Applications open next month for skilled and unskilled volunteers for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. Volunteering gives ordinary people the opportunity to be part of the world's greatest sporting event.

Onke Mjo, the OC's volunteer programme manager

RECRUITMENT of volunteers for the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009™ starts on 1 July, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Organising Committee (OC) is calling on those who are interested in volunteering to submit their application forms on its website.

Applications will be open from 1 July to 29 August. Onke Mjo, the OC's volunteer programme manager, says about 5 000 specialist and general volunteers will be recruited for the Confederations Cup.

Specialist volunteers are those with expert knowledge and particular skills, for example language, information technology and media skills.

"The main prerequisite for general volunteers will be a sense of customer care. These volunteers will … fill important representative roles for the OC and host cities in areas such as accreditation, spectator services, transport, information services, drivers, hospitality, logistics and administration."

To apply to be a volunteer, you must be a South African citizen and 18 years old by 1 March 2009. People of various ages will be selected, including professionals, students, unemployed young people and retired people.

You must also live in one of the 2009 host cities, which are Johannesburg, Mangaung/Bloemfontein, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, Rustenburg and Tshwane/Pretoria.

The Confederations Cup takes place from 14 to 28 June 2009. It will be contested by eight countries, namely South Africa, Italy, United States, Brazil, Egypt, Iraq, the winner of the UEFA 2008 championship, and the champions of Oceania.

Host city centres
In Johannesburg, applications may be submitted at dedicated host city centres that will be set up across the city.

"The City of Johannesburg is providing 45 centres where people can submit their applications. These … will cater for computer literate people and those without any computer knowledge. People without any computer knowledge will be given assistance by persons manning the centres," Mjo says.

Applicants will receive confirmation that their applications have been received, and they will be phoned by either the OC or the host city if they have been pre-selected. This will happen after November and before 31 January 2009.

Pre-selected applicants will be interviewed in January and February 2009, in the host city in which they would prefer to volunteer.

Successful applicants will be trained in their responsibilities, the venue of operation and general information about the Confederations Cup.

Volunteers will not be paid, but they will get meals while at work. Over-and-above the tournament-specific training, they will participate in the world's largest sporting event, get work experience and an official FIFA volunteer uniform.

However, volunteers at the Confederations Cup will not automatically be selected to be volunteers for the 2010 World Cup. "Volunteers for the 2010 World Cup will be recruited in July 2009 and people will need to apply as all new applicants. This way we ensure that all applicants enjoy the same opportunity to become volunteers for the … World Cup," Mjo says.

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