Want to volunteer at the world’s next Olympics, the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles?
The online application process is set to start July 14, the organizing committee known as LA28 announced Monday. The date is exactly two years out from the Opening Ceremony of what will be LA’s third Olympic Games.
Some 60,000 people from around the world are anticipated to be part of the “LA28 Volunteer Crew” for the Olympics and Paralympics for athletes with disabilities that follow, including in states other than California where events are being held, such as Oklahoma.
“Volunteers are the backbone of the Games,” Reynold Hoover, the organizing committee’s CEO, said in a statement, adding, “Their passion and energy will help define LA28 for athletes, fans and communities across the region.”
Requirements for LA28 Olympic and Paralympic volunteers
Olympic volunteers will be needed from March through August 2028, and Paralympic volunteers from August through September 2028. Every Games-time volunteer will be expected to commit to a minimum of 10 shifts, each lasting about eight hours, at the Olympics or the Paralympics.
Volunteers must also be at least 18 years old and be proficient in English, but do not need to be U.S. citizens or even live in the United States. Here are the eight categories of volunteer positions to be filled, with more details scheduled to be released July 14:
- Ceremonies
- Communications
- Driving
- Experience
- Medical
- Operations
- Sport
- Technology
Organizers have permitted people interested in volunteering for the Games to sign up since last November in an effort to encourage them to give time to other community activities. Those who have previously registered will be notified by email about the application process.
When can Utahns apply to volunteer at the 2034 Winter Games?
Anyone interested in volunteering for Utah’s 2034 Winter Games has a long wait ahead. It will likely be six years or so before sign-ups start, said Tom Kelly, spokesman for the Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
The selection process for filling what’s expected to be around 25,000 volunteer positions could end up being competitive, similar to what happened when the state hosted the 2002 Winter Games. Then, twice as many people applied as needed.
“Without question, one of the things that we will look at is volunteer experience. So we encourage people to get involved right now,” Kelly said. “There are many opportunities within your community or within the sports community in Utah.”
That includes events put on by the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation that oversees several venues from 2002 set to be reused for the 2034 Games as well as the Utah Sports Commission. The Utah2034.org website links to volunteer with the foundation and the commission.
Kelly said that while volunteering at the LA Games would count as good experience for anyone hoping to do the same in 2034, “we particularly want to stress volunteering for events here in Utah.”