Olympic and Paralympic events in Buckinghamshire will still go ahead, even if hundreds of volunteers are not found, the county council has said.
It is looking for 700 people to help with the torch relay, paralympic flame lighting ceremony and community events.
They will help to organise crowds and give out information.
"We've never had an occasion when the council had to cancel any event due to a lack of volunteers," said a spokesperson.
"The Olympics seems to have a special attraction - LOCOG has had to turn away many people as they were oversubscribed."
Alongside trained stewards, volunteers are needed to help decorate town and village centres before the Olympic torch relay comes through Buckinghamshire on 9 July.
There is also a range of free public events taking place in August and September and at the Paralympic flame-lighting ceremony at Stoke Mandeville Stadium on 28 August.
Council leader Martin Tett called it "a once in a lifetime opportunity" and said organisers were looking for people in their late teens and onwards who could "act independently and responsibly".
"It's going to be a fantastic time and we want to try and give the opportunity to lots and lots of people across Buckinghamshire who want to get involved in a big way, he said.
- Published15 September 2011
