74 000+ volunteer for 2010
2009-08-22 12:05
Johannesburg - With only ten days left to register, over 74 000 people have put down their names for the 15 000 World Cup volunteer spots, the 2010 Local Organising Committee said on Friday.
"People the world over are responding in their numbers as applications approach the 50 000 mark. To date, 47 252 applications have been processed through FIFA.com since July 20," LOC spokesperson Rich Mkhondo said.
He said an average of 1 500 applications were received per day and should the numbers keep growing, the number of those willing to volunteer would beat the 48 167 applications received for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
LOC chairperson Danny Jordaan said: "We are honoured by the tremendous response we have received. We can see how excited people from all around the world are about 2010 in the number of applications we are receiving from volunteer hopefuls. They are eager to be part of this World Cup that will showcase Africa's capabilities to the world."
More volunteers
Of those registered, 11 969 were from Johannesburg, 6 176 from Pretoria, 4 752 from Port Elizabeth and 4 356 from Cape Town.
From Durban, 3 971 applications were received.
However, only 15 000 people will be chosen as volunteers but Jordaan urged those interested in volunteering to keep sending their applications until the cut off date of August 31.
"The organising committee volunteer department is still looking for more volunteers with specific skills including those with driver's licences wishing to work as transport volunteers," he said.
Eighty percent of the 15 000 people selected after August 31 will be South Africans while 10% will be from other African countries and another 10% from the rest of the world.
No salaries
Application forms are available at www.FIFA.com/volunteers2010.
Those without internet access could get help at select venues in all nine host cities, said Jordaan.
People wanting more information about the volunteer programme could also call the toll-free hotline on 0800-525-252 or send e-mails to volunteerprogramme@2010oc.com.
Those selected will help with accreditation, administration, language support, logistics services, protocol services and spectator services among other things.
No salaries will be paid for work done but volunteers will receive stipends to cover their expenses.
- SAPA
