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Training for thousands of 2010 FIFA World Cup™ volunteers kicks off

Johannesburg, 10 March 2010

The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa’s (OC) Volunteer Department will this weekend start the national and international process of training the 18 000 volunteers that will assist the OC and Host Cities with the delivery of Africa’s first FIFA World Cup™.

The OC’s Volunteer Programme initially received 67 999 volunteer applications from over 170 countries and after an intensive interview and screening process have now completed the process of finalising the Organising Committee, Host City and Football For Hope Festival volunteer numbers required for Africa’s first FIFA World Cup.

Volunteers will from Friday March 12 in Johannesburg and Mbombela over three days be given general tournament, as well as area-specific training, in their functional areas, which range from administration, spectator services, broadcasting, marketing, IT, media, transport, ticketing etc. They will also undergo ‘Know your Country’ and ‘Know your City’ training, as well as a motivational session where groups of between 900 and 2 600 volunteers at a time per session will learn how to do SA Tourism’s popular Diski Dance.

“We’re confident the infrastructure required for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is now in place and our focus is very much on the day-to-day delivery of the tournament. Volunteers are absolutely integral to the success of the tournament and their training programme is critical to us at the Organising Committee. During the interview process we’ve come across outstanding men and women, young and old, in South Africa and around the world, who will help us deliver this tournament. We want to thank all those who applied and wish those who were selected well as they start their training this week. We’re convinced they will help ensure all visitors to the 2010 FIFA World Cup will have an excellent, lasting impression of our country,” said the OC’s CEO Dr Danny Jordaan.

Members of the media will be allowed access to the first day’s session in every Host City as follows:

Friday 12 March: Ellis Park (Sandton Convention Centre, Maude Street, Sandown) and Mbombela (AFM Community Centre, Cnr Jacaranda and Kaapsehoop, Nelspruit)

Friday 19 March: Soccer City (Sandton Convention Centre, Maude Street, Sandown) and Tshwane (Tshwane Events Centre, Soutter Street, Tshwane)

Friday 26 March: Rustenburg (Rustenburg Civic Centre) and Mangaung (Central University of Technology, 20 President Brand Street, Bloemfontein)

Friday 9 April: Nelson Mandela Bay (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Missionvale Campus, Corner of Johnson and Uitenhage Streets, Missionvale) and Cape Town (International Convention Centre, Convention Square 1, Lower Long Street)

Friday 16 April: Durban (International Convention Centre, 11 Walnut Road) and Polokwane (Bolivia Lodge, Opposite Broadlands Development on Modjadji Road)

First day’s Programme open to the media in each Host City:

13h00: Volunteer sign-in and registration
14h00 – 14h25: Welcome and Organising Committee Vision and Mission
14h25 – 14h30: FIFA World Cup video
14h30 – 14h50: The value volunteers add to the Host Cities
14h50 – 14h55: Official tournament brand properties
14h55 – 15h15: Introduction of volunteer personnel
15h15 – 16h00: Learning the Diski Dance
16h00 – 16h45: Media volunteer sound bite opportunities

Members of the media wishing to cover the opening day’s volunteer training session in any of the Host Cities are kindly asked to RSVP to media@2010oc.com at least 48 hours before each training session to confirm their attendance