Former national basketball coach Carlo Farrugia has been hooked on the Olympic Games spirit ever since he ran with the Olympic torch in the Sydney 2000 games.
Since then, the 52-year-old has taken part in at least five more Olympic events. He is one of the few Maltese volunteers working behind the scenes, together with thousands of others to keep the entire event running smoothly.
Mr Farrugia, who was national coach of the senior and junior female national team but now works as an interpreter, just returned from London where he helped out in the Olympics and Paralympics.
“It was such a great experience – it’s such a great feeling being there with everyone and meeting all these great people,” Mr Farrugia said.
The work is completely voluntary and the volunteers have to pay their own accommodation, food, flights and transport.
“During the London games, we were given food when on duty together with a bus pass,” he said.
Mr Farrugia estimated that the two trips to the London Olympics and Paralympics cost him, including the holiday leave he had to utilise, around €3,500. However, this time he managed to get a few sponsorships to help ease the burden.
He was assigned to basketball, guiding national teams – including the superstar celebrities from the US team such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James – in and out of the courts, and escorting them to separate courts for warm-up.
“It was such a great opportunity to see these superstar celebrities up close and I was amazed at their friendliness – they were joking with us and being really friendly,” he said.
Giving a hand at the Paralympics was also a hugely emotional experience.
“There was such a strong feeling of support for the athletes – especially for team GB. People would stop us when we were wearing our Olympic gear and stop and thank us for what we were doing”.
Will he do it again?
“Sport gave me so much and I just want to give a little bit back through volunteering by trying to pay it forward.
“Going to these events gives you so much – I will never forget these moments.”