Volunteers and volunteering is critically important to the successful hosting of mega-events. The debate around volunteers and sport mega-events (SMEs) has been overwhelmingly positive, with little critique in respect of human rights issues. This article seeks to explore the discourse surrounding volunteers as part of the mega-event workforce. Using case study examples from three Olympic Games hosted post-2000, partially aligned to McGillivray et al.'s rights-based model for SME governance, critical discourse analysis discerned three themes in the dominant discourse: Program over Democracy, Valorization of Sacrifice, and Managerialist Organizers. The article goes on to explore the implications of each for providing SME organizers scope to diminish the personal agency of SME volunteers. Research propositions relating to governance, voice, engagement, support, and formalization are advanced, as well as practitioner recommendations for adopting a rights-based agenda of SME volunteering.