Nearly quarter of million apply for Olympics roles

London 2012 will now be sifting through the applications for the 70,000 volunteer places, which will involve anything from welcoming athletes to checking tickets.

London 2012 chair Lord Coe said they were "thrilled" with the response, adding: "Now we begin the task of finding the right people and ensuring that we match them to the most appropriate roles.

"This is a long process and will take time but we're asking people to be patient - this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is really worth it."

Selection and interviews of shortlisted applicants will take place from February 2011 to February 2012.

London 2012 noted that 40 per cent of its applicants are first-time volunteers.