At least New Zealand's gold medal winning rower Mahe Drysdale had plenty of volunteers on hand to help him after his exhausting win in the singles scull.

It seems plenty of Olympics volunteers were happy to take their goodie bags but not so keen to turn up for work.

It's the latest problem to blight the Rio Games which have already courted plenty of controversy with unfinished facilities, slow and lost driver services, theft, security a green diving pool, and poor attendances.

The Daily Mail reports that as few as 20 per cent of volunteers had actually fronted at some sporting venues, placing strains on systems and facilities.

But administrators have been slow to respond. More than a week into the Games, a spokesman for the Rio 2016 Organising Committee told the Daily Mail: "Volunteers are one of the things we are fine-tuning."

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Reports claimed the average turnout for helpers was just over 70 per cent.

Around 70,000 signed up for the volunteers programme and were given t-shirts, wristbands in a starter pack as well as training, free English lessons, uniform, meals, transport around the city and a certificate of participation.

But it seems not all the problems lie with the workers.

Several have complained that after being confirmed ot work at the Games, they received no follow-up instructions about where and when to turn up for their jobs.

Andreia Barros from São Paulo told the Daily Mail she had applied to be a volunteer and received a letter from the Olympic committee in late July with an invitation to work at the Maracana venue.

She accepted, but was still awaiting further instructions.

"I've taken off 15 days to dedicate myself to being a volunteer and unfortunately I'm here, without a schedule, at home,"' she said.