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More than 150,000 applicants sign up for 2018 World Cup volunteer program

Among those willing to be volunteers are representatives of 189 countries

MOSCOW, November 21. /TASS/. More than 150,000 people have applied to participate in the volunteer program for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the press service of the Russia 2018 Organizing Committee reported on Monday.

"A total of 150,000 applications from the candidates willing to be volunteers - that’s an impressive figure, which shows the great importance of the World Cup of the Confederations Cup for everyone who wants to spend these tournaments at the highest level," said Chairman of the Russia 2018 Organizing Committee Vitaly Mutko. "This applies not only to citizens of Russia, but also all those who want to come to us in 2017 and 2018. It is good to see such enthusiasm and realize that so many enterprising, ambitious and self-motivated people want to take part in organizing the Confederations Cup and the World Cup. A lot of work in store for all of us, and we will prove that Russia can be rightfully proud of its volunteer movement."

The 2018 World Cup and the 2017 Confederations Cup Volunteer Recruitment campaign was launched at a solemn ceremony in Moscow on June 1, 2016, by Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA President, Gianni Infantino. The most popular cities where the potential volunteers would like to help the organizers are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Rostov-on-Don and Kazan. Of these candidates, 60% are women, 80% of applications came from candidates aged between 16 and 25. The age of 16% of candidates is from 26 to 40 years, while the rest are aged 41 and older. Nearly one-third of the candidates (30%) submitted their bids from 189 countries.

One can apply for volunteer work at the 2017 Confederations Cup and the 2018 World Cup until the end of this year on the FIFA’s official website.

The 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup will be held in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi and Kazan from June 17 to July 2. The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held from June 14 to July 15 at 12 stadiums in 11 cities of Russia, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Volgograd, Yekaterinburg and Sochi.