Human Resource Management in sport mega events: A study on volunteers' recruitment in China on the path to Beijing 2022.

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to highlight the importance of human resources in delivering a successful event and, in particular, the role of volunteers. In order to understand the real value of Human Resources as a key factor in mega events such as Olympics and World Championships, it is necessary to know what is Human Resource Management. For this reason, in Chapter 1 a deep explanation of the reasons behind the choice of this topic will be given, while in Chapter 2 there will be a detailed and comprehensive explanation of Human Resource Management, from its definition to its application in the context of sport mega events. Chapter 3 provides an extensive focus on the role of volunteers, analysing their characteristics, the recruitment process and their role in China over the years. One of the main purpose is to understand the commitment of volunteers and what are the expected benefits derived from the volunteering experience in an international event, such as the Olympics. In this chapter, a comparison between good and bad HRM practices will be given in order to better understand what kind of practices should be followed for a successful event. This chapter focuses also on the motivation that guides people to become volunteers for mega events and their expectations before and after the event. Chapter 4 focuses on the case study of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics volunteers’ recruitment. The research concentrates on the global recruitment program launched by Beijing 2022, evaluating the possible outcomes and impacts in terms of volunteers and human resources employed in the Games. One of the most interesting aspects is how to deal with foreign volunteers coming to China (maybe also for the first time) and how the recruitment process has changed over the years (considering the past events and Beijing 2008). Another issue that will be covered in the thesis is the importance given to the voice of volunteers: thanks to their experience they can help by giving suggestions for a continuous improvement, also possible during the different stages of the event. In other words, the level of satisfaction should be evaluated and used to improve the organisation. In conclusion, one of the final goals of the thesis is to identify a sort of “identikit” of the ideal volunteer for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games.