When 23-year-old Nina Cattaneo finishes her final year on the newly-named BA Sport & Social Sciences programme this summer she’ll be preparing for a uniquely placed volunteer role inside the Games, as assistant to the Director of Communications for Team GB.
Nina will start in July, in the final few weeks run up to the opening ceremony. She will be based in the Main Press Centre, the heart of Olympic communications, for the duration of the Games.
“I’m hugely lucky to have been offered this opportunity,” she said, “and I’m very excited to get started in what I’m sure will be some of the most incredible weeks of my life!”
Nina’s involvement with London 2012 began last year, when she worked for her placement year at both the BOA (British Olympic Association) and the LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games).
“My placement year was hugely influential in helping to secure my Games time role with Team GB
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“My placement year was hugely influential in helping to secure my Games time role with Team GB. Having completed a successful placement there I gained some all-important experience and was lucky enough to be offered the role when I complete my final year of study.
“I learnt a huge amount as a result of working in both organisations and thoroughly enjoyed my time. At the BOA I worked in the events and communications teams and was involved with the British Olympic Ball, a black tie event for Olympic stars past and present. At LOCOG I worked in the commercial department, for the licensing & retail team, and the ticketing team.”
Nina’s tutor, and Director of the Sport, Culture & Physical Activity group in the Department of Education, Dr Michael Silk, said: “We are extremely proud that Nina has secured this role—and it is well deserved. She has worked hard during her programme and serves as a great ambassador for the Department, Faculty and the University of Bath.
“She is one of a number of students from our programme who will be working or volunteering at London 2012, in roles ranging from event co-ordination to marketing to operations at the main Games hub in Canary Wharf. It’s fantastic to see the content of the programme—as well as the research that we conduct on the Olympics—being put into practice by Nina and so many of our students.”
Looking back at her time Nina said: “I have hugely enjoyed my time at the University of Bath and will be sad to leave after four great years. The course has exceeded my expectations and has helped to guide my career pathway whilst also giving me the confidence to enter the world of work!
“This summer is going to be unforgettable and I’m thrilled to be part of it.”