It is this Wednesday March 22 and until May 3 that the specific platform opens to apply as a volunteer for the Olympic Games (from July 26 to August 11, 2024) and Paralympics (from August 28 to September 8, 2024) . They will be 45,000 to work for the smooth running of the biggest sporting event in the world.
“This is the largest volunteer program ever organized in France” underlines Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024, who does not forget to recall that these volunteers constitute “the DNA of French sport” and that as such “we owe them a lot”. Also present at the Paris 2024 headquarters in Saint-Denis during the launch of the volunteer portal, Brigitte Henriques, President of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) explains that with ” more than 3 million volunteers who are committed daily to the development of all disciplines, within clubs, federations and in all territories, volunteering is the foundation of the French sports movement ».
Volunteers must be available for at least 10 days throughout the duration of the Games
The volunteers are “the soul and face of the Games” summarizes Alexandre Morenon-Condé, himself a former volunteer at the Athens Games in 2004, and now at the head of the Paris 2024 volunteer program. Aged at least 18, speaking at least French or English, being available for at least 10 days throughout the duration of the Gamesthese volunteers will be mobilized to welcome millions of spectators, approximately 15,000 Olympic and Paralympic athletes from more than 200 countries and nearly 20,000 journalists and media.
In Ile-de-France, Marseille, Châteauroux or even Tahiti, they will be 45,000 (two thirds for the Olympic Games, one third for the Paralympic Games) mobilized at around forty competition sites. They may also be involved at other key Olympic and Paralympic Games venues, such as the Athletes’ Village, media centre, training venues, train stations and airports. Their main missions will be to guide spectators and accredited persons, assist sports delegations, accompany athletes to the competition venue and to press operations, transport accredited persons, support timing activities, participate in the distribution of equipment, provide medical assistance… “About a third of these volunteers will be at the service of sports performance. For example, they can be tennis ball collectors, keep swimmers’ belongings or install the starting blocks on the athletics track. explains Alexandre Morenon-Condé. It should be noted that in addition to these 45,000 volunteers, The city of Paris, as Pierre Rabadan, Sports Assistant, points out, will mobilize 5,288 volunteers who will be responsible for welcoming, guiding and informing visitors.
“Without them, there is no spirit of the Games”
To accompany and inspire the team of volunteers, six ambassadors will share their experience, their passion and their motivation with the successful candidates and until the beginning of their mission. Over the next few months, Paris 2024 will unveil all the program ambassadors. Starting with the current coach of the French men’s handball team Guillaume Gilles and the wheelchair tennis champion Charlotte Fairbank already named. “Without them our dream would not be realized. Without them there is no spirit of the Games” says the young woman. About fifty high-level athletes have also expressed their desire to get involved in the volunteer program. This is the case, for example, of Pierre Durand, Olympic show jumping champion in Seoul in 1988.
Decathlon dresses the volunteers
Paris 2024 can also rely on partner Decathlon responsible for designing the uniforms of the 45,000 volunteers. As Virginie Sainte-Rose, director of the Paris 2024 partnership, reminds us, “Decathlon advisors will be present in 47 stores in France. They will be available to answer candidates’ questions and support them in the application process by logging into the platform.
Tony Estanguet, who expects that there will be “more applications than the 45,000 volunteer positions available” urges everyone to try their luck. Let’s hope this doesn’t generate the same inconvenience as for the draw for the first phase of purchase of the official ticket office.
To apply and be part of the Paris 2024 adventure as a volunteer, it’s here. Allow 30 to 45 minutes to apply.
Key dates to remember:
– From March 22: opening of the application portal for the Paris 2024 volunteer program.
– May 3, 2023: end of the application period.
– Between May and August 2023: review of applications by Paris 2024. Some applicants will be offered additional tests and interviews.
– From September to December 2023: notification to each candidate of the allocation or not of a volunteer mission.
– First quarter of 2024: volunteer convention, unveiling of the uniform and start of training.
