News The most culturally diverse programme of its kind ever is set to bring thousands of international volunteers from 156 countries to Brazil for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games About 20 per cent of the total team of 50,000 volunteers for the Games are foreigners They are coming to Brazil from all over the world to perform hundreds of operational roles, ranging from providing language support, staffing entry gates, bus stops, medical stations and accreditation check-in desks, to assisting with media queries and giving directions for visitors to Olympic venues Keep calm and come to Rio: foreign tourists fall in love with Olympic city The majority of international volunteers coming to Rio are travelling from Great Britain, the United States, China, Russia and Argentina There are also many countries who are sending just one representative, including Iceland, Tanzania, Gabon, Chad, Madagascar, Mali, Samoa, Somalia, Maldives and Oman The highest number of foreign volunteers will come from the USA One American who will be making the trip to Rio is Jake Duhaime, who has already been to seven Olympic Games, and describes previous volunteering experiences as very rewarding "Few opportunities are as gratifying and culturally beneficial as working at an Olympic Games," he says  "This will be my eighth Games The friendships forged have helped launch my career, allow me a place to stay when travelling the world and given me a great seat at the world's greatest sporting festival "I was lucky enough to have attended the 2014 World Cup in Rio and hope the locals embrace the event's energy and excitement It's a once-in-a-lifetime event " Volunteering at the Olympic Games provides a unique chance to meet people from across the world (Photo:Facebook) Another foreign volunteer is Bright Wang Qihai, a Chinese student from Beijing  The 21-year-old, who graduates next year, is excited to make her first trip to South America Wang says "I've been a volunteer many times, but never on a Games, and I hope I can learn about Brazil, get closer to the Games and make friends from all over the world The whole thing is an unknown but unique adventure for me, and I hope I can enjoy it " Bright Wang Qihai will travel from Beijing to Rio and is volunteering at a Games for the first time "I like travelling and meeting different people to experience their culture I think this might be a good chance for me Also I like being near the sea and I like sports, especially swimming I registered as a volunteer in 2014 " In recent days, some of the international volunteers have received the attention of Brazilian media, who are highlighting the long distances they will travel and the many ways they are finding accommodation Russian Vladimir Alyabiev will make a 48-hour journey from Siberia His photograph and story have appeared on local websites and in a daily newspaper in Rio, characterising him as the volunteer who is travelling the longest distance to Rio Russian Vladimir Alyabiev will make a 48-hour journey from Siberia to come to Rio (Photo:Facebook) A digital platform called 'My Place In Rio' – www meulugarnorio com br – has been set up by Games organisers in cooperation with a church charity to assist visiting volunteers in finding accommodation  A call centre for volunteers seeking assistance is also available via the Rio 2016 customer service line: the number is +55-21-3004-2016    The volunteers will underpin the spirit of the 2106 Games, says Flavia Fontes, the manager of Rio 2016’s volunteer programme There were a total of 300,000 applications for the unpaid roles Foreign volunteers have started collecting the yellow uniforms in which they will serve at the Games (Photo: Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro) "It's my understanding that this will be the most diverse programme of its kind, as there has never been one with so many cultures represented," Fontes says "Although there is not an established culture of volunteering in Brazil, there has always been a willingness for people to help each other within communities That warmth lends itself towards the structure of the Olympic Games volunteer programme "The international volunteers can be assured that the community of Brazilian volunteers will assist them in any way The spirit is to help each other, build friendships across cultures and inspire each other " ‘Rio 2016 is ready to welcome the world,’ says IOC after final visit before Olympic Games Meet the volunteers dishing out 85,000 Rio 2016 uniforms to the rhythm of samba The first port of call for all volunteers will be to pass through Samba City, which is hosting Rio 2016's uniform and accreditation centre (UAC) More than 210,000 Games accreditations and 85,000 uniform kits will be distributed in total About 3,000 people are currently passing through the centre each day That number is expected to rise to 5,000 in the week leading up to the opening ceremony of the Games on 5 August Uniforms for Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games unveiled Volunteers pick up their uniforms at a giant warehouse in central Rio (Photo: Facebook)