The volunteer program for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles kicked off last week even though the next U.S. Olympics are still nearly 1,000 days away.

That’s because there’s work now for what’s being called the LA28 Volunteer Crew, helping “causes across the city, from wildfire recovery and hunger relief to supporting youth sports and communities in need.”

Already, some area residents have participated in pilot events with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Shine LA, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ initiative to beautify the sprawling California city.

Now, anyone 18 and older can sign up online to register interest in volunteering in the LA area, at the 2028 Summer Games — or both, although a more formal application process for Games-time volunteers is expected to be launched next year.

“We are not waiting until 2028 to tap into Los Angeles’ resilience, generosity and grit,” Reynold Hoover, the CEO of the LA28 organizing committee, said when the program sponsored by Delta Air Lines was announced on Nov. 6.

Hoover said the “unique initiative channels the spirit of volunteerism long before the Opening Ceremony, and we have the chance to create a model for future Host Cities, as well as a legacy for Los Angeles and the Games.”

What Olympic volunteer hopefuls are being encouraged to do

The LA28 website spells out that registration does not guarantee a spot and that those who want only Games-time volunteer roles don’t have to participate in the community efforts, “but early involvement is encouraged.”

Utah’s Olympic organizers have offered similar encouragement to would-be 2034 Winter Games volunteers.

Brad Wilson, the CEO of the Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games has made it clear they’ll be looking for applicants with a resume of previous volunteer experience.

Wilson said everywhere he and other organizers go, they hear from Utahns eager to know how soon they’ll be able to sign up to volunteer at the 2034 Olympics and Paralympics. Many, he said, were volunteers at Utah’s first Winter Games in 2002.

“There is just a massive amount of people that volunteered in 2002 that want to do it again, or want their children or grandchildren to do it. So we’re very aware there’s high demand for these roles,” Wilson told the Deseret News.

He expects that once the call goes out for volunteers, “we’ll end up with 100,000 people vying for 25,000 spots and that’s a great thing to have,” he said, as well an incentive for Utahns who are interested in working for free in 2034 to build their volunteer resume.

Given the state’s high rate of volunteerism, that likely won’t require much, if any, involvement by the Utah organizing committee. Wilson said there’s a possibility it could serve as a clearinghouse largely for sport-related volunteer opportunities, but that has yet to be decided.

Otherwise, the “plan is to support the organizations that exist that already have volunteer programs, and give people encouragement to go to those organizations,” he said. “We don’t think it’s our role to disrupt the volunteer recruitment efforts of other groups.”

When can Utahns sign up to volunteer at the 2034 Winter Games?

That could change since the details of the volunteer program aren’t expected to be worked out until after the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps. That includes exactly when Utahns and others will be able to sign up to become 2034 volunteers.

The final selection and training for volunteers likely won’t come until 2033, a year before Utah’s next Winter Games. But at least some way to register interest in volunteering, similar to what LA is doing, will come sooner.

“We want to know beforehand who’s interested,” Wilson said, adding that could end up happening even earlier than the LA Games’ 2½-year lead time. “That’s something that will be part of our strategy.”