Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MOSCOW (AP) — She has worked at the World Cup, European Championship, Olympic Games and the Confederations Cup. A high-ranking sports official?
More like a super-volunteer.
Mathilde Molla, a 54-year old Brazilian photography professor, developed a passion for volunteering at international tournaments after her first event in the 2013 Confederations Cup in her native country. She was back at it a year later at the World Cup in Brazil, volunteered at the 2014 South American Games in Santiago, Chile, the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, the 2016 Euros in France and is now in Russia for her second Confederations Cup.
"First, I love football. I love it," said Molla, who teaches at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. "Volunteering is also an opportunity to get to know other cultures, other people, and it's amazing to be able to share with people from all over the world."
Molla said she met two Russian volunteers at the Euros in Paris and fell in love with their culture. She is now rooming with one of them at the lodging provided for the volunteers by the local organizing committee.
"I came here first and foremost because of the football, and also to know the country and its culture. And I am delighted," she said.
Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, English and French, and now learning Russian, Molla said she uses her savings to travel to the events, since volunteers are typically not paid. In Russia, she and the other volunteers — usually college students younger than her — are given hotel accommodations if needed and daily meals.
She says she spent around $1,500 total on her Russia trip. And her logic to pay for these experiences is simple: "If I came as a tourist, I would also have to spend the money."
Her goal is to eventually change career path to focus on sports management, and she considers these events as a good opportunity to meet people and network. She also hopes to be back in Russia next year for her second World Cup.
Few would compare the fun-loving Brazilian culture to the more stoic Russian, but Molla sees many similarities.
"In the beginning, the Russians do not smile, they can be a little closed (off)," she said. "But, after some contact, they become very warm people and they joke, they smile."
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
