A5. The tournament is made possible through the help of volunteers. More than 20,000 volunteers will be active at the stadiums, nearby train stations and airports, and the headquarters and the International Media Center in Yokohama. The jobs they do are quite varied, including interpreting for fans, driving organizers around, furnishing information, and assisting with first aid. Each group is undergoing training in preparation for the big event.

Below are some of the specific areas in which volunteers will be working.

(1) Dealing with fans and organizers: About 7,000-8,000 volunteers will be doing things like checking tickets, showing people to their seats, and helping to clean up. This is the largest group of volunteers, and they will be the most visible.

(2) Assisting the media: Reporters from all over the world will be covering the World Cup, and volunteers will help them by preparing and translating documents and interpreting.

(3) Directing traffic and parking for organizers: Volunteers will do things like showing organizers where to park. Since they will be standing all the time, these volunteers need to be in good shape.

(4) Welcoming people and providing information: These volunteers will meet organizers at airports and train stations and work at information desks.

(5) Assisting with first aid: Volunteers that are qualified to work as nurses will act as interpreters between doctors and fans who get sick.

(6) Assisting with information technology: Volunteers will help deal with computer problems and provide interpreting services for IT staff.

(7) Maintaining billboards: Volunteers will walk around the stadiums and check to see that nothing is wrong with any of the billboards.

World Cup volunteers show off their uniforms. (JAWOC)