The announcement coincided with International Volunteer Day, which this year carries the theme of “Global Applause – give volunteers a hand”.

Volunteers will be able to pre-register online for positions at the Games, with roles set to include positions at Games venues, the Athletes’ Village and the uniform and accreditation centre.

“The important thing for us is to acknowledge that it is International Volunteering Day and we want to celebrate the importance of volunteers,” said Peter Beattie, Gold Coast 2018 chairman here today.

“We will need 15,000 volunteers for the Commonwealth Games and it will not work without the volunteers, that is a major focus for us.

“The contribution of Gold Coast 2018 volunteers will help promote the Gold Coast to athletes, officials and spectators who will attend the Games from across the Commonwealth.

“Volunteering at the Games provides so many people with an opportunity to share the dream, which has been at the heart of the event since the Commonwealth Games began.”

Volunteers will need to be 16-years-old at the time of application, with international volunteers free to apply for positions.

Training will be provided to the volunteers by TAFE Queensland, with the educational institution having signed on as Gold Coast 2018’s Official Training Partner in February.

They are set to deliver practical training to thousands of volunteers and support the delivery of the biggest sporting event in Australia this decade.

Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin joined Beattie for the local announcement here today, which took place during this week’s Gold Coast 2018 Coordination Commission visit.

Stirling Hinchliffe, Transport and Commonwealth Games Minister, revealed the opening date for applications in Queensland.

Martin urged people from across Australia to consider applying for the Games and expressed her hope that around 50,000 people will put their names forward, which would ensure Gold Coast 2018 have a high quality of applicants to select from.

“Can I just say to anyone thinking of volunteering, volunteers are so important in any Games and they are the face when athletes from around the world arrive in the country,” the CGF President said.

“We need people from Gold Coast, the know the city and what it can deliver.

“We also need volunteers from Queensland and the rest of Australia, because the experience of being a volunteer at the Games is second to none.

“To get 15,000 volunteers to successfully deliver the Games, you are going to need around 50,000 applicants.

“My advice to everybody is join up now.”