Pan Am Games would not be possible without volunteers, organizers say

The athletes may be the stars of the Pan Am Games, but organizers say the sporting event wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of volunteers.

Originally, 63,000 people signed up to be volunteers at the Games. Approximately half of them went on to secure volunteer work at the sporting event.

“These are selfless, virtuous, wonderful people,” said Pan Am Games CEO Saad Rafi.

Volunteers work to guide the athletes and spectators through all the different events, making sure that everyone is where they need to be.

Easily recognizable by their orange shirts, volunteers are mostly Torontonians, but some have come from as far as such places as Guatemala to be part of the Games.

Some are so excited about the event that they’re using vacation time from work to volunteer.

“For me, Toronto 2015 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Sebastian Cosgrove, one of the volunteers taking time off work. “It’s exciting to see our city come together like this as one big community to show the world what we have to offer.”

With more than 6,000 athletes competing from 41 countries, the Pan Am Games are the largest sporting event Canada has ever hosted.

With a report form Ben Mercer

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  Originally, 63,000 people signed up to be volunteers at the Games. Approximately half of them went on to secure volunteer work at the sporting event.