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The army of volunteers steering Budapest World Championships to the finish line
Peter Oliver in Budapest
Europe;Hungary
02:37

WATCH: Peter Oliver is in Budapest reporting on the unsung heroes 

As one of the biggest sporting events on the planet, hosting the World Athletics Championships is no easy feat. 

Budapest has drafted an army of more than 2,000 volunteers to help keep things running smoothly for the athletes, fans and even reporters like me who keep wandering where they're not supposed to go.

Guiding 30,000 or so fans daily to watch some 2,000 athletes represent over 200 countries can be a logistical nightmare. 

Dr Szilvia Perenyi, the Director of Volunteers, told CGTN without the legion of volunteers, the World Athletics championships couldn't happen.

She said: "They welcome people at the airport. They help the transportation staff to make sure that everybody find the right shuttle bus and get to the right place. 

"Also, they help the visitors, the spectators, to enter the stadium, which is a big task because this whole stadium, a lot of people and this is very hot event.

Volunteers are seen working on the track before the start of the World Athletics Championship / Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
Volunteers are seen working on the track before the start of the World Athletics Championship / Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters

Volunteers are seen working on the track before the start of the World Athletics Championship / Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters

"In the meantime, they also have accreditation. The passes that everybody gets are done by volunteers. But we also have the distribution of water or distribution of welcome packs and uniforms."

Away from the serious business of looking after the athletes, the press and of course the thousands of fans coming to the national athletics center, the volunteers do get a day to enjoy themselves here on the track, taking part in a series of races. Dr Perenyi told us this is intended as more than a job.

"The volunteer program has two roles and two aims," she added. "One is to serve the event to make sure that the event happening. But on the other hand, we are also having the task of providing the volunteer the once in a lifetime experience with friendships with communities and with all kinds of experiences."

The Heroes' Square is seen as athletes compete in the men's marathon final at the World Athletics Championships. /Istvan Ruzsa/Reuters
The Heroes' Square is seen as athletes compete in the men's marathon final at the World Athletics Championships. /Istvan Ruzsa/Reuters

The Heroes' Square is seen as athletes compete in the men's marathon final at the World Athletics Championships. /Istvan Ruzsa/Reuters

A lot of the volunteers are athletes in their own right and have dreams of returning to world championships in the future in a very different capacity. 

Adam Varga is a young Hungarian runner with big dreams.

"I'm in the national team in the U-20 national team 200 metres. But I myself was only a sprinter and it was also my dream to become a part of this tournament. And I would like to participate in one of these events in the future. This is my goal."

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World Athletics Championships: Inspiring the next generation?

While 18-year-old Spanish Javelin thrower Luna Lozano hasn't wasted her chance to get up close with those competing in Budapest, she has been hitting up compatriots from Team Spain for some tips.

"Maria Vicente, the Spanish girl who did the long jump and the triple jump, she told me to keep putting on it to work harder until the end. So that's it. I'm going to do it. And I will be here in a few years."

We are all here to watch the best in the world, but without volunteers like Adam and Luna, there isn't a world championships for the athletes to compete in.

The army of volunteers steering Budapest World Championships to the finish line

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Source(s): Reuters

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