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London calling for Whistler Blackcomb electricians

2012 Summer Games to benefit from 2010 Winter Games experience
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London Pride Whistler Blackcomb electrician Rob Walter is doing frontline work for the 2012 Olympics. Photo by John French

In February of 2010 Rob Walter and Ross MacLean were two of the key people on the Winter Olympic venue team at Whistler Creekside, and the pair have upped their game in 2012.

MacLean and Walter are both in London, England preparing for the Olympic Summer Games.

The Whistler Blackcomb (WB) electricians were both hired as venue energy managers for the 2012 Summer Games in London.

In 2010 they were both doing front line electrical work for the Olympic Winter Games and this time around each of them will be managing a team of electricians. MacLean is working at the Aquatic Park where swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming will take place. He said it is actually two separate venues, as the water polo will take place under a massive temporary tent. Walter is in charge of the electrical systems at the field hockey stadium and the handball arena.

Back in 2010, MacLean and Walter were both reporting to a Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee employee named Jim Bucci, the Creekside venue energy manager. Bucci has climbed up the Olympic ladder to become the manager of the venue energy managers with the organizing committee in London. Walter and MacLean enjoyed working with Bucci and when he called them to encourage each of them to apply for jobs in London they both got in action.

"It is going to be a totally new experience and I get to see a different part of Europe that I haven't been to before," said Walter. "The Olympic experience here was pretty cool."

During a telephone call from London, MacLean told the Pique he has been working long hours. He started working in London right after he arrived in September.

"I have never worked this hard," MacLean said. "I'm doing 12 to 14 (hours) a day right now trying to get 'er done."

Walter left Feb. 16 after his visa and travel documents were arranged with help from the London 2012 human resources department. He said he is looking forward to the adventure.

"It is a different experience," said Walter. "It is management experience as opposed to being on the other side of the tools. I'm not going to be on the tools at all. It will just be organizing and management of the two venues."

Both of the long-term WB electricians have taken leave-of-absences. MacLean has been with WB for 25 years and Walter is only a few years behind with 20 years of service.

Walter said his family will join him in June and after the Games they will tour around Europe before returning home.

MacLean's wife joins him in London this month.

The Games will start July 27 and continue until Aug. 12 then the Paralympics will take place Aug. 29 to Sept. 9.