Speaking at a press conference concluding the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission's seventh visit to Sochi, Kozak spoke of the importance of the volunteer programme.

"They are needed not just for the Olympics but it provides restoration of the volunteer movement in Russia," he said.

"Volunteers can work in other areas of social significance.

"Competition will be harder than for most prestigious universities and this shows the importance of this movement."

Sochi 2014 will recruit 25,000 volunteers for the Winter Olympics from the 26 volunteer centres around the country.

With 35 per cent of Games personnel expected to be volunteers, they will be of fundamental importance during Sochi 2014.

Though the intention is to inspire volunteering in Russia, Sochi 2014's programme has had a far wider reach than that, with applications coming from as far afield as Ghana, the Dominican Republic and Kenya.

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