Sam Whiles

Sport and Leisure Management BA (Hons)

I completed my eight-week placement at LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympics) during 2010 who are responsible for the preparation and delivery of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics.

I worked as a government relations intern within the Communications and Public Affairs department. The Government Relations team is made up of three staff members, who manage the relations with political stakeholders in order to maintain support for London 2012 from all parties. During my time at LOCOG, I assisted the Government Relations department with:

• event support
• monthly email updates to stakeholders
• inputting political monitoring into databases
• attending scrutiny sessions to provide intelligence
• supporting the updating of briefing packs
• responding to public enquiries.

My two main tasks focused on organising a media briefing event at Lord’s cricket ground with England cricket captain Andrew Strauss and the Great Britain Archers, as well as planning the launch of the Olympic and Paralympic mascots to the London 2012 stakeholders.

My time at LOCOG is something I will never forget, as it was truly fantastic and a once in a lifetime opportunity. At times it was very hard work and I really had to push myself to the limit, but from this experience I have become a more confident person and I have learnt a lot about what I can achieve when I put my mind to it.

Now I am in my final year at university, I have chosen to write my dissertation on the topic of Olympic legacy. Having made contacts at LOCOG as well as a number of stakeholders of the Games, I feel confident in producing a good piece of work.

Choosing this degree provided me with a great opportunity and I wouldn’t have wanted to go anywhere else on placement.