On the Olympics

Interview with Rebecca Wardwell ('95)

Where are you from?

I am from New Zealand. I came to AISB because my father was working in Budapest at the time.

How was your first day?

It was a little scary as I had come from a small school in rural New Zealand with only 25 children.

What are some of your best memories from AISB?

Coming from a very small farming community in New Zealand it was incredible to suddenly have friends from all over the world.

It was amazing to be able to learn from them about different cultures and ways of doing things.

One of the best things was the ice cream shop just down the hill from the school where we used to queue up on the way home!

Did you have a favorite teacher? Which one of the teachers made the biggest impression on your life and why?

I remember Meg Sutcliff was one of my favourites, she is Australian so helped to feel a little closer to home!

What have you been up to since you left AISB?

I graduated with a Master's in Transport Engineering, and also competed at Olympic Games, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games in Athletics. I worked at New Zealand Olympic Committee. I am currently working at the International Olympic Committee.

I took a year to do a personal project to cycle from Switzerland to New Zealand to raise money for charity (for a foundation that encourages young women through sport). 20'000km in one year.

What or who inspired you to become an athlete?

Watching the New Zealand Olympic Team competing in the LA 1984 and Seoul 1988 Olympic Games when I was growing up on TV.

How has AISB helped you with your sports career?

I loved playing Basketball at AISB and we also did lots of other sports like fun-runs, swimming, and tennis. I was able to try lots of different sports to gain different skills and stay active.

How did AISB influence you as a person and build your character?

I think the exposure to so many different cultures and people from all around the world has helped me to have a broader view on the world and be more tolerant and understanding of different ways of thinking.

Describe your current job and the path you took to get there.

I am a Senior Games Delivery Manager, Beijing 2022 for the International Olympic Committee. As an athlete, I was very lucky to retire and get a job at the National Olympic Committee in New Zealand that then lead to opportunities at the International Olympic Committee in Switzerland. My current role is part of the team overseeing the delivery of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing 2022. I will spend much of the next 10 months based in Beijing working with the Organising Committee on behalf of the IOC. I also work on the Tokyo Olympic Games in the Games Delivery Office supporting issue resolution in the lead up to and during Games time.

What are the greatest challenges in your field?

The current greatest challenge is trying to organize the Olympic Games during the COVID pandemic, everything changes so quickly and there are so many unknowns.

How has the Covid pandemic affected your work?

Normally we would travel to and from the host city regularly. Now with travel restrictions, this is not possible so it means long extended periods on-site, and in the case of China with 3 weeks quarantine on arrival!

Did you keep in touch with your classmates after you left AISB?

Some of them yes, tools like Facebook and LinkedIn are great for that! I met up with one of my classmates Jee-In in Seoul a few years ago which was great fun.

What advice do you have for students interested in your field?

Gain as much experience as you can working in sporting events, in particular, volunteering is a great way to get your foot in the door!

To learn more about Rebecca's biking project visit @thelongwayhome.nz on Instagram.