By IANS
Pune : Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi Friday kicked off the volunteer program here and appealed to residents of Pune to join in large numbers to make the event a success.
The Commonwealth Youth Games 2008 will be held in Pune Oct 12-18.
Volunteer Program of the Youth Games will recruit 10,000 volunteers, above the age of 18 years, who will be part of the various sub-committees to welcome athletes and tourists from 71 Commonwealth nations.
First to volunteer was Indian hockey champion Dhanraj Pillai. “Born and brought up in Pune, I want to make the games a success. I have seen how people from other countries welcome us, I want that’s how we should also treat athletes from different countries when they come here,” he said.
After an initial selection process, there will be an intensive training to teach people how to be a good host. The Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) has volunteered to help in the training and selection process.
According to Kalmadi, the volunteers will be the face of the games and the backbone of the organizing committee.
The committee has already identified 71 schools from Pune, which will adopt one country each. The school kids will learn the customs and traditions of the respective countries.
The exodus of migrant workers from the city has now become a cause of worry for the organizing committee, which expects to have the Balewadi sports complex to be ready by May 31.
Kalmadi, however, told the media, workers from Gujarat and other neighbouring states have been called for and the work on stadium will be completed soon.