It takes a lot of people to run the globe’s largest skills competition – but WorldSkills London 2011 will not be in short supply of help.

For this week’s event, held at ExCel London and dubbed the skills Olympics, around 2,500 volunteers have been recruited to ensure everything goes off without a hitch.

From greeting competitors, to escorting ‘special guests’ and journalists around the event, it is the volunteers who make it happen.

By day, Doulla Manolas, from London, is a management consultant, but for at least three days this week she is a volunteer at WorldSkills London 2011.

Doulla found the application to volunteer for the event while applying for the London 2012 Olympic Games website.

She sees it as her build up to her Olympic dream – and she is determined to highlight vocational skills in the process.

She is also keen to see people “have a go” at the many skills on offer during the event, which will run from Wednesday to Saturday.

Doullla, who has been working with the volunteer uniform and accreditation distribution, said: “It’s a good idea way to see what you can do.

“You have the opportunity to give things a go.”

However, she admits she was surprised when first entering the exhibition centre at the sheer size.

She said: “It’s a huge event.

“I wasn’t aware how big it was going to be. It’s the first time the ExCel will be used in its entirety for one event.”

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