London 2012 is to hold nine selection events at centres around the UK between now and August to find "the faces" of the Games.

It is estimated that over the next 14 months more than 300 people per day will attend, what officials claim, is an informative and engaging exhibition about Olympic and Paralympic volunteering and have a 30-minute interview.

Where possible, applicants will be invited to attend the event nearest to them.

At a preview selection event held today at ExCel, London, Sebastian Coe, the London 2012 chairman, said: "The Games Maker volunteers will be the faces of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and it is crucial we recruit the best team players in the UK.

"Our team will be finding out if the applicants have got what it takes to be a Games Maker and that they are willing to go beyond their personal best to help us stage a great Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"The interview process is a huge undertaking, but vitally important to find the right people."

Given the numbers involved in the UK's biggest peace-time recruitment drive, no two applications will proceed at the same pace.

London 2012 will take most of 2011 to contact applicants and arrange interviews via email and the Games Maker online portal, Coe said.

With 40 per cent of applicants telling London 2012 they would be volunteering for the first time, it is working with the UK Life-time Alliance to encourage these people to get active in their local communities through the website www.ukvolunteering.org.



Justin Davis-Smith, chair of the Life-Time UK Alliance and chief executive of Volunteering England, said: "The Games will showcase the passion, energy and commitment that are the hallmarks of volunteering in the UK.

"With one in four applicants never having volunteered before they will provide a fantastic opportunity to build a lasting legacy of community engagement and civic participation."

The Games Maker interviews will be conducted by a team of 2,500 selection event volunteers who are lending their time to help LOCOG select the best possible team.

Worldwide Olympic partner McDonald's is the presenting partner of the Games Maker volunteer programme.

Jill McDonald, the company's northern Europe chief executive officer and President, said: "The volunteer interviewers have the critical task of spotting the individuals who have the right qualities to thrive in the fast-paced environment of the London 2012 Games, and who will remain committed between now and then.

"It's not easy to find this combination of enthusiasm and dedication, but at McDonald's, we've learnt a lot about recruiting and retaining people with the right qualities and attitude who enjoy delivering great customer service as part of a diverse, motivated and loyal team.

"It's a privilege to share this expertise with LOCOG to help build a truly first class Games Maker team."

Today, London 2012 also announced Cadbury as official supporter of the London 2012 Games Maker programme.

Cadbury will help organisers build great Games Maker teams through fun and friendly game play delivered by programmes such as the Spots v Stripes campaign.


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