Attention Therapists! 2004 International Sports Massage Team Recruiting Underway

By Editorial Staff
May 29, 2009

Attention Therapists! 2004 International Sports Massage Team Recruiting Underway

By Editorial Staff
May 29, 2009

Attention Therapists! 2004 International Sports Massage Team Recruiting Underway

The 2004 International Massage Team is recruiting massage therapists to provide services at the 2004 Olympic Summer Games, Aug. 13-29, in Athens, Greece. One hundred therapists are needed for the August games and 60 more will be needed for the Paralympics in September. Interested U.S. applicants must have a valid passport and proof of liability insurance, and pass a background check.

Professional criteria for U.S. applicants includes:

  • a minimum of 500 hours of training or equivalent experience;
  • a certificate of graduation from a massage program;
  • state licensure if practicing in a licensing state;
  • a résumé or CV listing advanced training programs; and
  • a list describing experience working as a sports massage therapist, including events, dates and types of athletes.

Preference will be given to applicants who submit complete applications and have previous experience working at the Olympics or other major national or international sporting events.

Applications and additional details are available online at www.athenssportsmassageteam2004.com. The deadline to submit an application is April 30. For more information, contact George Kousaleos, c/o CORE Institute at (850) 222-8673 or via e-mail at george@coreinstitute.com.

Portrait of a Massage Therapist

Recently, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) conducted a survey of 800 randomly selected massage professionals to create a profile of today's massage practitioner. Survey participants were either currently certified by NCBTMB, approaching their renewal period, or had let certification lapse completely. According to the survey:

  • 83% of practitioners are women with a median age of 40;
  • The median household income is just under $50,000, with one-third of the income supplied from the massage practice;
  • The average therapist works 16 hours per week, while full-time therapists work 24 hours per week and part-time therapists work 10 hours per week;
  • 42% of therapists work out of their own home or a client's home, 29% work in a spa or gym, 24% work in a private practice office, and 19% work in a medical office;
  • 62% of practitioners are self-employed;
  • The average length of practice is 4.1 years, and the average time survey participants reported being in their current positions was slightly under 4 years;
  • 81% were full-time employees in another field prior to entering the massage profession; and
  • Most practitioners stated that the massage and bodywork profession is personally rewarding.

For more information, contact the NCBTMB at 800-269-0644 or via e-mail at info@ncbtmb.com.