Volunteers 'crucial' to successful London Olympics

Volunteers could play a crucial role if the 2012 Olympics were held in London, Home Secretary David Blunkett said today.

Around 10,000 volunteers aged from 16 to 87 were essential to the success of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester two years ago, and more than 60,000 helped out at the Sydney 2000 Games. The 2012 Games would involve around 70,000 volunteers.

The number of people involved in volunteering and community participation in England is rising and has exceeded the Prime Minister's target of one million more people volunteering their time between 2001 and 2003.

David Blunkett said: "London's bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is the next target - active citizens will be a vital part of the Games."

Volunteers at events like the Olympics can perform a wide variety of tasks, like ushering and stewarding, looking after athletes, carrying equipment, issuing tickets and driving athletes and visitors around.

But they are also present in less visible roles - for example doctors and dentists in the Athletes Village in Sydney were volunteers and there were many multilingual volunteers in Manchester.

(gmcg)