Podcast Olympic Series: Don Anderson- Managing athletes and officials at Olympic Games

The Drive Phase

Guest: Don Anderson
Sports Administrator

In this episode, Don Anderson discusses the management side of the Olympic Games. He shares his favourite Olympic Games and the type of planning that goes into managing a country’s team going to the Olympic Games. He also spoke about the role of the Chef de Mission and part of Jamaica management team, for five Olympic Games.
Don also speaks about:

• His first time as a part of Jamaican’s management team for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.
• The challenges in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia with the Merlene Ottey controversy and a country divided on who would represent Jamaica in the 100m women.
• Stories from the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, United States of America.
• The issues Jamaica’s sports administrator faced at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
• Usain Bolt’s first time representing Jamaica at an Olympic Games.

Don speaks about the importance of volunteers in the management of Jamaican teams at the major games. He also spoke about the challenges faced with getting cooperation from the management teams of track and field athletes while at major games.

Other topics discussed are:

• His experiences at his favourite Olympic Games, the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China
• The importance of nutritional support for athletes and administrators at major games.
• The popularity of Jamaican teams and how the performance of athletes have boosted the Jamaican brand worldwide.
• Details of the post-event management in major games.
• Advice for persons interested in getting involved in sports administration.

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