MORE than 15000 applicants had volunteered for the 2010 Fifa World Cup by yesterday, just one week after applications opened.

MORE than 15000 applicants had volunteered for the 2010 Fifa World Cup by yesterday, just one week after applications opened.

Volunteer applications opened on July 20 and by 9.30am yesterday the Local Organising Committee (LOC) had received 15042 applications from prospective volunteers in 133 countries.

This included 482 applications to volunteer at the World Cup Final Draw in Cape Town in December and a further 188 for the Football for Hope festival in Alexandra, Johannesburg during the tournament.

Volunteers will be required in areas such as transport, media, marketing, logistics, accreditation, spectator services, language support, administration and hospitality at the tournament's 10 stadiums and in nine host cities.

The LOC will continue to accept applications until the closing date, August 31, after which the 15000 volunteers needed for the World Cup will be chosen.

"We're delighted with the phenomenal response and the enthusiasm from people to play their part in helping to successfully deliver Africa's first Fifa World Cup," said LOC chief executive Danny Jordaan.

"However, we encourage people to continue to apply until the end of August to ensure we have the strongest possible volunteers. Language support will be very important."

Prospective volunteers are asked to continue to apply at www.fifa.com/volunteers2010 . The toll-free volunteer hotline is 0800525252. - Sapa