The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympics Games (LOCOG) has today begun a search for enthusiastic and energetic adult volunteer performers to participate in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Jenny Sealey & Bradley Hemmings, Co Artistic -Directors of the Opening Ceremony and Kim Gavin, Artistic Director of the Paralympic Closing Ceremony, are searching for 5,000 volunteer performers to fill roles as dancers, actors, percussionists and general all-round performers.

Successful applicants will perform in front of a packed stadium and a worldwide broadcast audience for this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of one of the largest events ever staged in the UK.

Applicants must be able to participate in up to two auditions that will take place on evenings and weekends in February and March, up to two or three rehearsal sessions each week of up to four hours per session from June, and a number of all day rehearsals in the three weeks leading up to each Ceremony. All of these rehearsals will take place in East London.

Jenny Sealey, Co-Artistic Director of the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony said: ‘As with the Olympic Ceremonies we’re looking for both disabled and non-disabled applicants and previous performance experience is not required; we’re really looking for enthusiasm and commitment. Anyone with a positive attitude, huge amounts of energy and a willingness to perform in front of a stadium audience and to millions of people around the world should get onto the London 2012 website now and sign up.’

Kim Gavin, Artistic Director of the Paralympic Closing Ceremony, said: ‘For the Paralympic Ceremonies we’ll audition around 8,000 people to get our 5,000 volunteer performers. This is a great opportunity to take part in what will be the grand finale of the entire Games.'

People can find more information and register their interest for this opportunity by completing the online application form www.london2012.com/ceremoniescasting

The deadline for receipt of applications is 13 February 2012 and it is not a first come first served process.

To be eligible applicants must be aged 18 years or older on 1 March 2012. Only one application per person will be accepted and if LOCOG receives over 8,000 applications a computerised draw will be used to randomly create the short list for auditions.

For those who want a chance to see the successful applicants in action there are a limited number of tickets still available for the Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies at www.tickets.london2012.com.

London