San Francisco Frontiers - France ministry volunteers to welcome foreign delegations to Olympics

"It's an unexpected opportunity," said the 52-year-old, smiling widely on a break from managing the budgets of France's overseas embassies.

For the Summer Games running from Friday to August 11, Sylla will be one of 172 foreign ministry staff members volunteering to usher foreign delegations around the French capital.

At Le Bourget airport outside Paris on Monday, she met Prince Albert of Monaco as he stepped out onto the tarmac.

The job had "nothing to do" with her usual tasks, but French foreign ministry staff are very flexible, she told AFP ahead of his arrival.

"Most of the volunteers don't usually handle the protocol side of things," Sylla said, wearing a smart jacket and maroon trousers.

But, for the Olympics, "we've come from all directions, all departments".

Doina Milinceanu, a former European vice-champion of ballroom dancing, usually works in human resources at the ministry.

But this summer she will be using her fluent Russian to help look after the Armenian delegation.

"I wanted to be at the heart of this historic event," the 34-year-old said.

"This kind of thing only happens once in a lifetime."

William Fiadjoe, who is helping organise the special Olympics "visit officials", said volunteers had been assigned according to their linguistic skills.

"We have eight people speaking Arabic, five speaking Portuguese and four speaking Russian, and all speak English," he said.

Fifty-seven percent of the team are women, and the rest are men, he added.

Valerie Bruell-Melchior, Monaco's ambassador to Paris, said Prince Albert -- a member of the International Olympic Committee -- would be staying in the French capital for the entire length of the games.

Jean-Baptiste Blanchy, an adviser at the Monaco embassy, said having Sylla with them was comforting.

"Through her we have direct access to the ministry and Olympic organisers," he said.

G.Collins--SFF