The Olympic Games can't be held today without the help of volunteers. In Nagano, they'll be responsible for a variety of tasks inside Olympic venues, including showing people to their seats, giving directions to those who get lost, laying wooden planks on snow so that wheelchairs can pass by, and sweeping away snow from passageways.

That's not all. At the awards ceremonies, they'll carry medals for presentation and make sure the national flags and anthems are right; those with medical qualifications will be asked to offer first aid; at outdoor venues they'll remove excess snow on ski courses; and they'll do the cleaning up after spectators.

Volunteers will also sell and check tickets and staff souvenir stalls marketing Olympic merchandise.