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The challenge:

To provide Team GB with the best possible platform for success within a new and challenging away Games environment through rigorous and expert preparation.

Case study: Turning medal hopes into medal gains: Sports health checks

Sport “health checks” are a new initiative developed by the BOA’s Rio 2016 Chef de Mission, Mark England, supported by Deloitte secondee Will Stockdale.

Will helped Mark to develop the programme, which uses curated intel from the BOA’s Sport Engagement Managers, to gauge if the BOA is on track to best support sports to meet their targets. This data identifies risks, challenges and crucially informs key decisions of how and where the BOA invests in sports.

How sports health checks have made a positive impact on Team GB

• Identified that the potentially multi-medal winning equestrian team require more space in the Olympic Village to allow for better relaxation in between competitions
• Highlighted that canoe slalom would benefit from a team vehicle, rather than the Rio 2016 transport, to allow their larger team size to travel together creating a team environment. This also helps them to maximise travel time by looking at their performance analysis or have physio en route rather than waiting until they get back to the Olympic Village 
• Facilitated a day base for the Rugby Sevens team whose competition venue in Deodoro is a long way from the Olympic Village. This means the team will be able to rest, sleep, eat well and have treatment in a private location whilst other national teams may have to shuttle back and forth losing valuable time in transit or spend long periods of downtime at the venue.

Working closely with each of the 26 sports competing in Rio, the health checks have allowed the BOA to provide the best possible platform for Team GB athletes to deliver their best performance in Rio.

Case study: Behind the scenes: Small steps, big impact

The work that the BOA does behind closed doors is crucial; even the small things can have a huge impact on high performing Team GB athletes. For example, selecting the best personnel to support athletes and tailoring transport to the team’s needs – two of the many things our secondees have undertaken to support Team GB’s preparations for the Games.

In Rio, you won’t see that the Rugby Sevens team have cooling equipment on their bus - but we will see the benefits on the pitch.

The addition of this equipment will mean that should the team have a late finish, they can start recovery as soon as possible while returning to their accommodation ensuring they have as much sleep as possible.

Small steps: Matching high performing athletes with high performing support

During Games time, the BOA go from a nimble 50 head count to 170 people to cover all roles and responsibilities for the climax of a four year planning cycle.

Using his organisational design skills, Will Stockdale has worked with the BOA’s Head of HR to identify what roles they needed to fill, the type of skills required and the associated costs, through to designing the job descriptions and running the interview process.

It was a significant piece of work to find 70 additional and suitably qualified people to take on key roles in Rio; Will’s experience and approach ensured a smooth recruitment drive, matching the high performing athletes with high performing support.

Case study: Building a legacy of success for the BOA

Three Deloitte secondees = twenty years of experience + outstanding programme management.

The Deloitte team are responsible for the BOA’s Rio 2016 programme comprising three sub-programmes made up of 50 building blocks; ranging from Games services involving organising flight requirements and freight schedules, to developing a stakeholder programme co-ordinating likely guests such as the royal family, senior government ministers and commercial partners.

Deloitte secondees have been fully embedded in the BOA to evolve the programme management; knitting together the various elements of the business, ensuring that all areas of the BOA have the right information at the right time.

This approach has instilled the Chef de Mission, Mark England, with confidence that Team GB will make history in Rio.

“What we do is enable the BOA to help athletes in the most efficient and effective way possible… It all comes down to those few weeks. It will be very challenging for everyone but we’ll pull it off and that delivery will be very satisfying. Just having the opportunity to say you’ve worked here and been part of this is really special for me” Katie Simm, Deloitte.

How did we help create a template for Games glory?

• Got under the skin of the organisation
• Understood the key goals for Rio and beyond
• Utilised tried and tested processes
• Undertook robust analysis
• Maintained adaptability
• Took a rigorous approach 
• Led with passion and pride.

The Deloitte team are proud to support the BOA in doing the best work of their lives – providing a platform for Team GB athletes to do the same.

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