London 2012 Olympics volunteer roles open to the public

Volunteers can now apply for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Olympics organisers will recruit up to 70,000 general volunteers in what they say is the UK's biggest post-war volunteer recruitment campaign.

Roles available to volunteers will range from ticket inspectors to uniform distributors.

Volunteers can apply for the positions from 0800 BST on Wednesday until 27 October.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) said the volunteers would be known as Games Makers, because they will "make the games happen".

"We want the best team players in the UK to apply, people who show the same qualities as our athletes including dedication, focus and grace under pressure," said Locog chairman, Sebastian Coe.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said the Games Makers had "a vital role to play in ensuring every visitor has the time of their lives".

Sarah Salem, from Hackney in east London, who was planning to apply for the scheme, said: "I have one mission in my life and that's getting involved in the Olympics."

The 60-year-old former nurse said she wanted to volunteer for the Olympics because "it would bring the young, the old, the disabled, and people from different ethnicities together."

"You need to be enthusiastic, passionate, and inspiring to those who will travel from abroad," she added.

A day's volunteering will last eight hours and applicants must agree to work a minimum of 10 days at the Olympics or Paralympics, or a minimum of 20 days to work at both.

Sports, medical, press operations and anti-doping volunteers have been applying for specialist roles since 27 July.

Locog said 8,000 applications have been received to date, close to half of the number of specialists required.