When the Winter Olympics come to Vancouver in 2010, Const. Eric Campbell will be there to witness it all first-hand.
The Souris RCMP officer was recently selected to be part of the security team working the Games.
And while he’s not certain yet what his duties will entail, he’s more than a little excited about the once-in-a-lifetime venture.
“I’ve always loved sports and have always followed the Olympics. It’s just a great opportunity for me.”
Campbell, like all RCMP officers across Canada, was given the opportunity to apply for security duties earlier this year.
But while many applied only a select few were chosen for the event.
Campbell said he was just one of the lucky ones.
“I came home to tell my wife after I found out,” he said.
“She was sad to hear I was going. It’s never easy to be away from home, but for something like this, that comes around once in your career, I’m willing to make the sacrifice.”
He added working the Games was something he hoped to do since first hearing Canada was hosting them.
“Since it was announced Canada was hosting the Olympics it was something I wanted to be part of on some level,” Campbell said.
Despite working the Games, Campbell will only have access to the events he is working. To see other events he will have to buy tickets, like any other spectator.
That being said, he hopes to see at least a couple of events while there.
“I’d love to see the skiing events,” he said.
“Either the cross country or acrobatic skiing would be nice. To see the hockey as well, that would be a hot ticket.”
The duration of his security duties could run anywhere from two weeks to a month, but Campbell said that won’t be known until early fall.