2010 volunteer programme open for applications

"The volunteer programme is an excellent way to get involved in South Africa and Africa's once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of hosting the world's biggest sporting event," said 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa CEO, Dr Danny Jordaan.

"From ushering people to their seats, to assisting the media and foreign-language speakers, welcoming people at the airport and driving guests around, it is the volunteers that actually make the tournament happen," explained Dr Jordaan.

Volunteers are required in 16 functional areas - 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.

Anyone who is 18 years or older on 1 March 2010 and has a good command of the English language can apply. The application form is available on FIFA.com at www.FIFA.com/volunteers2010. For those without Internet access there will be a number of venues across the nine FIFA World Cup host cities where members of the public will be assisted in completing their applications to join the volunteer programme. For information on these venues and for any other information on the programme visit www.FIFA.com/volunteers2010, call the volunteer hotline on +27 (0) 800 52 52 52 (toll free in South Africa) or email .

Applications close on 31 August 2009. The OC volunteer department will conduct interviews with the pre-selected applicants in January and February 2010. Telephonic interviews will be conducted for foreign pre-selected volunteers.