47,000 PUT HANDS UP TO HELP GAMES
MORE than 47,000 people have applied for the 15,000 volunteer positions for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
More than 90 per cent of applications came from within Australia – 76 per cent from Queensland – with people from 117 other countries also putting up their hands.
The youngest prospective volunteers are 16 years old, with the two oldest applicants aged 91.
Games chairman Peter Beattie said Goldoc staff had labelled the response a “volsrush”.
“The response has been fantastic and to everyone that applied, I sincerely thank you,” he said. “For all applicants, it is important to remember this isn’t a first come, first served process.
“The GC2018 volunteer team will spend the next six weeks reviewing applications before official interviews commence in May.
“The quality of applications has been really high so unfortunately there won’t be positions for everyone. However, there are a number of other ways to be involved in the Games with opportunities to be nominated as a batonbearer as part of the Queen’s Baton Relay or by attending the Games as a spectator,” Mr Beattie said.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said volunteers were critical for the Games, which run from April 4-15 next year.
“It will be an experience of a lifetime,” she said.
Games CEO Mark Peters said volunteers would be the face of the Games.
“I’m looking forward to visiting the Volunteer Selection Centre in May when the interviews commence to meet these wonderful people,” he said.