The organisation of the Olympic Games mobilised people in different spheres of Catalan society. Special incentives were created to encourage recruits, including grants to study French in France and English in the United Kingdom. Out of the 103,000 applications, 34,000 volunteers were recruited by the Organising Committee, all of whom received specific training which gave them skills for a lifetime.
After the Games, the Association of Olympic Volunteers was created, which still provides support for most of the sporting events that take place in the city.