8,000 Sochi 2014 volunteers ready to go

In the remaining time before the Paralympics begin, a total of 70 "My Venue" training programmes await the volunteers, which includes added content on the specific Paralympic requirements.

More than 8,000 volunteers are ready for Russia’s first ever Paralympic Winter Games. Around 7,000 of the volunteers originate from hundreds of Russian cities, with 400 travelling from 60 countries around the world to volunteer in Sochi. The team includes many volunteers with an impairment who will be working at the Games.

The volunteer team is young and energetic, with an average age of only 25. Many of them have received dedicated training on best practice to support Paralympic athletes and will be a very important part the team to ensure the athletes enjoy the best Games possible.

The planning for the Games has created conditions to ensure the volunteers enjoy a comfortable stay in Sochi. For the first time in Paralympic history, they will be provided with accommodation and three meals a day to help give them all the energy they need for the day.

Over 6,000 volunteers for the Paralympic Winter Games have already arrived in Sochi. They are staying in three volunteer villages, receiving accreditation and Bosco Paralympic uniforms, studying the venues where they will work and preparing to warmly greet the Paralympic athletes and guests.

In the volunteer villages in the Coastal and Mountain Clusters, tents, stages, sound, lighting and video equipment have been set up to provide entertainment for volunteers in their spare time, with performances from a cultural and entertainment programme.

In the remaining time before the Paralympics begin, a total of 70 "My Venue" training programmes await the volunteers, which includes added content on the specific Paralympic requirements.

The entire group of volunteers coming to the Paralympic Winter Games have already benefitted from an extensive experience in best practice to support people with an impairment. The volunteers underwent training in two volunteer centres at Sholokhov Moscow State University and the Russian State Social University (Moscow). They have already taken part in a whole series of dedicated events for people with an impairment, and also worked at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and Paralympic Test Events in 2013.

The majority of the volunteers at the Paralympic Winter Games will be involved in areas such as event services (1,824 people), sport (800 people), NPC services (347 people), accreditation (457 people), arrivals and departures (115 people) and language services (162 people).