The Volvo Ocean Race Galway has launched its appeal for 2,000 volunteers to help ensure Ireland gives a Cead Mile Failte to the expected 700,000 visitors for the Grand Finale and festival from 30 June to 8 July.

Last year over 650 volunteers signed up for the stopover event in Galway but this year the event has expanded to an eight-day festival of marine, sport, culture and arts, entertainment and food including a business expo called Global Village.

The Volvo Ocean Race will be the biggest sporting event in Ireland in 2012 and watched by over two billion TV viewers globally.

Known as the ‘Everest of Sailing’ - the most extreme, dangerous, and challenging sailing event on the planet, the event is a nine-month marathon of the seas, passing through four oceans and five continents. Competitors risk their lives every day in extreme conditions. The race covers the greatest distance of any professional sailing event, 39,270 nautical miles in total.

Last time the “big racing yachts” came to town was in 2009, with Galway as a stopover point. 650,000 people visited the Race Village and incredibly, 10,000 people lined the harbour walls at 3am on the morning of 24 May 2009 to welcome the Volvo Ocean Race fleet into Ireland.

Stop by one of Let’s Do It Global’s information sessions to learn more about how volunteers can play a pivotal role, chat to previous volunteers, and sign up.

The next volunteer information night takes place on today, Wednesday 4 April, at 6pm at the Meyrick Hotel, Eyre Square, when the key speaker will be Mayor of Galway City Cllr Hildegarde Naughton.

Students, retirees, and anyone in the Galway community willing to commit from two to nine days during the finale is invited to take part in what is a great way to make new friends and boost career prospects while boosting Galway and Ireland in the eyes of the world.

All volunteers will be invited to Wrap-Up Gala and there will be prizes and surprises along the way. Further information sessions will take place throughout April and May at various locations around Galway.  Applicants will be matched to roles in early June.

 The Volvo Ocean Race team would like to offer special thanks to their recruitment partner CPL/Flexsource, and their educational partner, NUI Galway.

For more details, visit www.LetsDoItGalway.com.