GREEN WAVE: THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE LOUIS VUITTON 37th AMERICA'S CUP
The organisation of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup has attracted an army of volunteers made up of more than 2,100 people who are helping to make the event a success. The volunteers can easily be identified by their turquoise green shirts and en masse create what some media outlets have described as a "green wave." Barcelona's volunteer numbers break the record for the competition's 173-year history and nearly triple the 800 volunteers who participated in the last edition of the regatta in Auckland, New Zealand in 2021.
Of the total 2,100 who have signed on, 1,800 are locals and the rest are from other countries, some from as far away as Egypt, Canada, and New Zealand. Each day, 450 volunteers take part in either morning and afternoon shifts, with the pattern rotated every ten days.
The volunteers are involved in four key areas: on land, on water, television, and media. The on land group is the largest where volunteers play a supporting role with things like reception and visitor services at the Race Village and FanZones. Meanwhile, about 120 people take on tasks on the water, in the television department, and at the busy international Media Centre.
But what motivated these individuals to become volunteers? The love of sailing and water sports is one of the main reasons people say they choose to get involved with the event. This is the case for Francesc Rossell, a volunteer on the sustainability team, who describes himself as a "sea enthusiast". The same is true for Franc and Joan, who help at one of the America's Cup information points and have since decided to sign up for more shifts so they can continue to be involved in the America's Cup. This is also the case for Roy Thompson, who is a volunteer member of the hospitality team at Emirates Team New Zealand's Kiwi Corner. An avid dinghy sailor, Roy previously volunteered in two past editions of the America's Cup.
Canadian Tom Hawker is a sailing enthusiast attending his fifth America's Cup. He came to Barcelona to support the Concord Pacific Racing Women’s Team and to prepare an article for the specialist magazine 'Pacific'. While planning his trip Hawker decided that he could also do a few days of volunteering, and as a result was selected to help at the Media Centre supporting the photography team. It's his fifth America's Cup, but it's the first time he has chosen to be a volunteer. He values the professionalism of the organization in this edition in Barcelona and feels that "the event has reached a size that other editions have not."
There are also many stories of volunteers who came from other parts of Spain and have used their vacation days to be a part of the event. This is the case of César Clemente, an international aid worker based between Madrid and Murcia, who when he was three years old had an uncle from New York who brought him his a souvenir from the New York Yacht Club. "And that's where it all began!" he says. Now, fifty years later, in Barcelona, he is a water volunteer, accompanying and assisting on support boats and helping with on water logisitics in the port. When he saw that the America's Cup was coming to Barcelona, he says he decided straight away that his 2024 vacation would be here as a volunteer.
In addition to a passion for nautical sports, other people have decided to participate in the event simply because they enjoy the world of volunteering. Montse, a volunteer located at one of the information points at the Race Village, has been a member of the 'Organization Voluntaris 2000' for many years. "I like to participate in activities where I can offer my help," she says. In fact, many of those wearing the green shirts previously volunteered at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games and are now reliving the experience.
Others, like Marina, were not born in 1992 but have always heard the stories of the volunteers from the Barcelona Games and wanted to live the experience of collaborating in such a large sporting event in the city. These young people are also a very important group within the volunteer team of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup, showing that Barcelona continues to cultivate the culture of volunteering.
The passion and commitment that have driven our 2,100-strong volunteer community to sign up to be a part of the America's Cup are a clear reflection of the vitality and collaborative spirit that characterise Barcelona. Thanks to them, the event not only shines because of the competition but also because of the warmth and enthusiasm showed by the city. The 'green wave' will always be a major part of the success and legacy of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup.
Sònia de Jaime
Volunteer