Despite an overwhelming response, Beijing Olympic organizers are
keen to involve more volunteers with special skills as well as
those from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and foreign countries.
Since it started on August 28 the Olympic volunteer program has
attracted more than 220,000 applicants and 600,000 seeking
information in Beijing by the end of last month, according to
statistics from the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of
the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).
Recruitment will move out of the capital to other provinces,
municipalities and autonomous regions on the mainland from next
month. Applicants from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Chinese living and
studying overseas and foreigners can apply starting March, 2007,
said Liu Jian, head of the Volunteers Department of BOCOG.
Liu said recruiting and training specialized volunteers would be
one of their most important tasks as the Games gets closer.
"Compared with non-specialized volunteers the specialists need to
deal with more complicated situations and are of more importance to
the overall service level," Liu said.
The enlisting of specialized volunteers, which is to be kicked
off this month, focuses on eight service sectors, including VIP
escort and interpretation, vehicle driving, media operation, event
organization, medical services, reception, accommodation and
security.?
Liu said those who meet the requirements for the specialized
volunteers and have already applied online or on paper will be
included for selection.
"But the above eight service sectors do not cover all the
specialized volunteers that will serve at the Games," Liu said.
"People engaged in sectors like information technology, legal
services, finance, accounting and logistics are also needed and
we're going to enlist such kinds of volunteers from universities
directly."
"We've been really touched by the enthusiasm of the people," Liu
said. "I'm sure we'll have no problem in being able to find enough
people with the right skills."
After rounds of selection and training the first batch of
specialized volunteers is expected to be decided in March next
year. They'll get warm-up practice at a series of test events
starting in August. Liu didn't give a figure for the number of
specialized volunteers needed for the Olympic and Paralympic
Games.
However, it's estimated that 100,000 volunteers -- 70,000 for
the Olympics and 30,000 for the Paralympics -- are needed in
2008.
Apart from volunteer recruitment the Olympic organizers want
Beijing residents to flash their smiles to make the city more
attractive to the hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors who are
expected to flock to the capital between now and August 2008.
"We hope Beijing residents will join in the smile campaign to
turn the city into a city of smiles," Liu said. "For many people
who'll not be volunteers they're expected to show their good
manners and do what they can to make the city a better
place."?
A test version of smile-themed wristbands for Olympic volunteers
was revealed late last month at the opening ceremony of the
"Smiling Beijing" campaign.
The "smile" wristbands are a series of soft plastic bands in the
five Olympic colors. They're designed for the Beijing 2008 Olympic
volunteers and are printed with the volunteer logo and the slogan,
"A smile is the best calling card for Beijing."
The idea for the "smile" wristbands was proposed by the Beijing
Volunteers Association. Around 20,000 questionnaires regarding the
bracelet are being distributed to Beijing citizens looking for
suggestions for the meaning that could be associated with each
bracelet color. Each person who returns their suggestion will
receive a "smile" wristband, according to the association. The
final version of the bracelet will be issued on January 1 next
year.
"Smiling is a global language," said college student Yang Ying,
a member of the Bai minority group. "When foreign people arrive in
Beijing during the Olympics they probably won't know any Chinese.
But a smile can express everything."
However, some people think that though a smile is the symbol of
Beijing volunteers, you also have to make your guests smile.
Contributing nothing but a smile is not acceptable.
(China Daily November 17, 2006)
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