2014 Sochi volunteer training program goes the extra mile

The organizing committee of the 2014 Sochi Olympics has launched the most large-scale training program, gearing up its 25,000 volunteers ahead of the Games.

For the first time in Olympic history, the training will go on in and outside the host city. As many as 17 Russian cities will be training Sochi volunteers at 26 centers from Vladivostok to St. Petersburg, with each volunteer getting a 36-hour cramming course.

Russia’s best experts from Exect Business Training and English First will join efforts with over 100 ‘coaches’ from 2014 Sochi volunteer centers to take part in the training program.

“Our volunteers will become experts on the Games, they will be highly processional and what’s more important they will know the sports venues they will be working at like the palm of their hand,” the Organizing Committee’s head Dmitry Chernyshenko said.

On March 1, the Committee accepted the last of some 200,000 volunteer applications, with the competition estimated at some eight people per volunteer place.