Volunteers are being sought to help at the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

Organizers are seeking assistance in holding the games and volunteers to take part in a Host Town Program linked to the event to be held in Pyeongchang in early February next year. Volunteers who understand mental disabilities are also being sought to help out in fields such as guidance, interpretation and administration.

“One of the unique elements of the Special Olympics is the Host Town Program where athletes from the different countries stay in a town before the Games begin to learn something of the culture and environment of the host country,” said Irish ambassador Eamonn McKee, whose country is set to send 14 athletes to compete in the event, to take part in the alpine skiing and floorball (floor hockey) events.

McKee added: “The organizers of the games are building up to the hosting of the event and are very aware of the challenges of hosting teams from so many different parts of the world.”

Support could include providing athletes with services, turning up to cheer athletes on or volunteering to spend Jan. 26-29 before the games acting as local liaison between the teams and Korean hosts. Go to www.2013sopoc.org/hb/en/sub06 or e-mail sopoc@2013sopoc.org for more information.