The Olympic Games and Volunteer Movement: The Social Capital of Mega-Events Genesis of the Volunteer Institution in the Context of the Games The phenomenon of voluntary,无偿 labor within the Olympic Games has deep historical roots, dating back to public initiatives to organize sports festivals in antiquity. However, the volunteer institution in its modern format has formed relatively recently. Despite the involvement of assistants on a non-commercial basis in London (1948) and Helsinki (1952), the official starting point is considered to be 1980 — the Summer Games in Lake Placid. It was then that the organizing committee first approached the recruitment, training, and organization of volunteers systematically, recognizing their economic and social value. The success of this model was consolidated by the Games in Los Angeles (1984), where the work of about 30,000 volunteers not only minimized costs but also created a unique atmosphere of hospitality. From this moment on, the volunteer corps has become an integral and structurally forming element of any Olympic mega-event. Economic and Functional Significance From a scientific point of view, volunteer labor represents a specific economic resource that replaces significant financial expenditures. The combined contribution of volunteers is equivalent to hundreds of millions of dollars. For example, at the London Games (2012) around 70,000 "Game Makers" worked for about 8 million hours, which, according to studies, saved the organizing committee up to 100 million pounds. Functionally, volunteers perform up to 30% of the total volume of job positions, covering the most diverse fields: from welcoming delegations at airports and accreditation to assistance at sports facilities, work with the media, and organizing ceremonies. Their participation allows for flexible scaling of human resources during peak periods, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of thousands of micro-processes that cannot be fully automated or entrusted exc ... Read more