With the Special Olympics coming to Ames this summer, an overwhelming number of volunteers will be needed to make the games successful.

Jobs include keeping time for events, assisting with rewards and helping with traffic and crowd control.

“We have assessed that we will need that high amount of volunteers,” Williams said.

This is the first national Special Olympics competition. Williams said they are anticipating volunteers to be not only local and regional, but from across the country, as well.

She said the Special Olympics is targeting a wide spectrum of people to volunteer.

“I would say we have a blanket need for volunteers,” Williams said. “Whether they are a first time volunteer or a veteran volunteer.”

Williams added that volunteers are not asked to participate for the entire week.

“We are really asking our volunteers to volunteer for a minimum of 12 hours for the week,” Williams said.

Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance, said that the Special Olympics are expecting most of the volunteers to be local.

“My understanding is that they are hoping that 85 percent of volunteers will be coming from central Iowa,” Madden said.

Madden said funds are being raised by the state of Iowa and the convention bureau, and money has been appropriated by the Iowa Legislature to Special Olympics.

Iowa State is not planning to benefit financially from the event, but Madden said the concern of ISU staff is how to encourage students to be volunteers.

“You get a lot of personal satisfaction out of being around the Special Olympians and seeing them compete,” Madden said.

Angela Groh, president of the Government of the Student Body and senior in political science, said GSB does not have a formal partnership with Special Olympics, but every member of GSB has been notified about the need for volunteers.

Groh was not aware whether many students had registered to volunteer, but said she has seen a lot of interest from students about it.

“I think there’s a lot of students who still don’t know what their plans are,” Groh said.

Julie Weeks, executive director of the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau, said they have made unique living arrangements for volunteers because Ames hotels are already full for the week with family and friends.

Wallace and Wilson residence halls will be available for volunteers to stay in.

Weeks said the volunteer headquarters will be located in the commons area between Wallace and Wilson.

“The volunteers will be paying. That’s why we are trying to make it as inexpensive as possible,” Weeks said.

Weeks said the option for housing during the games is available when registering to volunteer online.

Jan Williams, volunteer manager for Special Olympics, said volunteers are needed for both competitive and noncompetitive jobs.

The games, which will take place July 2 to 7, kick off with opening ceremonies in the 50,000-seat Jack Trice Stadium.

Those wishing to volunteer can register at www.2006nationalgames.org.