November 18, 2011 – Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is looking for 6 young Canadians who are passionate about sport to be part of its fourth team of Capacity Support Officers (CSOs) to go abroad under the innovative Capacity Support Program (CSP).

The CSP, which is co-funded by CGC in partnership with the Commonwealth Games Federation, sends young Canadians with sport administration backgrounds overseas to support Commonwealth Games Associations and National Olympic Committees around the world. CSOs assist with sport administration activities ranging from programming, fundraising and communications to Games team preparation, including implementation of the Games management software program Zeus.

For the first time this year, the CSP is recruiting for three-, nine- and 12-month placements to assist host countries as they prepare for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games next summer and look ahead to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Two of the shorter-term placements will be combined so that one CSO will serve terms in two different countries. One of these blended placements combines a three-month internship in Singapore with a three-month term in Scotland, marking the CSP’s first foray into Europe.

“This is an incredible opportunity for young Canadians to gain valuable work experience abroad,” says Carla Thachuk, Director of International Programs for Commonwealth Games Canada. “The first three teams of CSOs describe their placements as both challenging and extremely rewarding. Their CSO experiences will resonate with them throughout their lives.”

The third team of CSOs-who are currently serving in countries throughout the Commonwealth-will complete their placements on March 31, 2012.

“Having worked closely with Capacity Support Officers since the program’s inception, it is amazing to see the development that these young Canadians go through,” says Richard de Groen, Games Team Development Manager for the Commonwealth Games Federation. “They have not only enhanced their careers and gained an understanding of how Olympic and Commonwealth sport systems work around the world, but more importantly, their CSP experience has helped make them better people.”

CSP placements are open to Canadians who have studied Sport Management, Sport Administration, Health, Physical Education, Kinesiology, Human Kinetics or Recreation at the postsecondary level. The CSO appointments are volunteer positions, but successful candidates will receive a financial package sufficient to cover all their costs, from pre-departure orientation to a debriefing upon their return to Canada.

The next CSO placements, whether short- or long-term, will run between February 2012 and January 2013 with the following CGC partners:
– Barbados Olympic Association – Bridgetown, Barbados (3 months)
– Botswana National Olympic Committee – Gaborone, Botswana (9 months)/Swaziland Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association – Mbabane, Swaziland (3 months)*
– Commonwealth Games Scotland – Stirling, Scotland (3 months)/Singapore National Olympic Council – Singapore (3 months)*
– Commonwealth Games Association of Sri Lanka – Colombo, Sri Lanka (12 months)
– St Lucia Olympic Committee – Castries, St. Lucia (12 months)
– Tonga Commonwealth Games Association – Nuku’alofa, Tonga (3 months)
*indicates a combined placement

To apply for a CSO position, or for complete information on eligibility, application procedures and job descriptions, please visit www.commonwealthgames.ca/csp4

The deadline for applications is: Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

For more information, please contact:
Jennie Petersen
International Internship Programs Officer
Commonwealth Games Canada
Tel: 403.869.9748
Email: Jennie@commonwealthgames.ca