Justin Davis Smith, chief executive of Volunteering England, welcomed the joint announcement of LOCOG’s programme to attract nearly 70,000 volunteers to help run the Games, and the Mayor of London’s call for 8,000 volunteer London Ambassadors.

Davis Smith said: “It is a great day for the volunteering movement that the passion we share is the main focus of today’s celebrations for the two years to go until the opening ceremony of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“The 2012 Games provide a once-in-a life-time opportunity for thousands of people to get involved in this huge global event. LOCOG is planning to involve 70,000 people in its volunteering programme, but many times that number of people will join as volunteers in the programmes in Host Cities, such as the London Ambassadors, and in a multitude of other events in communities across the country.

“The focus on volunteering today is also the product of much hard work behind the scenes by volunteering organisations, such as ourselves in Volunteering England.

“Volunteering England has been working with LOCOG, and previously with the bid team, since 2004 to help formulate strategy for the Games volunteering programme and to produce a great experience for the volunteers.

“In parallel, we are working with the Government Olympic Executive and Cabinet Office on the social legacy for volunteering. With YouthNet, we are creating 100,000 volunteering opportunities inspired by the 2012 Games in communities across the country."

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