February 12, 2010

Vancouver, BC – With a strong desire to volunteer, third-year dental student Oxana Korj found herself given a huge honour—to carry the country-name board for The Netherlands during the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“I volunteered to be a performer in the ceremonies, perhaps a dancer which is my background,” says Oxana, “but when the organizers offered me a placement to carry a country name during the parade of athletes, I was ecstatic.”

Oxana admires the spirit of the Olympics and sees the Games as an example of society functioning at its highest order. “It’s an important position, to be the first face representing the country and its athletes.” Already looking beyond graduation in 2011, Oxana, a native Russian speaker, sees herself involved in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia perhaps as a volunteer dentist. But for now, during a break in studies, she is thrilled to volunteer for the Games in Vancouver.