Rio de Janeiro, Aug 29 (IANS): The Rio 2016 organising committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games has launched a recruitment drive for 70,000 volunteers for the first Games to be held in South America.

Registrations will continue till Nov 15 through the website www.rio2016.com, reports Xinhua.

A total of 70,000 people, both Brazilians and foreigners, will carry out more than 500 different functions, with 45,000 volunteers involved in the Olympic Games and 25,000 in the Paralympic Games.

Rio volunteer manager Flavia Fontes said Thursday she expected 300,000 people to apply, and the final selection would probably include five percent non-Brazilians.

The Rio 2016 committee will offer an online English course for everyone who is selected as a volunteer, in addition to specific training according to their function. The volunteers will also receive a uniform, food and transport on the days they work, and a certificate of participation.

Applicators must be at least 18 years old as of February 2016 (there is no maximum age limit) and it is desirable to have completed primary education, in addition to being available to participate in the selection process and the activities themselves during the period of the Games.

"The volunteer programme of the Rio 2016 Games will reflect Brazilian diversity; of talents, cultures, ages and interests. All this diversity will be added to the other thousands of people who will come to Brazil for a greater goal, to participate in the realisation of the largest multi-sport event in the world with excellence, passion and joy, for the first time in Brazil," said Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of the Rio 2016 organising committee.