by Kassandra Garcia

Created on: November 12, 2009   Last Updated: November 15, 2009

The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics brings so many people together from all around the world. Some are athletes, trainers, spectators, officials, sponsors and much more. With hundreds of thousands of people in one area for two weeks, the officials look for as many volunteers as possible. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community (for locals) and to the world (for internationals).

There are four areas that you could volunteer in: Games-time, youth participation, homestay program and ceremonies volunteers. Each area has its own special jobs and requirements. Here are the basics for each volunteering area:

Games-time volunteers are needed before, during and after the 2010 Olympics. Job areas include: accommodations, accreditation, administration, anti-doping, ceremonies, communications, community relations, finance, food and beverage, sport, sport events, ticketing, torch relay and so much more. Every aspect of the Olympics has volunteering positions available.

Youth Participation is an area of volunteering just for teens between the ages of 15 to 19 years old. To volunteer for these positions you must either live in the Sea to Sky corridor or have accommodations in this area. Youth volunteers can either be slippers for the Alpine or Nordic sports or may work in event services in the "home" of the athletes.

The Homestay Program is for volunteers who live in the Whistler area. People who participate in the homestay program allow out of town volunteers to stay in their home for the duration of the Winter Olympics.

Olympic Ceremonies Volunteers are people who are acting support for the ceremonies. Jobs include cast coordination, rehearsal operations, hair and make-up styling, prop supervision, office assistance, costume management and food and beverage support.

For those of you looking into volunteering for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics there are a few things you need to know first.

* Volunteers must be 19 years of age by September 1, 2009 (unless participating in the Youth Participation program)

* Volunteers must provide their own transpiration to and from the Olympics including airfare (if needed) and hotel accommodations

* Volunteers must past an RCMP background check and receive security clearance

Volunteering for the Winter Games can be a great experience for anyone who is interested. To find out more about volunteering before, during and after the Olympics check out the official 2010 Winter Olympics website at http://vancouver2010.com. You can also find FAQ's, application forms and requirements for each area of volunteering.

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