No medals – but backstage at the Olympic games suits Kerry just fine

a woman holding a pink glove at the London Olympics

Kerry Linden volunteering at the London Olympics in 2012

By:

David Bridle, Editor

Kerry Linden thinks volunteering is contagious – and as she’s off to help out at her third Olympic games later this month, it’s hard to disagree.

The former headteacher doesn’t only step up for big events. Since moving to Brightlingsea nearly three years ago you might find her working with the front of house team at Brightlingsea Lido, or in the galley serving up food and drink to hungry sailors in Brightlingsea Sailing Club.

So what is it that drives the 59-year-old to give up her time and – because Olympic volunteers have to pay for their own travel and accommodation – money?

a woman smiling at the camera at Brightlingsea Lido — Kerry at Brightlingsea Lido

“I think it’s the knowledge that without volunteers so many of these events and organisations just would not survive,” said Kerry, who now works as a consultant with special schools. “I love that I can use my skillset to do something completely different from my day job, work alongside people I might not normally meet and be part of something amazing.”

At the Paris Olympics, Kerry will be putting her language skills in French, German and Italian to good use by assisting the press team. Based at the brand new Nautical Stadium in Vaires-sur-Marne, which is hosting the rowing, canoeing and kayaking events, she’ll be providing the media with information and guiding them to the various events.

Kerry ‘s first Olympics was London 2012 as part of the security team. In 2016 she was to be found in the technology team for fencing at Rio de Janeiro.

“It’s all very exciting,” said Kerry of her latest games. “It’s been a long process. I applied last year and was told I had been successful in December. Competition was tough and only one in eight applicants was successful.

But you won’t just find her at the Olympics. “Since London 2012 I have volunteered at large sporting events both in the UK and overseas – including the Rugby World Cup, Cricket World Cup, Hockey World Cup, World ParaSwimming Championships, Commonwealth Games, Invictus Games, two European Championships and two Special Olympics World Games.”

Kerry will be heading for Paris the day before the opening ceremony on July 26. It’s taking place on the Seine, the first ever on a river. And though Kerry will be working behind the scenes, she’ll still find the whole thing thrilling.

“The buzz of the big events is amazing,” she said, “but what is really special is getting an insight behind the scenes – the bits you don’t see on the TV. The kit rooms, the post race rooms, seeing the families of athletes arrive, hearing their stories of what they gave up to get the athletes to where they are today, the joy and the tears.”

And like many of us at home, Kerry will be hoping British athletes make it to the top of the medal tables. “I find myself incredibly proud to be British at these events and love to cheer Team GB on,” she said.