Len O’Reilly grew up in Renfrew and like many others he enjoyed
playing hockey. It didn’t matter if it was organized league games at the old
Renfrew Arena, or neighbourhood shinny on the backyard rinks or the streets.
O’Reilly moved to the Vancouver
area more than 30 years ago and his passion for hockey remains unchanged.
These days he remains close to the action as a volunteer.
His hockey volunteer experiences include the 2006 World Junior Hockey
Championships; the 2007 Memorial Cup; and in 2009 two pre-Olympic evaluation
events – the 4-nation sledge hockey tournament in February and the women’s hockey
tournament in September.
At the 2010 Olympics O’Reilly will be one of the Athlete Services
supervisors at the men’s hockey tournament. He and his crew will provide
day-to-day assistance to the 12 hockey teams and referees participating at the
Games.
“This will include setting up the dressing rooms when the teams
arrive and packing the equipment and gear when the games are over,” O’Reilly
said.
On the days in between, Athlete Services will prepare the
players benches for practices and games; launder the jerseys and towels; look
after the athletes’ lounge and cool-down areas; have the pucks ready for use;
and much more.
O’Reilly says they will be up to the task.
“There will many long days. Daily team practices start at 7 a.m.
and the games will run until about 10 p.m. The Athlete Services crew day
will end when the teams’ practice and game jerseys have been washed; and there
are sufficient clean towels (about 2,000) ready for the next day.”
O’Reilly will be a volunteer at the 2010 Paralympics in March as well. He
will be the manager of the Athlete Services volunteers for the eight sledge
hockey teams and referees with responsibilities similar to those at the men’s
hockey event. An additional task for his crew is moving the players’ sleds
to and from the dressing rooms.
O’Reilly will be working at the
gold medal game for each event. “I’m honoured to have been selected to be a
volunteer at the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics Games,” he said. “To work
closely with world-class athletes and coaches will be an awesome
experience. I have my volunteer uniform – so let the games and the fun
begin!”