When IAEJ member Petra Schlemm takes up her appointment in London this summer as a leading member of the Olympic News Service team, it will be the sixth time that she has accommodated an Olympic Organising Committee. Petra made her Olympic ‘debut’ in 2000 in Sydney. “I originally applied for a volunteer job ââ?¬â?? my only condition being that it had to be at the Equestrian site,” recalls Petra, who was promptly asked if she would consider a paid job!
Athens and Hong Kong came next.
In Sydney Petra worked with former IAEJ Bureau member Lucia Montanarella for the first time and they later progressed to do more things together ââ?¬â?? WEG 2002 in Jerez and the European Jumping Championship in San Patrigano 2005. “She took me with her into the Winter Olympic circuit too,” says Petra who worked alongside Lucia in Torino 2006 and Vancouver 2010. At the latter Games, Petra managed the Olympic News Service for Alpine Skiing.
“That makes London 2012 my OG Number six,” says Petra, “plus two Asian Games and one Arab Games on the side. Yes, a volunteer job can be a stepping stone!”