Hosting the olympic games is a massive ordeal and could not happen without the donation of time and expertise by volunteers (Games Makers).
There are several ways in which people can become involved in volunteering during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) requires up to 70,000 people to help with delivery over the summer of 2012. LOCOG’s program is outlined on their website: www.london2012.com/get-involved/volunteer/index.php
Anyone interested in volunteering at the Games and becoming a ‘Games Maker’ in London during 2012 should start with this site, following the guidance provided. There is a useful FAQs section (Frequently Asked Questions) which highlights that general applications start from 15 September (doctors, sports specialists etc. from 27 July)
If people cannot commit to the requirements needed to become a Games Maker there will be plenty of other Games-inspired volunteering opportunities available, and many of these will be in local communities away from London: inspiring activities such as the torch relay, cultural celebrations, other sporting events, tourism activities and environmental work
While not all volunteering opportunities will be directly involved in Games-time delivery, they are offered by organisations inspired in some way by the Games. It’s a great chance for people to be part of the spirit of the Games in their own local community. These Games-inspired opportunities are starting to appear on www.do-it.org. This is backed by the England-wide network of Volunteer Centres and is a great place to start if looking for volunteering opportunities.
In the longer term there will be a dedicated web site, providing links to Games-inspired volunteering opportunities for people all over England.
