Sports Recruitment International

Name:  Greg Warnecke
Company:  Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games 
Position:  Head of Sport
University & degree:  B.App.Sci. (Human Movement), University of Ballarat, Australia / Masters (Sport Business), Victoria University, Australia


CAREER

Who/what inspired you to pursue a career in the sports industry?

I’m not sure that I can attribute my inspiration to any one moment or person. Rather, I have been fortunate to have been supported by my family to have always been involved in sport from a young age and to volunteer in coaching and administration roles. It seemed a natural progression to follow a path into to the sports industry, which has further evolved into an involvement in the events industry and multi-sport Games. In addition, I have been supported and mentored by some great leaders in the sports industry who have provided me with some valuable advice and opportunities. Now that I am making a career in the industry, I get inspired all the time by athletes, coaches, managers, administrators, officials and volunteers – the combination of these people and their individual stories really make sport what it is.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

From a career perspective, a highlight has been playing my part in the successful delivery of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships – both staged in my home town. Both events were undoubtedly hard work, but seeing the athletes walk in at the respective Opening Ceremonies and being a part of the whole event provided some moments of great pride and reflection. Away from work, witnessing a young athlete I had coached win a Gold medal as a member of the Australian Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games has been a personal highlight.

What does your typical day at Glasgow 2014 involve?

At this stage of Games planning for Glasgow 2014, the majority of my time is spent with establishing programme specific strategies, interaction and communication with internal and external stakeholders and positioning sport within the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee. The quality of the product delivered at Games time really depends on the work we do now and the information we compile. As the Sport Team grows, and we get closer to delivering at Games time, my function will shift to supporting the wider Sport Team and ensuring that we stay true to the Glasgow 2014 vision to be athlete centred and sport focused.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?

Working on a multi-sport Games event, our biggest challenge is time. The date of the Opening Ceremony (23 July 2014) and the commencement of each competition will not shift, so we need to ensure that we have solid planning processes in place and that our planning is fully integrated. To do this effectively, we need to recruit a strong Sport Team with a blend of local and international experience and we need to develop strong relationships and work closely with our Games Partners and key stakeholders. It really has to be a combined Team effort.

What are the most enjoyable aspects of your job?

Talking sport every day and working with a like-minded Team of people and external stakeholders who are all equally excited about planning and delivering and hosting an outstanding athlete centred and sport focused Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

What tips would you give to students wanting to break into the sports industry?

Succeeding in the sports industry is more than just getting a degree or a piece of paper – it is how you use your qualifications. Volunteer and get involved with sport or event organisations, continually challenge yourself and develop your skills. Never stop learning…

What are the most common mistakes you’ve seen candidates making?

Securing a role in the sports or event industry is becoming increasingly difficult, with more courses and more interest from other sectors, all producing more applicants. So it is important to ensure that candidates spend enough time reviewing the role advertisement and profile for a job before applying for it. Quite often I see applications that consist of a form letter or standard application that has not been tailored to meet the selection criteria. So firstly ensure that the role is a fit to your skills and experience and make sure that you stand out from the crowd.

How has elite sport changed since you first entered the industry?

Technology continues to change the way sport is played – with athletes generally getting faster, stronger or smarter through improved training methods and competition techniques. Interestingly, if we use the example of swimming, changes to swimwear regulations have sought to arrest these developments and level out the playing arena once again. I think this is great, it shows that a sport can recognise when advancements need to be reviewed. From a personal perspective, I think one of the greatest developments has been in broadcasting of elite sport – with more coverage, better camera angles and information ensuring that the efforts of elite athletes are shown to more parts of the world will allow more and more people to become interested in sport. A personal favourite is the invention of the Super Slow-Motion broadcast cameras – they really portray what sport and individual athlete performance is all about: The passion, the effort, the dedication, the jubilation, the heartache. I hope that any future changes continue to improve what it is we all love about sport.


SPORT/ LIFE

Favourite sports to participate in:

Basketball, Wheelchair Basketball and Cycling (Road & Mountain Bike).

Favourite sports to watch:

All sports – especially watching sport live when I get the chance.

What in your opinion has been the sporting highlight of the past 12 months?

Cadel Evans securing his first overall classification and Yellow Jersey at the 2011 Tour de France. It has been a work in progress and took a gutsy effort in the final individual time trial to secure yellow. Even better – I was fortunate enough to be there to witness it in person.

What will be the sporting highlight of the next 12 months?

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be great for the UK and for sport in general. Following on from the success of Beijing 2008, the London Games have already made a positive impact on sporting and general communities in the UK and this will hopefully have a great flow-on effect as we drive towards Glasgow 2014.

Non-sport hobbies:

Photography, Travel and Adventure, Live Music and Comedy.

Where did you go for your last holiday?

Recently I spent time in France and Italy for the final stages of the 2011 Tour de France. I followed this up with a couple of days in Switzerland, including a visit to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, before some sun and surf in Portugal to recharge the batteries. Next I am looking forward to my annual travel home to Australia in December to spend time with family and friends and to hit the beach.

What piece of technology would you be lost without?

My MacBook Pro – It is the source of communication via Skype and email to family, friends and colleagues alike, and also is the repository for all of my photos and music – two things that I also would be lost without.