体坛英语新闻：London organizers start to recruit Olympic volunteers

LONDON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- London Olympic Games organizers Wednesday opened the application for 70,000 volunteers for the 2012 Games.

The application process will close on Oct. 27 and people who are interested can log on www.london2012.com/volunteering for more information.

Two-thirds of volunteers will serve in "generalist" roles such as welcome desk staff, ticket checkers, drivers and stewards.

The initial volunteer program was launched on July 27, marking the two-years-to-go date until the Olympics. That recruitment was for "specialist" volunteers in sports, medical, anti-doping and press operations. So far, 8,000 applications, about half the number required, have been received.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old on Jan. 1, 2012. They must be available for a minimum of 10 days during either the Olympics or Paralympics and for at least three days of training.

A separate search for 1,500 volunteers under 18 will be unveiled in July 2011.