WITH Olympic fever is gaining momentum by the day, a Bicester councillor is getting ready to join the greatest sporting event on earth by heading out to Rio de Janeiro.

Self-confessed Olympic fan Debbie Pickford, a member of Bicester Town council, applied to volunteer for the Rio Paralympics and is now looking forward to meeting athletes.

She said: "I am really excited to be going out to Rio as a volunteer for the Paralympics.

"I was really keen after the London 2012 Olympics, so I applied for the Glasgow Commonwealth and other games but they did not want me, so I applied for Rio – and after interviews and online training I was welcomed as a volunteer.

She will join about 85,000 volunteers in the Brazilian city.

Rio's Paralympic Games run from Wednesday, September 7, to Sunday, September 18.

The Great Britain Paralympic team – which includes 258 athletes competing over 19 sports – has never finished outside the top five in the medal table.

In London 2012, the team came in behind China and Russia.

Miss Pickford has not had her volunteer role confirmed but thinks she may be part of the transport team possibly taking competitors to and from the athletes' village.

She said: "I am getting excited now. I wasn't to start with, but the more I have been watching on the TV, the more I have been thinking I am going to be right near that Olympic stand."

The councillor, who is paying for the trip herself, will be kitted out with a volunteer uniform and says she will stay to volunteer for as long as she is needed.

Volunteers tend to help out for about 10 days. Miss Pickford will then head explore the city.

She said: "I have never been to Brazil before so I will volunteer for as long as they want me and then have some time to do other things around Rio."

* If you are heading out to Rio for the Olympic or Paralympic games get in touch and tell us about your experience. Email naomi.herring@oxfordmail.co.uk