The Special Olympics Great Britain Games 2005: Glasgow City Council and the Case of Volunteer Management

In 2005 the city of Glasgow played host to the Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) Games. This biennial event brought together some 3,500 athletes (all of whom had a learning disability), with a total of 23 sports being provided at facilities across the city. As well as facilitating the sports the city had to provide accommodation, entertainment and support for the athletes, their families and supporters, and 1,500 sports coaches. The complexity of this task was further complicated by the fact that SOGB is a charitable organisation with the event being funded almost entirely by fundraising and donations. The financial position of the event meant that volunteers would play a key role in organising and delivering the games, with some 1,500 volunteers being recruited from across Scotland and further afield. The event and volunteers was organised and co-ordinated by a specially put together team of staff from Glasgow City Council. This case study analyses the volunteer management issues surrounding the event, as well as examining the success of the promised volunteer legacy. Interviews were carried out with key members of the organising team while feedback was sought from volunteers using a mixture of both qualitative and quantitative methods. The case study is aimed at undergraduate students in their honours year and those students studying at a masters degree level. A supplement ''306-356-4'' is available to accompany this case.