2009 SU Update: Launch of the Volunteer Campaign
October 17th, 2008
Volunteers showing the logo of the volunteer recruitment campaign on their T-shirt
It is a well-known fact that no large event, especially a sport event, can be organized without a substantial number of volunteers. Not only because of the budget issues, but, also, because it has been proven (especially after the Bejing Olympics 2008) that organization of a complex manifestation such as world sport games largely relies on the volunteers’ positive energy and unconditional desire to make sure that everything runs according to the plan. Naturally, the Universiade taking place in Belgrade next year cannot be imagined without participation of volunteers. Therefore, the beginning of the official campaign for recruiting more than 10,000 volunteers is of utmost importance for the whole organization.
Even though the beginning of the academic year was defined as the period of intensive promotional activities, the UB2009 Volunteers Department has a lot to be proud of. After the exceptional debut during the organization of Eurosong Contest, volunteers contributed to the successful organization of one European and three World University Championships that took place this summer in Belgrade. According to opinion polls conducted among the participants of these events (more than a thousand athletes, coaches, experts), volunteers received the highest marks without an exception. There are already more than 3,000 applications registered in the UB2009 database. This number is rising due to promotions held at schools and universities. Luckily, there is no upper limit on the number of applications; therefore the application process will be open until the beginning of Universiade.
Can you imagine what could be done by a 10,000 volunteers? No doubt, that is a powerful structure. That is why they earned their own visual identity, theme song and music signature. The logo is the work of “Western” design team, and is a product of numerous creative sessions. With the help of all the volunteers (through opinion polls, focus groups), this cheerful and lively emblem which open arms stand for welcome, impulse, and a friendly hug, was chosen among three excellent and meaningful propositions. The slogan, VOLIM DA VOLONTIRAM (I like to be a volunteer), which blends together the attitude and the sound, is the work of the volunteers themselves as well.
The theme song with the same leitmotif was written by Ivan Ristic, Miroslav Cvetkovic, and David Micic. The youngest of the team, David, will be a scholar of Berkeley Jazz School (USA) from January. The OC invited some of their friends to help them in making this song, and they accepted: Bilja Krstic, Marija Mihailovic, Ana Stanic. Žika Milenkovic, Igor Blaževic Blaža, Snežana Jandrlic, Ivana Zaric, Jelena Jovièic, Voja Nedeljkovic, Èeda Macura. They did a great job – as volunteers. The video, directed by Aleksandar Jakovljevic, features Aleksandar Djordjevic, football players of Partizan, as well as famous water polo national team members - Pjetlovic, Prlainovic, Gocic, Soro and Radjen. The campaign that had already started with promotions at the universities is growing stronger every day. A special web page, within the UB2009 web portal, dedicated to volunteers, will be launched at the beginning of the campaign. The theme song will be played at radio stations right after the promotion, and TV stations will play the video starting from October 23. Of course, the campaign does not entail only the applications, but starting projects that can provide the volunteers who have applied so far with opportunity for improvement and training in different areas, gaining skills that will be instrumental for their professional development after the Universiade.
Serbian Minister of Youth and Sport Mrs. Snezana Samardzic Markovic was present at the launch
