London 2012: Volunteer appeal launched in West Midlands

A campaign has been launched in the West Midlands to find volunteers to help at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Up to 70,000 people from around the UK will be recruited to get involved in a variety of ways during the Games.

Banners on the sides of buses are encouraging people to consider becoming a volunteer or 'Games Maker'.

The campaign was launched in the West Midlands by former Olympic athlete Dave Moorcroft.

Different opportunities

Organisers say for many of the volunteering roles "you won't need specialist skills or qualifications, but you should bring passion and enthusiasm to the Games."

There are a number of different opportunities ranging from helping with transport to welcoming visitors.

Dave Moorcroft who is Chair of the West Midlands Leadership Group for the 2012 Games said: "The volunteers get an incredible amount of recognition and a huge amount of enjoyment about being part of the greatest festival of sport in the world."

Applications

The former middle-distance runner was joined at the launch in Birmingham by Jane Beech from Dudley who is already a volunteer with a supported-ability football team for children with special needs.

Jane is planning to apply for the 2012 Games and said the reward she got from volunteering was "amazing."

LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe said: "The volunteers are the difference between a good and a great games."

Applications open on Wednesday, 15 September 2010 and more details are available at London 2012 Volunteering.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/birmingham/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8917000/8917186.stm