That date marks just under 200 days to go until the start of the Championships on August 18 at the Swansea University Sports Village, which will see around 600 of the top European Para-athletes from 40 countries competing in the week-long event.

Organisers are inviting people from Swansea, Britain and the rest of Europe to become a volunteer at the event, where they will be involved in a wide variety of activities across the athletics venue and the Championships Village with no previous experience or specialist skills needed for many of the roles.

"The launch of the Champions programme is a major milestone in our planning for the 2014 Championships," said chairman of the Swansea 2014 Organising Committee Paul Thorburn.

"The volunteers will be central to the success of the event and will help deliver the warm welcome and outstanding experience that we know Swansea and Wales can deliver.

"We want people from the city and the region to be inspired by the Championships and there is no better way than to get involved as a 'Champion' and actually be part of history."

In 2012, Swansea University hosted training camps for the Mexican and New Zealand Paralympic teams prior to the London Paralympics.

This year's event will be the first time the European Championships will have been staged in Britain following on from Assen 2003, Espoo 2005 and Stadskanaal 2012.

To become a "Champion" volunteer for Swansea 2014, applicants need to be aged 18-years-old or over and must be available for 10 days around the Championships, and will need their own transport and accommodation.

Organisers say that full training will be given to all successful applicants.

Paralympic and world discus champion Josie Pearson is a Swansea 2014 Ambassador
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