Sasha Liane Cruver and her boyfriend Jeff, of Spokane, WA., are willing to do almost anything to fulfill their dream of being involved in the 2010 Olympics.

According to an ad the couple posted on Craigslist, they're pretty much willing to beg, borrow or steal their way from Spokane to Vancouver -- starting anytime -- and once they get there, they're willing to do just about anything Games-related to stick around.

Cruver told CTV.ca the couple is looking to move to Vancouver to secure volunteer positions or jobs that are somehow linked to the event so they can join in the momentum as it builds towards the Games over the next two years.

She said the pair has dreamed of being part of something big, and "there's not much bigger than the Olympics."

"Mostly, we want to be a part of the international community, and in a town like Spokane, there are not many opportunities to do so," she said.

"Also, we love the idea of getting a job for or through the International Olympic Committee and being 'forced' to move to France -- or elsewhere -- after the 2010 Games."

Wanted: 25,000 volunteers

The couple is among a large group of people of all ages expected to apply to the Vancouver Olympic Games Organizing Committee (VANOC) for volunteer positions.

The Olympics will take place in Vancouver and Whistler, from Feb. 12 to Feb. 28. The Paralympic Games will follow from March 12 to 21.

VANOC begins accepting applications for Games volunteers on Feb. 12 of this year, and expects a wave of applicants for positions that cover a swath of job descriptions, from working the phones to welcoming new arrivals to the city.

"It's the chance of a lifetime to join the team of volunteers as we welcome the world," states the VANOC website.

"We're looking for enthusiasm, dedication and a commitment to VANOC's values of team, trust, excellence, sustainability and creativity. There are many shoes to fill and we need talented people to fill them -- one of them could be you."

Sasha, 22, and Jeff, 26, hope to be among those wearing the coveted 'volunteer' or 'staff' badges at the Games two years from now, and they're setting the plan in motion, researching schools, jobs and places to live, all in an effort to get to where the Games will be happening.

'Defining' the experience

If and when they get there, their experience will likely be shaped in part by Dominique Anglade, a 33-year-old Vancouverite who has been volunteering roughly 15 hours per week since September.

As one of VANOC's key volunteers, Anglade has been helping to, in her words, "define what the volunteer experience is going to be."

In previous Olympics, she explained to CTV.ca, there has been a high rate of attrition, with volunteers, for one reason or another, burning out and dropping out before the actual event takes place.

Anglade's main role has been to help devise a plan to help volunteers get the most out of their experience, and hopefully decide to stick around and go the distance.

"We want people to be motivated and to feel connected," she told CTV.ca. "We want to communicate effectively and to make sure people know what their responsibilities are going to be. So what I've worked on since September is defining what their experience is going to be."

Though the birth of her now 11-month-old son has kept her busy, the resulting maternity leave has allowed Anglade to put in roughly 15 hours per week over the past six months. She is returning to work in a month, and will be scaling back her commitment to about five hours per week, but plans to stick around for the duration.

Though she is a seasoned volunteer who has dedicated her time to over 20 organizations, Anglade's enthusiasm, not only about the event in 2010, but also about her role and about motivating others to get involved, is infectious.

"This is a really unique opportunity for Canada to be involved with. We don't get the Olympics and the Paralympics very often so I thought this was an opportunity to get involved and make a real difference," she said.

When Anglade first started volunteering in September there were 500 others already donating their time and efforts to the project. Now that number has grown to 800, and after Feb. 12, when the floodgates open to accept actual Games volunteers, the number is expected to swell to something like 25,000.

Expertise in any area is OK

Volunteers are needed to help with transportation and parking. There are jobs for those who want to be involved with the opening and closing ceremonies. There is also a massive need for welcoming committees, medical staff, technical and financial staff. The list goes on, and there is a need for volunteers with just about every skill set and level of experience, she said.

"If you think of a company, and all that involves, that's what VANOC will be looking for, a wide range," Anglade said, urging all Canadians to look into getting involved.

"We are welcoming the world and I think I would feel really proud to say I was part of this -- to put Vancouver on the map and say this is what we were able to do as Canadians."

Anglade echoed a line that is obviously a VANOC catchphrase. She said it's the goal of those involved to have all Canadians connect to the 2010 Games -- to make it a truly national event, not just a Vancouver, or B.C. event.

John Furlong, VANOC's chief executive officer recently said something similar when discussing VANOC's priorities.

"If the Games are going to be very good, you can leave it to us," Furlong said. "If they are going to be spectacularly great, it involves everybody. We need everybody that can do something to be part of this."