After Olympics, Russians Hope Culture Of Volunteerism Remains

After Olympics, Russians Hope Culture Of Volunteerism Remains
A volunteer puts markers back on the ice after ice machines prepared the track prior to the start of the women's 3,000-meter speedskating race at the Adler Arena Skating Center at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
A volunteer puts markers back on the ice after ice machines prepared the track prior to the start of the women's 3,000-meter speedskating race at the Adler Arena Skating Center at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

SOCHI, Russia – The volunteers at the Olympics are everywhere. They dot the streets, buses, venues and the Olympic Park.
They wear smiles on their faces and bright multi-colored uniforms that will be memories for me for a long time from the 2014 Winter Olympics.

In many ways, the Olympics are about exporting national pride and hope for what the future holds for the host country. In Sochi, the backbone for that message is the young volunteers.

Luke McCarthy of Durham, N.H., is a private English teacher in St. Petersburg. He thinks the games are a major monumental shift in the Russian youth culture that is volunteering here in Sochi.

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot