As a matter of introduction, according to the National Training Awards (NTAs), the individuals receiving the awards must have achieved lasting success either for their region or for the whole country. Both the individual and the organization involved obtain great benefits for being selected to enter the National Training Awards. This quest for recognition therefore puts both the individuals and the organization in a need to attain improved training to raise their competitiveness in doing an outstanding job. Winning the award helps the individuals a great deal especially through improvement of their professional reputation and thus putting them in a competitive advantage.
Hosting of Olympics in a successful way, UK has to refurbish and upgrade several areas of the affected major sectors to be in a position to provide competitive services. This therefore calls for great application of refined skills so as to outdo the already set benchmark in Olympic hosting. UK has to identify and improve all relevant sectors before the hosting of the games so as put their standards high up. These sectors include the sector of tourism and hospitality, transport and communication, business and marketing, transport and security logistics, culture and social services and information technology just to mention a few.
London local organizing committee has to make sure that enough participants in the above mentioned sectors are trained (knowledge, skills and values) to be in a position to offer competitive services. This training will not only benefit the country by placing it in a competitive advantage but also benefit the individuals in development and improvement of the knowledge, skills and market the individuals.
Hosting the 2012 Olympics will benefit the country in various specific ways like, putting an impact on the growth of the economy through services and goods purchased by the participants during preparation and participation period. Hosting the games will also help UK in the promotion of international peace through cultural exchange which is in line with Olympic themes.
In the various sectors which need upgrading, specific skills are required so as to provide improved service delivery. The sector of tourism and hospitality calls out for individuals to acquire and improve skills in the areas of accommodation, catering and tourism. To be able to accommodate all the participants, detailed survey need to be done to establish the available space and any further arrangement needed. Personnel therefore have to be trained on how to evaluate the space and on the various costing methods so as to assist in settling accommodation matters.
To offer outstanding catering services there is need for the country to conduct several researches concerning the various common foods for the different countries and also their ways of preparation. This can be achieved through training the personnel involved in availing the world menu and meal preparation. Tourism requirements will be needed during the formation of a tour guide and having a well prepared catalog of the activities. Training will be needed on tour guiding and as well as being well versed about the various activities available in the tour companies.
Transport and security logistics are one of the most important sectors which if left aside can mess the event organizers and cause great alarm to the country and even the whole world. It is in this sector where the country has to convince the participating countries that they are well protected and all plans concerning transport and security are satisfactory. For the country to achieve this satisfactory point, it has to train people to be able to take care of all matter concerning transport which may include visa preparation in the respective embassies in the country of origin of the participants. Organization need to be done on traveling by establishing relevant timetables on depar4ture and arrival times.
There need to be properly coordinated guides and escorts who receive various people and take them to accreditation centers and further to accommodation sites. Various individuals have also to be trained on security matters concerning the participants. All the service outlets being used by the participants require properly established security systems and agents.
Apart from upgrading the services, the area of transport and communication need the country to set plans and actions of upgrading the available infrastructure. This will include, re-carpeting the available roads, increasing the number of telephone booths and expanding the airports among others. Various personnel need to be trained on evaluation and measurement of the required standards in all these areas. This will help the country in being sure they are on the right track especially when their aim is to compete with the other countries in the market.
Under cultural services, the local organizing committee needs a lot of preparation for entertainment purposes during the opening and the closing ceremonies. Organizing committee therefore has to train various individuals firstly on the need for culture appraisal and secondly on the entertainment bit. For example, if they want to mount a cultural dance in honor of the guest, they may be required to perform a dance that depicts the cultural identity of the guest through the use of the right costumes and beats. All the national anthems and the flags of the participating countries need also to be availed for the purposes of opening ceremony and award sessions. All selling points and exhibitions are required to provide products from various cultures of the participating countries.
In the area of information technology the country has to ensure that data management personnel has been trained for purposes of accreditation, registration, administration and for the award system. Information needed during accreditation has to be availed by the participants before their arrival for the games. Information about confirmation for participation from all intended countries should be there way back before the games.
This will help the local organizing committee to have a picture of the expected number of participants for further preparation. The information from the participants has to contain the participants’ country of origin, modes of travel, departure dates and time from their country, arrival dates and time in the host country, for flights-exact flight used (with all change over and connections included) and the expected departure dates to their respective countries.
There is also need to obtain all participant’s details prior to their registration to various games which may include, date and year of birth, records held in the area, personal best achievements, weight (for some games) and any other information which is important. Administration and scheduling of activities and their respective venues has to be put into place into place with all their final preparation done in advance. During the award ceremonies, the event outcomes of the winners always need to be compared with past records and therefore the necessary information has to be available at hand.
A lot of preparation is required in the area of business and marketing where the countries has to advertise its relevant services it will be offering to those participating in pre- games preparation and those attending the games. This therefore calls for training for individuals in the area of business and marketing. These individuals will be required to come up with well developed designs of advertisements showing highlights especially on themes, event logo, emblem and motto of the Olympic Games.
Any other business opportunities and interests need to be advertised which will open up the room for businesses. Information concerning the available tourism attraction sites found in the country has to be availed to potential customers. There should be good communication to all participating countries on availability of facilities, activities and services especially for those who would be interested in training and pre-games preparation in the country.
To sum it all, the hosting of Olympics 2012 in London UK calls for employee development for the country to be in a position to compete with previous hosting done by other countries as well as to improve and compete economically. The individuals being trained aim at attaining the National Training Awards which make them put extra effort. The individuals through the raised morale levels are able to work exceptionally awaiting for personalized feedback from the assessors which later on lead to heightened profile and publicity. Employee development as a result will improve the infrastructure such as, stadiums, roads, additional modes of transport and airports just to mention a few.
There will be improvement and expansion of communication sector with high technology applied and with involvement skillful personnel. Employee development will also lead to better diplomatic relationship by member countries involved in the Olympic Games. Other than improving the country, employee development lead to increased individual earnings from skilled manpower leading to personal development obtained from the training and direct application of the skills. All the above improvements will also place UK in a competitive edge of economy growth.
Bibliography
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