Chatham-Kent native William Lindsay volunteers as a bartender at the Canada Olympic House for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. (Photo courtesy of William Lindsay)Chatham-Kent native William Lindsay volunteers as a bartender at the Canada Olympic House for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. (Photo courtesy of William Lindsay)
Chatham

Chatham Man Off To The Olympics

The fourth time's the charm for a Chatham man -- who's off to Brazil to experience his fourth Olympics as a volunteer.

William Lindsay has volunteered with the Canada Olympic House in Vancouver, London, and Sochi, and leaves on Monday to join Team Canada at the Rio Games.

"I went to my first Games in Vancouver, and it was a great experience...Then I decided I wanted to keep following the Canadian Olympic Committee around," he says.

"Once you get into that Olympic bubble, it's an infectious and contagious atmosphere that you just keep wanting to come back for more."

Lindsay will volunteer in the same capacity as he has in the past by working as a bartender at the Canada Olympic House, which acts as a home away from home for Canadian athletes, their families and friends.

But he says it's hard not to ignore the news coming out of South America.

With a number of star athletes pulling out of the Games over health concerns, Lindsay says the safety of Rio factored into his decision to book those connecting flights and go.

"I think not knowing the layout of the land, and how I'm getting from where I'm staying to Canada House each day adds an extra dimension of concern," says Lindsay.

"But I have lots of bug spray that I'm taking with me, and I will not be swimming in any of the water."

On his off time, Lindsay will be at the stadium. He says he scored tickets to watch fencing and field hockey competitions -- sports he says can't typically be enjoyed in Chatham-Kent.

But he's most looking forward to making new memories.

"At the Olympics you never know who you're going to run into," says Lindsay.

"In Sochi, we had quite a few celebrities come into Canada House. In London, Prince Harry made a visit, so you never know who's going to come in when you're serving at Canada House."

He returns on August 26th.

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