Santiago 2023 is on a recruitment drive for unpaid voluteers ©Santiago 2023

Organisers of next year’s Pan American and Parapan American Games are celebrating after attracting their 10,000th volunteer.

Santiago 2023 wants to recruit more than 17,000 unpaid workers for the multi-sport event, which has never been held in Chile before.

As of two days ago it was more than halfway there, with 10,165 volunteers signed up.

Cristopher Caliqueo, who was volunteer number 10,000, said it was something they had been considering for several weeks before a prompt on Instagram inspired registration.

Volunteers - who must be 18 years old come October 1 2023 - have been able to register their interest since September 20.

Chile has never held the Pan American Games before ©Getty Images
Chile has never held the Pan American Games before ©Getty Images

"We are happy as a team to have achieved this milestone," Santiago 2023 head of workforce Carola Acevedo said.

"This fills us with energy to continue working and manage to form the team of 17,000 people who will collaborate in the realization of this great event."

The next edition of the Pan American Games is set to take place from October 20 to November 5.

Thirty-nine sports are on the programme.

The Parapan American Games should follow from November 17 to 25.