LEARNING LOTS.
Games administrator Amanda Parlett, a former 2004 Ontario Winter Games competitor, has experienced the games from both sides.
Photo by Kim Good
MUSKOKA — The 2010 Ontario Winter Games organizing committee must have felt like they had been handed a gold medal when Amanda Parlett’s resumé for the position of games administrator arrived. Not only is she a Muskoka native and recent graduate of Brock University with an honours bachelor in sports management, she has experience in the Ontario Winter Games that few possess — as a competing athlete.
Parlett was born and raised in Bracebridge and a member of the Bracebridge Figure Skating Club since she was three. By the time she was 17, she was triple gold at the local club, achieving top standards in free skate, skills and dance, and attending the Mariposa International Training Centre over the summer. She qualified for the 2004 Ontario Winter Games held in London as a novice ladies competitor, and earned 10th for her short program and 12th for her long program.
From the opening ceremonies and parade of athletes to the hotel room assignments with fellow skating competitors, Parlett had high praise for the 2004 games.
“We were treated like professionals,” said Parlett. “Throughout the whole experience, I felt like someone important. And it is very important at that age. It was a really great experience and the biggest thing I did in figure skating.”
“That’s why I’m really excited about being part of this year’s games,” she added. “To be part of it now and see the ideas generated for these games is awesome.”
Through her experience, Parlett is able to bring the athlete’s perspective into discussions and decisions made by the 2010 games organizing committee, an invaluable contribution.
“I can look at the way things were done at the games I competed in, and give suggestions for the way things are done at these games,” explained Parlett, while acknowledging the unique challenges presented by the Muskoka games.
Where previous games have been held essentially in one community, the 2010 winter games are spread across Muskoka, with a few events occurring in Sudbury and the Collingwood area.
“It’s a little different, spread across a large region,” said Parlett. “It’s really neat to see the communities come together and play a role in this event, bringing it all together.”
The position of games administrator for the 2010 Ontario Winter Games is funded through a FedNor Youth Internship. The program brings young graduates back to the north for one-year job opportunities in their fields and hopefully encourages and enables them to remain in the north. Among other criteria, applicants must be under 30, graduated from college or university in the past three years, and not have been a prior FedNor youth intern.
Parlett is enjoying her work as games administrator, assisting general manager Myke Malone and dealing with the day-to-day operations at the winter games office located in the Bracebridge Sportsplex.
“I never anticipated having an opportunity like this so quickly after school,” she said. “They’ve put together a great group of people to plan, organize and execute the games. They are all very talented and have brought a lot to the games, through their experience and knowledge. I’m learning a lot.”