The centre will help develop some of the 70,000 volunteers for the Games and will include a sensory tour, where applicants will be given an authentic Olympic experience in which they will be spoken to by Olympic gods.

They will also play host to interviews, group discussions and role-play activities as the organisers attempt to whittle down the 242,000 applicants.

The reception at the Rio 2016 volunteer training centre as it opened its doors for the first time ©AFP/Getty Images



"We want our candidates to learn new things, to have the opportunity to have a unique experience and to be able to share with other people the experience of having worked on the world's largest sports event," Rio 2016 head of volunteers Flávia Fontes said.

"The goal of the centre is to train volunteers so that they perform focused and efficient work."

The first centre is in Barra da Tijuca near to where the Olympic Park is being built, and more are planned for the coming months in São Paulo and Belo Horizonte.

A second centre is also due to be opened in Rio de Janeiro city centre this weekend, while temporary ones will be set up across 14 different Brazilian cities in the lead up to the Games.

Organisers are planning on holding 1,800 volunteer training courses ahead of the first Olympic and Paralympic Games to take place in South America.

Applicants to volunteer for Rio 2016 participate in a workshop during the opening day of the new training centre ©AFP/Getty Images

Applications for the volunteer scheme are now closed, but those still interested can join the waiting list here.

The eagerly-anticipated Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio are due to begin on August 5 with the Opening Ceremony, before the event comes to an end with the Closing Ceremony on August 21.

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