VANOC deputy CEO Dave Cobb said Thursday 1,500 volunteer jobs need to be filled in order to stage the 2010 Olympic Games. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

Vancouver's Olympic Organizing Committee is calling on businesses and governments Thursday to lend some of their staff to fill their 1,500-volunteer shortfall.

Many of the openings involve senior positions, from managing the Cultural Olympiad festival to co-ordinating broadcast operations.

VANOC vice-president of human resources Donna Wilson said that is part of the pitch to employers.

"Many of these employees that will be seconded to us will be taking on managerial roles and that again enhances their skills that go back to that company," said Wilson.

VANOC deputy CEO Dave Cobb said that asking for a free workforce is an effort to keep costs in check.

"We want to be proactive and not wait until we have a big problem. You know, the economy, there's so much uncertainty still," said Cobb.

Cobb said the 1,500 jobs need to be filled in order to stage the 2010 Olympic Games, and many of them start next month.

Olympic historian Kevin Walmsley said this is an extraordinary request.

"It's at a pretty significant scale for the Winter Olympics. … And usually there's a significant warning beforehand. So I would say it's a bit last-minute, and the scope is quite large," he said.

Walmsley believes VANOC's request could be a tough sell, as there are no tax benefits, marketing advantages or branding rights attached.

Last year, Colin Hansen, B.C.'s minister responsible for the Olympics, said that B.C. government employees who are accepted by VANOC as volunteers would be able to claim part of the time as vacation time, and the other part as paid leave.