It’s exactly one month until applications close March 1 for those wishing to volunteer at the Sochi 2014 Olympics. Anyone can become a volunteer as long as they are between the ages of 18 and 80 by January 6, 2014.
To date more than 160,000 applications have been sent to the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee and more than 80 per cent of the volunteers have already been selected.
An estimated 25,000 volunteers will be involved in the Games in more than 20 areas, from meeting delegations at the airport to helping organize the Closing Ceremony.
About 3,000 volunteers trained in Sochi will help visitors find their way between the venues and provide a warm and hospitable welcome.
Volunteers will account for more than 30 per cent of staff members at the Games.
Meanwhile, RIA Novosti reports that at the start of 2013 Russia had spent $36.7 billion on preparatory events for the Games, according to documents prepared for a first meeting Friday of the state commission responsible for the preparations of the Games. A total of $50.1 billion is to be spent on preparatory events.
More than 70 per cent of the facilities required for the Olympics are now ready with just over a year until the Games begin.
