Just one week after the opening of volunteer applications for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the number of applicants has already exceeded 15 000.
Volunteer applications opened on 20 July 2009 and as at 09H30 today, the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) had received 15 042 applications from prospective volunteers in 133 countries.
This included 482 applications to volunteer at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Final Draw in Cape Town in December and a further 188 for the Football for Hope Festival in Alexandra, Johannesburg during the tournament.
Volunteers will be required in areas such as transport, media, marketing, logistics, accreditation, spectator services, language support, administration and hospitality at the tournament's ten stadiums and nine Host Cities.
The OC will continue to accept applications until the closing date on August 31 2009 after which the 15,000 volunteers needed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will be chosen.
"We're delighted with the phenomenal response and the enthusiasm from people to play their part in helping to successfully deliver Africa's first FIFA World Cup." said the OC's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Danny Jordaan.
"However, we encourage people to continue to apply until the end of August to ensure we have the strongest possible volunteers to assist in all functional areas. Language support, in particular, will be very important, especially when it comes to assisting foreign fans that will follow their teams to the tournament. So, while we're very happy with the initial response, we want to stress that the volunteer recruitment process is still very much open," said Dr Jordaan.
Prospective volunteers are asked to continue to apply on FIFA.com. Those without internet access or requiring further information about the programme and how to apply at volunteer centres around the country can also contact the toll-free volunteer hotline on 0800 52 52 52.
The programme is open to those over the age of 18 on March 1 next year and is open to South African residents, applicants from the rest of the African continent and around the world.
Volunteer application statistics to date:
2010 FIFA WORLD CUP™
Cape Town: 1754
Durban: 1543
Johannesburg - Ellis Park: 2247
Johannesburg - Soccer City: 2932
Mangaung/Bloemfontein: 1112
Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth: 621
Nelspruit: 353
Polokwane: 552
Rustenburg: 990
Tshwane/Pretoria: 2268
TOTAL: 14372
FINAL DRAW FOR 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP (Cape Town)
Cape Town 482
FOOTBALL FOR HOPE FESTIVAL 2010 (Alexandra)
Alexandra 188
*Issued by the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) Communications Division
For further information please contact:
OC Chief of Communications, Rich Mkhondo, E-mail: rich.mkhondo@2010oc.com, Mobile: +27832010254
OC Media Manager, Jermaine Craig, E-mail: jermaine.craig@2010oc.com, Mobile: +27832010121
FIFA.com
