18,000 Volunteers Kick Off Their Training Ahead Of The Main Event

The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee's (OC) Volunteer Department will this weekend start the process of training the 18,000 volunteers who will assist the OC and host cities with the delivery of Africa’s first FIFA World Cup.
The OC’s Volunteer Programme initially received 67,999 volunteer applications from over 170 countries and after an intensive interview and screening process have now completed the process of finalising the OC, host city and Football For Hope Festival volunteer numbers required for Africa’s first FIFA World Cup.

Over the coming month, volunteers will undergo three days of training in each host city, starting Friday, March 12 in Johannesburg and Mbombela. They will be given general tournament, as well as area-specific, training in their functional areas, which range from administration, spectator services, broadcasting, marketing, IT, media, transport, ticketing and more.

They will also undergo ‘Know your Country’ and ‘Know your City’ training, as well as a motivational session where groups of between 900 and 2,600 volunteers per session will learn how to do SA Tourism’s popular Diski Dance. International volunteers selected will undergo an online training process.

“We’re confident the infrastructure required for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is now in place and our focus is very much on the day-to-day delivery of the tournament,” said the OC’s CEO Dr Danny Jordaan in a statement. "Volunteers are absolutely integral to the success of the tournament and their training programme is critical to us at the Organising Committee.

"During the interview process we’ve come across outstanding men and women, young and old, in South Africa and around the world, who will help us deliver this tournament. We want to thank all those who applied and wish those who were selected well as they start their training this week. We’re convinced they will help ensure all visitors to the 2010 FIFA World Cup will have an excellent, lasting impression of our country," finished Dr Jordaan.