11 September, 2014

Dear Sir,

Some weeks ago your paper suggested that Portuguese-speakers apply to volunteer for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. As I speak the language I have tried to volunteer, but a major problem that I encountered is that Bermuda is not available for selection in any of the drop-down menus (at least on the Portuguese-language version of the site), including Place of Birth, Passport, and Address.

Inquiries to the volunteering relations team have produced prompt, polite, but useless answers such as to select “US Minor Outlying Islands”, which actually include Guam, American Samoa and other US Pacific territories, or “Great Britain”, which would be fine except those of us who live here do not live there, by definition.

This is obvious to you and me, but apparently not to them. Currently I am feeling quite defeated and wonder if any other readers have had an easier experience, or any advice to give on the matter.

Yours sincerely,

John Gibbons