Deputy Mayor Matthew Ryder, alongside Lord Sebastian Coe and Sir Philip Craven, today launched the London 2017 volunteer 'Runners' training centre.
Over 4,500 volunteers have been recruited by Team London to support IPC World Para Athletics Championships and the IAAF World Championships. Runners training for the Championships, both being staged at the Olympic Stadium, is being held at Loughborough University's London campus throughout June.
IAAF and IPC Presidents Lord Sebastian Coe and Sir Philip Craven joined Matthew Ryder today at the opening of the centre. A total of 150 Runners were put through their paces at the centre, which is based in the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The World Para Athletics Championships is set to take place from July 14 to 23, while the World Championships will take place from August 4 to 13. It marks the first time both Championships will be hosted in the same city in the same year, with more than 3,000 athletes from more than 200 nations competing over 20 days of action.
The event coincides with the start of #VolunteersWeek 2017 - the annual celebration of the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK.