Karembeu appeals for EURO volunteers

Christian Karembeu appealed for people to "help visitors discover France" as he helped to launch the UEFA EURO 2016 volunteers programme on Saturday.

A 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000 winner with Les Bleus, Karembeu took to the stage at the Paris Event Centre alongside Noël Le Graët (president of the French Football Federation, FFF), Jacques Lambert (president of EURO 2016 SAS) and Albert Gemmrich (president of Association Volontaires 2016). Karembeu's fellow ambassador Gaëtane Thiney, preparing for the forthcoming FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, could not attend.

Addressing an audience of 1,300 volunteers invited by the FFF as a thank you for their service over the course of this season, Karembeu said: "Gaétane and I accepted the ambassador roles because, first and foremost, we love football. We are both generous people who want to help visitors discover France and the ten host cities. For that we need volunteers to welcome fans and supporters in and around the stadiums."

Mr Lambert said it was an "absolute necessity" to recruit 6,500 helpers. "The team in charge of this programme has identified 17 missions that will be carried out by volunteers," he explained. "We decided that the FFF should be in charge of recruiting those volunteers because French football relies on their contribution every day of the year, so it is normal that they should be given the chance to participate in an exceptional event like UEFA EURO 2016. We want this EURO to be as much of a success as the 1998 World Cup."

The volunteer programme will be implemented by the Association des Volontaires 2016, an organisation founded by the FFF and Ligue de Football Professionel (LFP). Mr Gemmrich added: "I am honoured to be the president of the Association Volontaires 2016. I encourage all of those who want to volunteer to do so. Volunteering is, above all, an engagement. It is about showing solidarity towards others and enjoyment."

Register your interest
The volunteer recruitment process is open until 30 November 2015. Applicants should register at www.volunteers.euro2016.fr. All applicants must be:

• Available in June and July 2016
• Over the age of 18
• Customer orientated with at least basic English

More information.