McDonald's to recruit and train London Olympics volunteers

London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said the volunteers would be trained to ensure the event was an "unforgettable experience". Of McDonald's he said: "There are few organisations with the experience required to prepare such a large team in a relatively short space of time."

Roles for volunteers will range from interpreting, first aid, checking tickets and giving travel advice. They will also be required to work at venues across London as well as at the 2012 sailing events in Weymouth and Portland, Dorset, and rowing events at Eton Dorney Lake in Buckinghamshire.

Lord Coe asdded: "Providing good customer service to millions of people each day is core to McDonald's business, and the company has a proven track record in developing its own 80,000-strong workforce to thrive in a fast-paced, busy environment.

"This combination makes McDonald's uniquely placed to equip the London 2012 Games Makers with the skills needed to deliver an unforgettable experience to millions of visitors to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

McDonald's UK ceo Steve Easterbrook said: "We are proud to use this experience to help prepare the volunteers for the unique experience of London 2012 - providing them with the skills and confidence to deliver an outstanding Olympic and Paralympic Games".

Online applications for specialist volunteer roles open on 27 July and on 15 September for general roles. Games Makers must be aged 18 or over by 1 January 2012.

Each year McDonald's invests over £30 million in training its 80,000 workforce; the company gained recognition by The Great Places to Work in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. McDonald's has also been in The Times Top 100 of Graduate Employers for ten consecutive years and has been ranked as one of Britain's Top Employers for the last four years.

See www.london2012.com