05 January 2005

Frankfurt, Germany: Over 25,000 signed as volunteers for the 2006 World Cup before the 31 December 2004 deadline, organizers said on Wednesday.

Applications came from around the world, including Canada, Argentina and Brazil, and included people with experience from the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan and even from 1974, when Germany last hosted the event.

Organizers were seeking volunteers before and during the World Cup, which runs from 9 June to 9 July 2006,  to look after the 32 teams, VIPs and media and to help out with transport, marketing and telecoms.

Organizers are also looking for around 2,000 volunteers for the Confederations Cup in Germany in June.