E-Paper
Games volunteers made to pick up dirty shoes, towels
If there were something that can put one off volunteering, this surely can. The field and track volunteers at the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) stadium are required to pick up shoes and sweat-drenched towels of athletes.
If there were something that can put one off volunteering, this surely can.
The field and track volunteers at the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) stadium are required to pick up shoes and sweat-drenched towels of athletes.
Volunteers, the backbone of such events, are fuming at this treatment.
"During our training session, we were never told that we would be required pick shoes. Though we are doing it as part of our responsibility, but we are not happy about it," said a volunteer.
Around 50 volunteers are attached with the sports division, that looks after the personal needs of the athletes.
"We are even required to collect the dirty linen of athletes. Now that we have volunteered for the Games, we cannot refuse it," said another volunteer.
Many said that they were too embarrassed to share this with their parents and friends.
"When I reach home after work, I don't tell them that I am supposed to pick up shoes. I had big dreams when I joined the volunteer programme," revealed the volunteer.
They said they had been shown a "rosy picture" at the time of training, but not even 10% of that has come true.
"We were told that we would be allowed to watch the sporting events, but it's not so,” said the volunteer.
"All our time goes in taking care of athletes and their various needs," the volunteer added. On Sunday, some volunteers had threatened to strike work when they were given food packets infested with fungus.
"On some days, the food is okay. But on others, it awful. One of my friends had an upset stomach after eating the food," a volunteer said.
She added that while they were given "bad food", the members of the workforce and venue administrators had access to a far better platter, delivered by superior caterers.
Surely, this shabby treatment is something that the young volunteers had not volunteered for.
Stay updated with all top Cities including, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and more across India. Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News along with Delhi Election 2025 and Delhi Election Result 2025 Live, New Delhi Election Result Live, Kalkaji Election Result Live at Hindustan Times.
