Experience Finlandia Trophy behind the scenes!
Volunteers are the heart of every successful sporting event. Volunteering offers a unique opportunity to see the competition from a new perspective, meet new people, and play an important role in delivering an unforgettable international figure skating event.
A wide variety of volunteer roles are available, ranging from social media and event construction to spectator services and athlete support. Whether you’re a first-time volunteer or an experienced event professional, there’s a role that’s right for you.
How to apply?
You can complete the volunteer application via this link. We will notify all applicants of the selection results during the autumn.
If you already have a profile in the Skating Finland’s GateHQ system, please log in to the system first using this link. Once logged in, you can apply to volunteer at various events.
Volunteer roles
Accreditation
The Accreditation Team is one of the key support functions of the event and works primarily at Scandic Park Helsinki and Helsinki Ice Hall. The team welcomes arriving skaters, coaches, and officials, ensuring they receive up-to-date information about the competition schedule, side events, transportation, and catering arrangements. This role requires strong language skills, excellent customer service, and great attention to detail.
Judges’ Services
The Judges’ Services Team is responsible for supporting the judges throughout the competition at the arena. The team ensures that judges always have the necessary documents, schedules, and other materials available. The team also includes the official competition timekeepers.
Events Team
The Events Team is responsible for the competition’s opening ceremony and entertainment during competition breaks. Team members operate activity stations throughout the arena concourses and encourage spectators to try figure skating activities, such as spinning on an off-ice rotation trainer. This role requires confidence in interacting with the public as well as good Finnish and English language skills.
Flower Children Coordinators
This team is responsible for the youngest participants in the event. The team is responsible for coordinating the Flower Children, who collect gifts and toys thrown onto the ice for the skaters after their performances. Coordinators ensure the children are safe, enjoy the experience, and are ready to enter the ice at the appropriate time.
Rinkside Services – roles include:
– Athlete Services
– Gate Attendants
– Kiss & Cry Coordinators
– Locker Room Hosts
– Warm-up Area Supervisors
The team ensures that practices and competitions run smoothly according to schedules and regulations. Warm-up Area supervisors and Locker Room Hosts oversee their assigned areas, maintain cleanliness, and ensure schedules are followed. Gate Attendants are responsible for ensuring athletes can enter and leave the ice safely and efficiently. Volunteers assigned to the team should be prepared to work in any of these five positions. Some volunteers must also be comfortable working on skates during the competition.
Spectator Services
The Spectator Services Team is responsible for a variety of audience-related duties, including seating supervision. Team members assist guests in finding their seats and ensure that audience members do not move around the stands during performances. This role requires excellent customer service skills, confidence, and good language skills.
Ice Maintenance
As the name suggests, the Ice Maintenance Team is responsible for preparing and maintaining the ice surface throughout the competition. The team inspects the ice before each resurfacing, repairs any holes or damage using ice shavings and snow, and prepares the surface for the ice resurfacing machine.
Security
Security Team help ensure a safe and secure event. Their duties include checking spectators’ tickets, directing guests to the correct seating sections, and verifying accreditation passes for competitors and other accredited participants. This role requires excellent customer service skills, confidence, language skills, and a valid security steward licence. The event’s security operations are managed by the Head of Security.
Competition Office
Located at the arena, the Competition Office serves as the operational hub of the event. The office staff provide information and assistance to athletes, coaches, judges, and officials. The team is also responsible for the competition’s printing and copying needs. Work begins on Wednesday, 18 November, with setting up the office, installing venue signage, and preparing locker rooms and other athlete areas. The Competition Office remains operational until the event has concluded and all participants have departed the venue.
Transportation & Airport Team
The Airport Team welcomes arriving participants and escorts them to the event organization’s transportation vehicles. In addition to strong language skills, volunteers are expected to greet guests with a warm smile, as they are often the first representatives of the event that visitors meet upon arriving in Finland. Working hours are determined by the arrival schedules of incoming flights. The Transportation Team is responsible for driving athletes, officials, and other accredited guests using the event organization’s vehicles.
Mascot
Would you like to be at the heart of the competition and bring joy to everyone without saying a single word? As the event mascot, you’ll help create an exciting atmosphere, entertain spectators, and become one of the most memorable faces of the competition. This role requires skating skills and the ability to work comfortably in a mascot costume.
Media Team
The Media Team is responsible for producing a wide range of content, from press releases and social media posts to assisting journalists in the media centre, coordinating interview requests, and supporting press conferences.
The team also captures the highlights of the competition through photography and videography for the event’s communications channels, and assists broadcast partners in the mixed zone. There are a variety of roles within the team. Previous experience in communications or media and knowledge of figure skating are highly valued for some positions, but not required for all of them.
Excellent written and spoken Finnish and English are essential. Additional language skills are considered an asset. The event’s media operations are managed by the Press Manager.
Medical Team
The Medical Team operates under the direction of the Event Chief Medical Officer and is responsible for providing medical services throughout the championships.
Rinkside Doctor: Monitors practices and/or competitions at rinkside and determines any necessary medical treatment in accordance with the Chief Medical Officer’s instructions. Medical degree (Licentiate of Medicine or equivalent) is required.
Rinkside Nurse: Works alongside the doctor during practices and/or competitions to provide immediate medical care when required. Qualification as a registered nurse is required.
In addition to rinkside duties, medical team members work in the medical room, which has to remain staffed throughout the event.
Music & Announcing Team
The Music Team is responsible for playing competition music during practices and competitions, as well as making announcements during practice sessions. During the competition itself, announcements are handled by the event’s official announcer. The team is also responsible for selecting and playing music during warm-up sessions.
Construction & Logistics Team
The Construction Team is responsible for building and dismantling the event infrastructure, including the judges’ platform and the Kiss & Cry area. The Logistics Team forms part of the Construction Team and is responsible for transporting equipment and managing the movement of materials throughout the venue.
Once construction work has been completed and operational needs allow, some team members will continue as part of the Ice Maintenance Team. They inspect the ice surface before the resurfacing machine enters the rink and repair any holes using ice shavings and snow.
Ceremonies Team
The Ceremonies Team is responsible for the practical arrangements related to the medal ceremonies. The team coordinates medal presenters (appointed by the Organising Committee) according to the official protocol and assists with other ceremony logistics in cooperation with the Competition Director.
Event Services Team
The Event Services Team provides versatile support throughout both the venue build-up and the competition itself. The team assists with the practical arrangements of the expo area, provides additional support for a variety of operational tasks, and helps with the administration of the volunteer programme.
Working closely with the Administrative Coordinator, this team offers an excellent opportunity to see firsthand how a major international sporting event comes together through the collaboration of many different teams.
Volunteer Lounge
A dedicated volunteer lounge is available at the arena, providing a place to relax and recharge during shifts. In addition to meals provided by the arena restaurant, volunteers can enjoy coffee, tea, and light snacks. The Volunteer Lounge Team is responsible for serving refreshments, ensuring there is enough food and drink for everyone, and keeping the lounge clean and welcoming.
VIP Services
VIP team members ensure the comfort of invited guests and customers who have purchased experience packages. The position requires excellent customer service skills, problem-solving abilities and language skills. Expertise in the field is considered an advantage.
For more information, please contact:
Viola Asunmaa
viola.asunmaa@skatingfinland.fi