It seems like everyone wants in on the action of the 2010 Winter Olympics -- and applications are already flooding in for volunteers.
More than 3,000 applications have already been received from 24 countries and every province and territory in Canada for the 25,000 positions available.
And the Vancouver Organizing Committee's website has seen 700,000 page views from people wanting to find out about volunteer opportunities -- 300,000 more than any other item Olympic organizers have put up so far.
The Call for Volunteers launches online today right across the country, with 25-thousand positions available through two sites -- www.volunteer.workopolis.com and www.vancouver2010.com.
Organizers used the background of the University of B.C. Tuesday to launch their search, bringing Olympic medalist Beckie Scott and the three mascots to bring the volunteer message to students.
Donna Wilson, VANOC's executive vice president of workforce and sustainability, attracted dozens of interested students.
If you want to be a volunteer, here are the criteria:
- You need to be 19 as of September 1, 2008
- You need to be available before, during and after the Olympic dates in February 2010
- You need to have local accommodation
- You need an e-mail address to communicate with organizers
- You must pass an RCMP background check.
Successful applicants will undergo screening tests over the next 18 months.
With files from The Canadian Press
