved from BT!
Preparing a debrief with some athletes and officials in the Olympic Village, I discover there are no flipcharts, the room is so noisy due to the heating fan that it is not possible to hear people speak, and upon arrival some of the participants say they expected the focus to be different...... Definately a BT! But...4 people help me make "flipcharts" out of A4-sheets, someone manage to switch off the fan (although really cold after 1,5 hours we at least heard each other) and the participants with other expectations enjoyed it anyway and hope to meet again....Puhhh, we avoided a BT!
Maybe it is just about creativity....seeing possibilites in the limits....What do you think?
2/23/10
Connections and what does Olympic Games mean?
Monday, February 22
Today I met Etinne, who knows Delphine who I know and who knows Lisa who I will meet tomorrow. And hopefully bring Matt who we both know. And Ingunn who only I and Matt know. But who knows, maybe Tom who we all know will join ...
Olympic Games - so big, involving thousands of people, yet....some you always meet again, you share experiences and thoughts, do things, learn, quarrel and laugh. Build bridges across nations and culture. Is that the purpose of Olympic Games?
What happens when you ask this question to 12 athletes and officials?
They answer: The crowd, the flame, the Olympic village, the integration of different sports, the media, the ceremonies.
When I ask the lady on the train sitting next to me, she says: We need to finish what we have promised to the world although we can not afford it. She was running a non-profit organisation for people in trouble.
And when I asked the guy who told me the way to the sky train, he said: Open stores all the time - great!
Or the taxidriver who smiled and said: More money!! And less drunk people.
Whatever it is....it connects!
And tomorrow is "black tuesday"......!
Today I met Etinne, who knows Delphine who I know and who knows Lisa who I will meet tomorrow. And hopefully bring Matt who we both know. And Ingunn who only I and Matt know. But who knows, maybe Tom who we all know will join ...
Olympic Games - so big, involving thousands of people, yet....some you always meet again, you share experiences and thoughts, do things, learn, quarrel and laugh. Build bridges across nations and culture. Is that the purpose of Olympic Games?
What happens when you ask this question to 12 athletes and officials?
They answer: The crowd, the flame, the Olympic village, the integration of different sports, the media, the ceremonies.
When I ask the lady on the train sitting next to me, she says: We need to finish what we have promised to the world although we can not afford it. She was running a non-profit organisation for people in trouble.
And when I asked the guy who told me the way to the sky train, he said: Open stores all the time - great!
Or the taxidriver who smiled and said: More money!! And less drunk people.
Whatever it is....it connects!
And tomorrow is "black tuesday"......!
2/22/10
Impressed....
Sunday February 21
Today I had a guided tour at the Technical Operation Center (TOC). 10 rows of 20 people in front of computers. Here 200 people work from about 6 different IT companies, monitoring the technology systems of the Games. They come from many countries, speak different lanugages, have different interests, 30% with long term experience, some are paid, some are volunteers - all of them have undertaken the framework of the concept "this is how we do it here" yet with the possibility to influence areas of improvement. I am impressed about what I hear how they define the jobs, limits the rights, develop the job description, train and do action reviews on a regularly basis - all called Identity Mangement.
Next door is another huge room - the Main Operation Center (MOC) - here the organizing committee coordinate the Games. Today everything is relaxed and the Canadians can watch the hockey Game without worries. Not so true earlier in the Games.
Then a brief 3 floors up with Risk Management - the group that track, document and follow-up all the incidents. Depsite some serious issues that we know about, there are few other ones. Mostly volunteers with smaller injuries.
The day ends at the Russky House where Sochi 2014 promotes Russa, Russian culture and the Games. I get a tour and an interesting insight into their Olympic concept and visions on education.
I think we can wait another fantastic Games in 4 years too!!
Today I had a guided tour at the Technical Operation Center (TOC). 10 rows of 20 people in front of computers. Here 200 people work from about 6 different IT companies, monitoring the technology systems of the Games. They come from many countries, speak different lanugages, have different interests, 30% with long term experience, some are paid, some are volunteers - all of them have undertaken the framework of the concept "this is how we do it here" yet with the possibility to influence areas of improvement. I am impressed about what I hear how they define the jobs, limits the rights, develop the job description, train and do action reviews on a regularly basis - all called Identity Mangement.
Next door is another huge room - the Main Operation Center (MOC) - here the organizing committee coordinate the Games. Today everything is relaxed and the Canadians can watch the hockey Game without worries. Not so true earlier in the Games.
Then a brief 3 floors up with Risk Management - the group that track, document and follow-up all the incidents. Depsite some serious issues that we know about, there are few other ones. Mostly volunteers with smaller injuries.
The day ends at the Russky House where Sochi 2014 promotes Russa, Russian culture and the Games. I get a tour and an interesting insight into their Olympic concept and visions on education.
I think we can wait another fantastic Games in 4 years too!!
2/21/10
Friendlienes lives here...
Saturday February 20
What is Olympic Games? It is an event that starts 2550 days to plan, 16 days to execute and a few months to close up. It has 5500 athletes and officials taking part in 14 sports with 86 competitons being transmitted to 3 000 000 000 TV viewers with 2 400 000 spectators. It is the most complex event in the world.
But most of all it is meeting with people across cultures and languages opening up for new input and lessons learned.
What happends when a Norwegian is placed between two eager Canadians at a hockey match? She learns about all the details hocekylover Canadians know about hockey.
What happends when you buy pepper potatoes in the break? The waiter hand over the food, smiles and says: "Have fun and enjoy the Game!"
What happends on a croweded bus on its way to downtown Vancouer? Another person - of course a Canadian - starts talking to you about how key it is to keep your patience on a full bus, how great the Olympics are and why this street is a nice shopping area.
What happends when they check your accreditation card at the Olympic Family Hotel as you enter? The security lady says: "Super. You have the number 6; just what I was looking for. Enjoy your day!"
What happends when your Olympic car stops in the middle of the street in order to let you out making a traffic jam? The police man says teasingly: "Oh you're messing up my line here...." And then laughs.
Some of my Canadian friends are pleasantly surprised about themselves; that everyone is so positive. I think it is just the nature of Olympic Games coming through......
What is Olympic Games? It is an event that starts 2550 days to plan, 16 days to execute and a few months to close up. It has 5500 athletes and officials taking part in 14 sports with 86 competitons being transmitted to 3 000 000 000 TV viewers with 2 400 000 spectators. It is the most complex event in the world.
But most of all it is meeting with people across cultures and languages opening up for new input and lessons learned.
What happends when a Norwegian is placed between two eager Canadians at a hockey match? She learns about all the details hocekylover Canadians know about hockey.
What happends when you buy pepper potatoes in the break? The waiter hand over the food, smiles and says: "Have fun and enjoy the Game!"
What happends on a croweded bus on its way to downtown Vancouer? Another person - of course a Canadian - starts talking to you about how key it is to keep your patience on a full bus, how great the Olympics are and why this street is a nice shopping area.
What happends when they check your accreditation card at the Olympic Family Hotel as you enter? The security lady says: "Super. You have the number 6; just what I was looking for. Enjoy your day!"
What happends when your Olympic car stops in the middle of the street in order to let you out making a traffic jam? The police man says teasingly: "Oh you're messing up my line here...." And then laughs.
Some of my Canadian friends are pleasantly surprised about themselves; that everyone is so positive. I think it is just the nature of Olympic Games coming through......
2/20/10
Finally here
Friday February 19
I arrived today at 14.55 in sunshine and airport workers in shorts (did I hear Winter Olympics?). Airport nicly decorated and not busy. My friend Ingunn picked me up. She works with transport, being responsible for all the buses.
Transport is ALWAYS a challenge; and so true here too. I followed her to her work and realize how many details.....the devil is in the details....in order to make such an event work as it should . Transport is slowly coming together and is working for everyone. But you do need time both for venue ingress and egress.
First meetings for next days in place. Tomorrow I am heading to the Main Accreditation Center to get my accreditation.
Bente:-)
I arrived today at 14.55 in sunshine and airport workers in shorts (did I hear Winter Olympics?). Airport nicly decorated and not busy. My friend Ingunn picked me up. She works with transport, being responsible for all the buses.
Transport is ALWAYS a challenge; and so true here too. I followed her to her work and realize how many details.....the devil is in the details....in order to make such an event work as it should . Transport is slowly coming together and is working for everyone. But you do need time both for venue ingress and egress.
First meetings for next days in place. Tomorrow I am heading to the Main Accreditation Center to get my accreditation.
Bente:-)
2/18/10
Soon to be there.....
I am packing my last things to finally find my way to Vanocouver.
I am eager to see for myself how things work, but my good friend Matt with VANOC - the organizing committee - says everyone is buzzing. Like any big complex project it's taken a couple of days to get some aspects of the operaitons running as smoothly as expected.... It usually takes the workforce a couple of shifts to really understand the expectations and policies and procedures.
And some sunshine and gold medals helps too - for both Canadians and Norwegians!
Bente
I am eager to see for myself how things work, but my good friend Matt with VANOC - the organizing committee - says everyone is buzzing. Like any big complex project it's taken a couple of days to get some aspects of the operaitons running as smoothly as expected.... It usually takes the workforce a couple of shifts to really understand the expectations and policies and procedures.
And some sunshine and gold medals helps too - for both Canadians and Norwegians!
Bente
2/15/10
Vancouver - here I come......
February 19 I am heading over.
Already I am eager to learn about how the organizing committee (OCOG) is dealing with all the challenges they have faced so far; heavy rain, problems with the snow, death of an athlete, competition postponements, demonstrations, transport challenges.
On the IOC media update I can read that the IOC President is complimenting the OCOG on the quality of the sports competitions and the Opening Ceremony show.
The truth of this we will know later....when "black Tuesday" appears....
I'll tell you more about that later.
Bente
Already I am eager to learn about how the organizing committee (OCOG) is dealing with all the challenges they have faced so far; heavy rain, problems with the snow, death of an athlete, competition postponements, demonstrations, transport challenges.
On the IOC media update I can read that the IOC President is complimenting the OCOG on the quality of the sports competitions and the Opening Ceremony show.
The truth of this we will know later....when "black Tuesday" appears....
I'll tell you more about that later.
Bente
2/1/10
Cooperation with Sikker MAT
Sikker MAT consists of two food technologists, Kathrine Rødsjø and Siv Søraas. They have wide experience in food safety, quality control and food production. Sikker MAT and Sim Optima provide courses to anyone who offers food. The course includes training in quality assurance and contingency plans. After the course the customer will be able to manage and reduce the impact of any crises.
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