More than 100,000 people apply to be volunteers at Rio 2016 Games
Russia, China and USA provide most overseas candidates, with applications from over 180 countries
Volunteers will be required for more than 500 roles during the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro)
More than 100,000 people have already applied to take on the challenge of helping stage South America’s first Olympic and Paralympic Games. Launched just over one month ago, the Rio 2016 Volunteer Programme – designed to select the 70,000 volunteers to participate in the Games – had by this Thursday (2 October) received applications from more than 180 countries throughout the world. You can register by visiting the programme’s webpage.
“We are very happy that the response has been so positive. It is really good to see so many people wanting to play an active role in South America’s first Olympic and Paralympic Games, and share the thrill of this historic event,” said Henrique Gonzalez, Rio 2016’s Human Resources Director.
There are opportunities for many different candidate profiles and applications continue to grow both in number and cultural diversity. Fifty-eight per cent of the candidates are women and competition among nations for the highest number of candidates is close.
After Brazil, Russia leads the race with 5,096 candidates, many of whom have been inspired by the Sochi 2014 Winter Games. The leading medal-winners, China and the United States, are also in the race for a place on the volunteer podium. There have been 4,713 candidates from China and 4,231 from the United States.
To participate, the only requirements are availability to work during the Games and a minimum age of 18 by February 2016. We welcome applications from both young and older people.
Maria Soledade, an 83-year-old from the Brazilian state of Sergipe, is dreaming of taking part in the planet’s biggest sporting event. So far, she is the oldest candidate to register for the programme.
“The main reason I want to be a volunteer is that I will have the opportunity to contribute to and experience the world’s biggest sporting event. I am sure that it will be the most glorious moment in my life,” she said.
The 70,000 candidates selected will be allocated to nine functional areas: customer care, sports, press and communications, operational support, ceremony production, protocol and languages, healthcare, technology and transport. There are more than 500 roles.
