Every one of the 50,000 volunteers taking part in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games has a story to tell, with some even travelling across the world to be able to join in the world’s biggest sporting event. But the path taken by 26-year-old Venezuelan Frank Olmos is different.

Frank poses in front of Rio’s Museum of Tomorrow (Photo: Frank Olmos/Facebook)

The high school teacher faced a journey of epic proportions to make it to the Marvellous City: a fundraising kitty, three days of travel, 6,600 km covered, two buses, a frontier crossing and a flight with three stops. All to realise a dream.

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“The opportunity [to take part in] Rio 2016 is unique,” said Frank during an interview with Rio2016.com.

“I just came here to help out.” The volunteer will work as a general equestrian services assistant at the Deodoro sporting complex. “It’s my second time in Rio. I came here for the World Youth Day [in 2013],” he added.

Frank’s challenge began back in Caracas, where he had to sell some of his belongings and rely on the support of local friends to be able to make the two long bus journeys that would take him to the Brazilian border.

“Some people even sold their home printer to help me,” he said.

The journey began in Venezuelan capital, and a day-long bus journey led to Puerto Ordaz, in the province of Bolívar. Another long trek the day after “cost me nine hours waiting to cross the border,” Frank said, before he arrived in the Brazilian town of Boa Vista in Roraima state.

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Once on Brazilian soil, Frank was able to count on the solidarity of friends in the Olympic host country.

“My friends helped me by paying R$1,000 for a plane ticket. Some of them I met at the World Youth Day, others saw my story online and also decided to help,” he explained.

He then took a three-leg flight, stopping in Manaus, São Paulo, and finally, Rio de Janeiro – the end of his three-day journey.

Straight after collecting his pass from the Rio 2016 Uniform and Accreditation Centre in the Cidade do Samba, in the port district, he used social media to thank his supporters publically.

“For my brothers who couldn’t make it here, for my family and for the many Venezuelans who have hope: I am here for you, brothers. It’s a great sacrifice, but I’m happy to be doing it,” he wrote on the Rio 2016 volunteers Facebook page. In just a few hours, the post had more than 1,000 likes.

Frank will stay in a church in Deodoro that has opened its doors to him for the duration of the Games, as he was not able to meet the cost of accommodation himself.

Tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games are on sale on the Rio 2016 Portal