Up to 70,000 volunteers are to be recruited in order to fill a number of roles at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, under new plans unveiled by the Games' organisers.

Games Makers will be trained by fast food restaurant chain and 2012 partner, McDonalds. Pre-identified applicants for specialist roles, such as sport or press operations and anti-doping, will be able to apply from 27 July. Applications for general volunteer roles - spectator assistants, ticket checking and uniform distribution - are set to open on 15 September, while up to 1,500 under 18s can apply for the Young Games Maker programme in 2011.

Meanwhile, mayor Boris Johnson's bid to recruit London Volunteers will open to applicants from 27 July. Volunteers will be placed at transport hubs, on the city's streets and at attractions during Games time to 'welcome' visitors. London 2012 organising committee chair Sebastian Coe said: "London 2012 needs brilliant volunteers to help us deliver a great Olympic and Paralympic Games. Our volunteers will be called Games Makers to reflect the important role they will play in staging the 2012 Games.

"The programme to find our Games Makers will launch on 27 July 2010 and I urge anyone that is interested to come to our website from the day onwards to find out everything they need to know about volunteering in 2012." McDonalds UK chief executive Steve Easterbrook added: "It is our ambition to ensure that the 2012 Games volunteers are also highly valued, recognised and celebrated for their efforts and achievements."

Image: (from left) Steve Easterbrook, Alesha Dixon and Sebastian Coe – David Poultney/LOCOG