The recruitment work started in August 2006, and more than 1.1 million people applied, out of which 10 percent were selected. The number of applicants is ten times larger than that of Sydney. A major feature of Beijing Olympics is that university students are being fully tapped.
All the volunteers have received systematic training, including general, professional and venue training, says Liu Jian, director of volunteer program under BOCOG. Some 33,000 volunteers participated in the Good Luck Beijing test matches as part of the preparation. Foreign experts on volunteering work are also invited to give technical guidance, such as Brettell.
"In my opinion, the volunteer program of Beijing Olympic Games will be a new benchmark, as Beijing has designed a much better plan than any other city, especially the massive city volunteer program. Beijing is unique. If successful, the volunteer program in the future will change."
What Brettell has in mind is the long-standing effect of volunteerism.Since the Sydney Olympics, the number of volunteers in Australia has grown by 25 percent to 4 million. People have come to realize the importance of volunteering, for which the Games can take credit, he says.
"The success of the Olympics will be very strongly influenced by the involvement of the communities in which they are held. They best way for that involvement to manifest itself is through volunteering," he says.
Similarly, the university volunteers at Beijing Olympics will keep up the spirit of volunteerism and make a long-term work in the future, he says.
Sustainability is a priority in the post-Olympic blueprint. Under a three-year project initiated by BOGOC, Beijing will continue the implementation of many small community volunteer programs. "Beijing is deliberately planning a legacy," Brettel says.
Liu Hui, an officer of UN Volunteers (UNV), says the UNV will help establish an online platform linking those who need volunteer services and those who can provide it during and after the Games. "The mechanism is important to guarantee the continuity. "
A total of 74,615 volunteers will provide services at Games venues, the Olympic Village and media centers. Another 1 million "social volunteers" have been helping to keep traffic flowing and maintain social order in the communities and townships of Beijing.
More than 400,000 city volunteers have been working at 550 street stalls around Beijing since July, providing information, emergency aid and translation for people from around the world.
Brettell hopes the Beijing Olympic Games will be "super-successful"."The motto 'One world, one dream ' is fantastic. It refers to the world community as one. It is a dream and ambition to be fulfilled. It will also set a model for the future. "
(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2008)