Pat: Team Sweden NOCA

Pat McAndless, longtime NPIDA parent and Eire Born "Sound Guy", has been training for an exciting 2010 Olympics volunteer position. After several months of training sessions over the past year, Pat was recently advised that he has been assigned to be the NOCA - National Olympic Committee Assistant - for Team Sweden! His role is to be the official Team Sweden host, and to do whatever is needed to ensure that the needs of the entire Swedish Olympic Team are met.

Pat will be based in the Vancouver Olympic Village and will officially begin his duties on January 30, initially checking in all the Swedish team members and taking care of any issues and questions that arise. His training has included learning the dedicated travel routes to the various Olympic venues - he will be driving the Swedish athletes, coaches and trainers in an official VANOC vehicle (GMC Acadia). Pat's NOCA training has also included extensive sessions in communication and protocol requirements to serve in this important role. His Olympic duties will last more than 4 weeks - until March 3. His family agreed that although he will be using all of his vacation time, he should seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Pat has a long history of community service, including his years as Chair of EBIDS (Eire Born Irish Dance Society) and as a Board Member of Richmond's Gateway Theatre. Pat is excited to begin this new Olympic adventure and says "I have trained hard and prepared myself to be the best host possible, to make this the best Olympic experience for those that I get a chance to serve. Let the games begin!" Have fun Pat - we look forward to hearing about it!