The logistics of moving more than 2,000 athletes and their coaches across Maple Ridge to their venues for the BC Summer Games is a daunting task.

Not for Jake Rudolph, though, a former city planner and CAO for the City of Pitt Meadows, who just happened to be looking for a new adventure in life and volunteered for the role of director of sport for the Maple Ridge BC Summer Games.

Rudolph, who decided to volunteer for the games after reading an ad for a board of directors in the newspaper, was responsible for a number of different aspects of the games. His team had to liaison with the 22 sports that are participating in the games, they oversaw the establishment and preparation of the sports venues; the ordering, administration, and distribution of equipment; and they had to look after all the volunteers who were scheduled at the sports events, among other things. 

Rudolph said the entire experience has been enjoyable and rewarding. As someone who has been involved in sports his entire life, including minor hockey, serving as president of the local association for a number of years, he really wanted the opportunity to with the young athletes. 

"I really like being engaging with youth and I see all the positives of being involved in sports and what the brings for young people" he said.

The logistics of his responsibilities, though, were notable. 

"Moving 2,500 athletes around and their coaches is significant, accommodations for all those children and the support people around them is significant, the food preparation and distribution and so forth is very significant," explained Rudolph.

Rudolph went to Lhtako, Quesnel at the end of February, during the 2024 BC Winter Games, to shadow their director of sport.

What he learned is to allow people to do their jobs,have the right people in the roles, and to ensure that everything you are responsible for is put to paper and implemented. 

"What I also learned and what I've experienced so far during the games is that it's a major team effort and we're all relying on each other for the experience of the participants," he said. 

The BC Games Society, he said, supplies experienced staff who provide a template for the roll-out of the games and a model for how the games are implemented and managed. There's a lot of following the script as to when things have to get done by in the lead up to the event, he said. 

"But if you have faith in the system you will be successful," he said.