Great success as 2010 World Cup volunteer applications close

The application process for 15000 volunteers required for the 2010 FIFA World Cup came to a close on 31 August 2009. The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee in South Africa announced that during the application period from 20 July 2009 to 31 August 2009, an average of 1,600 applications were received each day, which gave a total of 67,999, which exceeds the 48,167 volunteer applications received for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. People from 170 countries sent their applications to volunteer for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Most applications came from outside of South Africa with Nigeria producing the highest number of applications outside of the host country with 750 in total. The USA followed with 554 applications and Brazil was close behind with 489. Zimbabweans made 449 applications while Italy also managed an impressive total of 414. Applications were also from other African countries such as Cameroon (375), Democratic Republic of Congo (109) and Lesotho with 106.

In highlighting the success of this programme the Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, Dr Danny Jordaan had this to say: “We would like to thank the thousands of people who applied to be volunteers. The programme has certainly proved to be hugely popular and we are honoured by the incredible response we have received from around the world.”

The required 15 000 volunteers (with 80% coming from South Africa and the rest coming from Africa and the world) will participate in 16 functional areas of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, i.e. accreditation, marketing, media, protocol services, spectator services, transportation, administration, environmental services, welcome and information services, information technology and telecommunication, language support, rights protection programme, logistic services, hospitality and ushering services and volunteer management. In the assessment of applications received it appears that providing administrative support for the tournament has proved to be the most popular functional area for applicants, with 6,378 applications received. Other popular functional areas include hospitality and ushering services (5,537), Fan Park services (2,977) and information technology and telecommunications (2,753). Furthermore, eighty three (83) volunteer hopefuls have applied to work in sign language support in order to assist with hearing-impaired spectators.

Having received such a high volume of applications, the next step is for the applications to be screened and the interviews process for the selected persons will begin in December 2009. Overseas volunteers will be interviewed by teleconference, while interviews for those applicants based in South Africa will be conducted at the host cities. Once the final selections have been made, the volunteers will then be trained in their respective fields before the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off.

Source: Adapted from the media statement issued by the Organising Committee on 01 September 2009.

• Global call goes out for 15000 volunteers for 2010 World Cup