The 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) has announced that the application process for the 2010 FIFA World Cup volunteer programme opened on Monday.

A total of 15 000 volunteers are required and will be selected from South Africa, the continent, and the rest of the world.

"The volunteer programme is an excellent way to get involved in South Africa and Africa?s once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of hosting the world?s biggest sporting event," said LOC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Danny Jordaan.

He added: "From ushering people to their seats, to assisting the media and foreign language speakers, welcoming people at the airport and driving guests around, it is the volunteers that actually make the tournament happen."

In total, volunteers are required in 16 functional areas ? accreditation, marketing, media, protocol services, spectator services, transportation, administration, environmental services, welcome and information services, information technology and telecommunication, language support, rights protection programme, logistic services, hospitality and ushering services and volunteer management.

Anyone who is 18 years or older on 1 March 2010 and has a good command of the English language can apply to be a volunteer. The application form is available on FIFA website at www.FIFA.com/volunteers2010.

For those without internet access there will be a number of venues across the nine FIFA World Cup host cities where members of the public will be assisted to apply for the volunteer programme.

Applications for the volunteer programmes close on 31 August 2009.