Statistics and reflections - Part 17
- Isabelle Morin
- Mar 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 3
When I wrote part 16, talking about our final shift at the Olympics, I knew it would be the last post I’d write from Milan. But I also knew it wouldn’t be the last words on this extraordinary experience. There is still so much to share about the time we spent in Milan, living out my biggest childhood dream.
The very next day after returning home, we visited our neighbors who had kindly looked after our house while we were away. We recounted our adventures with such joy and pride. Two days later, I gave a short interview to my hometown’s regional newspaper. When the journalist asked if I had anything more to add, I laughed and said I could talk about it for hours (maybe days!), but I limited myself to expressing how grateful I was to have shared this journey with my husband.
I plan to write at least three more posts about “our Olympics.” I promised one about pins (and I will deliver) but this isn’t that post. In the next few posts I want to capture what wasn’t said in the daily stories, including the things we’d do differently, and the dreams we’re already chasing for the future. Yes, I said future—because when the volunteer portal for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps opens at the end of 2028, Dave and I will apply again! Though I suspect the competition will be tougher this time.
Ever since I started writing this blog, I've been hearing from friends and acquaintances who told me my story inspired them; that they, too, want to volunteer at the Olympics. Knowing that my actions sparked new dreams for others is exactly why I started this blog. But what does that mean for my own chances of being selected again? I honestly don’t know.
The numbers behind the dream
After returning to Canada, I dug into the statistics of the volunteer program, and I can hardly believe the odds we had to overcome. According to an IOC article published on 15 February 2026, there were 135,000 applicants. Only 25% (about 35,000) were interviewed, and half of those (18,000) were ultimately selected. Some part of me wishes I had known that only 25% of applicants were getting interviewed (that would have given me more hope when I got the invite).
Out of 18000 that were selected to volunteer, only 2,000 came from outside Italy, representing 98 different countries. How many volunteers were from Canada? I don’t have the exact figure, but in Milan I personally met or heard of about 15 Canadian volunteers. There were likely 5 or 6 times that number, so closer to 100. To the many people who told me they want to volunteer in 2030: I doubt that we’ll all make the cut!
Will past experience help?
You’d think having volunteered once would improve my chances in 2030. The application does ask about your past experience volunteering at the Olympics, so it must count for something right? Yet I’ve read accounts (on Facebook of all places...) from people who volunteered in Rio and Paris but weren’t selected for Milano-Cortina. Weird...It’s unclear whether databases are shared across Games but, even if they are, there is no performance evaluation system for volunteers that follows you from games to games. So how well you perform has nothing to do with you coming back to volunteer again...
The reality is that the Olympic volunteer program is a massive machine, with different parts that don’t always connect. Supervisors often don’t even know your name. Attendance is tracked at the check-in office, while you report to different office for your tasks. That means someone could technically check in, collect their meal voucher, and spend the day watching competitions without ever working, and still appear to have “perfect attendance.”
Thankfully, most volunteers are dedicated, enthusiastic, and genuinely thrilled to contribute. While a performance evaluation system might sound useful, it would likely slow down an operation that thrives on efficiency. Instead, I believe the organization simply recruit a little bit more volunteers than strictly necessary, knowing a few will “play lazy” or leave early.
Application process - Lessons for next time
Looking back, there’s little I’d change about my application... except applying earlier. By the time I submitted my application, the portal had been open for three months. I suspect applying sooner might have improved our chances of being selected in the first wave (July, as the portal said).
A factor that likely helped our application was having accommodation already secured in Milan. For the French Alps, we plan to book a place in Nice (where indoor sports will take place) before applying. If affordable options are scarce, we’ll look into housemates.
We also chose the maximum volunteering period (21 days) and I’d do the same again. I believe the more availability you offer, the stronger your application looks.
Finally, the application asks about prior sports and volunteer experience. To strengthen my profile, I plan to volunteer at the next Canada Games and other international events before 2030. Every bit of experience helps build the résumé.
Number of shifts
Not knowing how declining work shifts would affect our chances to volunteer, we accepted as many shifts as possible. That meant that our Olympic story was amazing, but also really tiring. Especially for me because, if I was not working at the speed skating arena or watching a hockey game live, I was pretty much eating, sleeping or writing my blog. I knew that many people liked to feel immersed in the games by reading my posts so I wanted to write as much in real time as I could. I also wanted to remember as much of these games as possible. By writing the story, pretty much as it happened, I knew that I could be more accurate in my posts. So I was busy, really busy. If I was to do it again, I would not accept as many shifts as I did, I would leave more room to breath! Although I am ready to be there in 2030, and volunteer for the whole duration of the games (even prior), I would make sure to space those shifts a little more.
More lessons learned to come in part 18 (link).
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