The government has beaten its target for boosting volunteering, the home secretary, David Blunkett, said today.
Mr Blunkett joined the charities minister, Fiona Mactaggart, and Barbara Cassani, the chairwoman of London's Olympic bid, to highlight the importance of volunteers to the success of London hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.
"The UK has a thriving, successful history of voluntary service. Communities and lives are transformed when people get involved. That is why raising the level of volunteering and community participation in England is a key target for the Home Office, and central to the government's civil renewal agenda," Mr Blunkett said.
"We have increased the number of volunteers by over 1 million, exceeding the challenge set by the prime minister in 2000. We are also on course to exceed the Home Office target of a rise of 5% in volunteering and community participation by 2006."
Mr Blair had called for an increase in the number of people volunteering their time by 1 million between 2001 and 2003.
Mr Blunkett added: "This achievement should now spur us on. London's bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is the next target - active citizens will be a vital part of the games."
The Olympic bid will need volunteers to carry out a wide variety of tasks, such as acting as stewards, looking after athletes, carrying equipment and issuing tickets. The aim is to recruit 70,000 volunteers for the 2012 games.
Volunteers were seen as a key part of the success of the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. More than 22,000 people applied to join the 10,000-strong volunteer workforce, which put in a total of 1,260,000 hours' work.
A similar volunteer army is expected to contribute to London's Olympic bid as a symbol of the country's support for the games.
Ms Cassani said: "Volunteers play a crucial part in the life of this country and are a hugely important resource to sport in Britain. Volunteers played a vital role in the Sydney Olympics and the Manchester Commonwealth Games in helping both these sporting events be inspirational successes.
"The wonderful community spirit shared by the 10,000 people who volunteered during the Manchester Games will be seen on a larger scale across the UK. An army of volunteers would help out the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in a range of different tasks.
"In our plans for the games we envisage volunteers being a vital cog in the wheel to make things happen."