Resource centres for the Games Volunteer Programme are now open in Moscow and Ekaterinburg

On 23 May, the Resource Centre of the World Friendship Games Volunteer Programme was opened in Moscow with the support of the Mosvolonter organisation. The centre will be responsible for the selection of volunteers for the tournament. Earlier, on 20 May, a similar Resource Centre was opened in Ekaterinburg, at Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia, B.N. Yeltsin (UrFU).

The main tasks of the Resource Centres include conducting a publicity campaign to attract volunteer candidates, conducting selection procedures and supervising the work of the Volunteer Centres. A total of 18 Volunteer Centres have been introduced as part of the World Friendship Games Volunteer Programme, with the Resource Centres in Moscow and Ekaterinburg supervising 9 Volunteer Centres each.

The Resource Centres in Moscow and Ekaterinburg have already started selecting candidates to help organise the World Friendship Games. In total, the Volunteer Programme of the Games will train more than 7,500 candidates in 25 functional areas. About 5,500 volunteers will provide assistance in Moscow, and about 2,000 volunteers will need to be trained to organise the Games in Ekaterinburg. So far, more than 11,000 candidates have applied, and the application process will continue until the end of June.

Alexander Maximov, Director of the Department for Centralised Services and the Volunteer Programme of ANO “Organising Committee “World Friendship Games”:

“On 20 May we opened a Resource Centre in the capital of the Ural, and today we are opening one in the capital of our country. I would like to thank Mosvolonter and the city authorities for their continued support and assistance to the Organising Committee. Mosvolonter has been involved in recruiting volunteers for a long time and has put together a great team. We are confident that with your support the World Friendship Games will be held to the highest standards. I wish success to all those who have set their sights on becoming a volunteer for the tournament!”

Kirill Antonov, Executive Director of the Association of Volunteer Centres:

“We are very pleased that the Association of Volunteer Centres together with the Organising Committee, Rosmolodezh and our regular partner Mosvolonter are involved in the preparations for this event. We congratulate those who have come together to mark the opening of the Resource Centre. I am convinced that the vast experience of these organisations, which is now rapidly growing as they work together on the most important international events being held in Russia, will make the World Friendship Games Volunteer Programme even better!”

Alexander Levit, Director of Mosvolonter, a Moscow-based State Budgetary-funded Organisation:

“The Mosvolonter team is always ready to participate in the most exciting, intriguing and impressive projects that take place in Russia. We are happy to help the organisers resolve the challenges that our country and our sport are facing today. We are well aware of the full extent of our responsibility, and will be preparing a large team of volunteers who will make the Games truly memorable for the athletes and all residents of Moscow and of our country.”

The Resource Centre of the World Friendship Games Volunteer Programme, which opened in Ekaterinburg on 20 May, will be located at and operate with the support of Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin (UrFU).

Alexander Chernov, Head of the Ekaterinburg Office of ANO “Organising Committee “World Friendship Games”:

“It is symbolic that the Resource Centre in Ekaterinburg is the first to open. The city recently hosted the University International Sports Festival, where volunteers not only helped to ensure that the tournament was organised to the highest standards, but also created a unique festive atmosphere for the Festival's guests and participants. Ekaterinburg knows exactly how to organise major international competitions and has a unique experience in this area, so we are confident that the World Friendship Games will also be held to the highest standards thanks to volunteers from the Ural.”

Dmitry Loevsky, Vice-Rector for Educational Work at UrFU:

“We are very pleased to have won the tender to become the Games Resource Centre. As you know, this tender was a record-breaking procedure in terms of the number of applications submitted, with more than 400 volunteer organisations across the country taking part. However, the Volunteer Centre of the Ural Federal University has been involved in a wide range of volunteer initiatives related to sports and other events for many years. We have made sure that the managers of our centre have a consistent approach, we have recruited a base of experienced volunteers who have supported such events several times in the past, and we know how to work with new volunteers who have now decided to take up the challenge of participating in this great endeavour. In short, we will not fail!”