Former Lawtonian working with Paris Olympics

For former Lawtonian Jill Porter, being Press Services Manager for the Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games is no easy feat.

After graduating from Lawton High School in 1980, Porter went to OU to study French. After graduating in 1984, she attended The Ohio State University to study law.

After graduating from law school in 1987, Porter worked in the legal department of a French company in France. Even though she has a background in law, she knew she didn’t want to be a lawyer.

“I went to law school, and I’m thankful for the knowledge, but knew a long time before I graduated that I wouldn’t make a good lawyer,” Porter said.

When the Olympic Winter Games came to Albertville in 1992, she took time off to be a volunteer.

“I was assigned to the International Broadcast Center as a volunteer, but found it all so interesting and fun that the experience changed my career trajectory,” Porter said.

The experience working as a volunteer at the Albertville Olympic Winter Games and working at the International Broadcast Center changed her life.

“It was international, interesting and fun,” Porter said. “I knew then that I wanted to work in international events.”

She then worked in the legal department of the organizing committee for the FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles for World Cup USA 1994. She came back to France to work in FIFA protocol and accreditation for the organizing committee of the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. She worked staffing and accreditation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1999 in Washington before moving to Salt Lake City in 2000 to work in press operations for the organizing committee of the Olympic Winter Games.

“I left Salt Lake to come back to France, had a baby and didn’t work until our son started school,” Porter said.

Porter worked on the organizing committee for press operations for many different Olympic Games and World Cups and championships. Some include the 2012 London Olympic Games, the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games, the 2016 Rugby World Cup in London and the 2018 European Championships. Only in the 2019 Women’s World Cup did she work for accreditation instead of press operations.

“I started this job in Paris in March 2021, took unpaid leave to fulfill my contract with Tokyo (since it was supposed to be in 2020) and have been here in Paris since my return from Tokyo,” Porter said.

Porter said many people inspired her to get where she is today.

“I am literally inspired by people every day,” Porter said. “Sounds cliche, but my family’s unconditional support has always allowed me to soar. My sister is the most responsible, grounded person I know and my brother is an ever-curious explorer. I am inspired to be a mix of both.”

Her advice for anyone graduating or navigating life?

“Never stop learning,” Porter said. “Study. Volunteer. Take the small jobs and turn them into big opportunities. Given two candidates with nearly identical resumes, the one with a foreign language skill or any experience out of the country (waitressing in New Zealand, working a ski lift in Chile), will get the interview.”