Take the London Olympics diversity quiz
WOULD you pass the London Olympics Diversity Challenge? The training handbook for the volunteers looks at meeting sensitive issues.
How would you fare?
1. Sexual Orientation. A spectator complains to you that there are two men holding hands sitting next to them – they feel very uncomfortable and would like you to tell the couple to stop. What do you do?
a) You tell the person to stop being a homophobic idiot and walk away.
b) You want everybody to feel comfortable and welcome at the Games, so you politely ask the couple to stop holding hands.
c) You explain that there is a huge diversity of people at the London 2012 Games, which includes gay, lesbian and bisexual couples.
2. Ethnicity/Race. This is a picture of your team. You need to point out one of your team members to another colleague who requires his level of expertise. How do you describe him?
a) The tall black guy with short dark hair.
b) That guy over there, who looks like an athlete.
c) As your colleague is black, you are worried about sounding racist when you describe him, so you select another less qualified team member to assist instead.
3. Gender/Gender. Identity A spectator approaches you asking politely where the nearest toilets are. You are not sure if the spectator is male or female. What do you do?
a) Panic – you are not qualified to make this decision. Explain politely that you do not know, and sadly cannot be of assistance.
b) Just in case, tell them where the male, female and accessible toilets are.
c) Ask the spectator politely if they are male or female, so that you can direct them appropriately.
4. Disability. You are stopped by two spectators. Your attention was drawn by the man as he called over to you politely from a short distance away. The man is accompanied by a lady in a wheelchair. She has a speech impairment and speaks very quietly. She is asking you a question but you are finding it very difficult to understand her. What do you do?
a) Turn to the non-disabled man and ask him what she is saying.
b) Tell her politely that you are unable to understand her, and you are very sorry, but you need to be at your team briefing in two minutes.
c) Tell her that unfortunately you are unable to understand her, and ask if there is anything you can do to help her communicate with you.
5. Age You have been asked by your Team Leader to assign several duties to you and your team members. One of your team members is a great deal older than the others, what do you do?
a) Ask your colleagues if they have any preferences or issues with any of the duties you need to share out, and then assign appropriately. Your older colleague does not raise any issues, so you give him one of the more physically demanding roles, as he says he has done it before.
b) Assign duties regardless of the colleague in question.
c) Wink cheekily at your older colleague and explain that you will be kind on his ‘old bones’ and the ‘young ‘uns’ can do the running around today.
6. Belief You are chatting to a fellow Games Maker at the security line while waiting to access the venue. They point out a woman in front of you who is wearing a scarf on her head and remark that ‘surely she won’t be allowed to wear that in the venue!’. What do you say in response?
a) Ignore the comment and change the subject.
b) Point out that the woman is wearing a hijab, which is a form of Muslim headwear some women choose to wear as part of their faith.
c) Wait until your first shift with the colleague wearing the headscarf and raise your issue in front of them and your fellow team members.
Answers 1. c), 2. a), 3. b), 4. c), 5. a), 6. b)
Of course the correct answer is not to volunteer at all. The Olympics is no charity. It costs over £9bn to stage. Answer d: get MPs to do the job.
Spotter: Karen
Posted: 6th, March 2012 | In: Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
