Overwhelming response from volunteers for Doha 2006 Asian Games - More than 3,000 volunteers sign up in just one week.

An astounding number of over 3,000 volunteers have signed up for the 15th Asian Games, Doha 2006, less than a week after the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee (DAGOC) invited Doha residents to participate in the successful management of the games.

To be held from December 1-15, 2006, the 15th Asian Games will be the biggest ever sports event held in the GCC and will feature more than 45 countries participating in over 40 sporting events. Organizers reported that the three DAGOC stands – at City Center, Landmark Mall and Bshara Village – evinced keen interest from members of the public who see Doha 2006 as a matter of national pride.

Explained Khalid Helaly, Head of the Volunteers Department, DAGOC: "In less than a week of the opening of the Qatar Summer Wonders 2004, we have seen over 3,000 people registering for the Doha 2006 games at our three stands and through email (volunteer@dagoc2006.com). These volunteers come from different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds which reflects the core message of the games – developing inter-cultural knowledge and friendship within Asia."

Volunteers will have a major role to play during Doha 2006. Depending on their skills, some volunteers will be given tasks that require special qualifications while others will be trained to deliver an excellent customer service. The responsibilities include hospitality support, communications, press operations, public information, ticketing, venue staffing, spectator services and security, among others.

Helaly said that the organizers expected to enlist 12,000 volunteers and hoped that this figure would be achieved by the end of the Qatar Summer Wonders 2004. He added that this was a lifetime opportunity for volunteers to participate in one of the world's greatest sports events and thanked the Qatar Tourism Authority for providing them with the opportunity to reach out to the target public.

"The best way to interest young people to volunteer for this prestigious event is to address them in high-traffic areas such as Bshara Village, City Center and Landmark Mall, which are major hubs for Qatar Summer Wonders activities," he said.

The Doha 2006 stand at the Bshara Village entrance is one of the major crowd-pullers with visitors wishing to know more about the Games and registering instantly. Registration for the games is a simple process – interested volunteers can fill in a form in English or Arabic and deposit them in the special boxes located near the stands. Participants can also send their complete forms through mail, fax, email or by visiting the Doha 2006 website (www.doha-2006.com).

Fred van Eijk, CEO, Qatar Tourism Authority, pointed out that the Doha 2006 stands were an important aspect of the Summer Wonders festival. "We are proud that such a prestigious sports extravaganza will come to this country and hope that our whole-hearted support to their efforts is contributing to the success of the games," van Eijk explained. "The Doha 2006 stands are therefore one of the important activities of sports events we have lined up during the Qatar Summer Wonders."

The three Doha 2006 stands are located at the following places:

• Bshara Village entrance
• City Center, Level 3, opposite Café Ele France
• Landmark Mall, in front of Starbucks