The Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG) on Thursday launched a massive recruitment campaign.

A total of 180 posts, of which 120 are designed for management roles and 60 for technical jobs, are available to all Chinese nationals, including those Chinese studying abroad.

The deadline for submitting applications is March 30.

Candidates will have to take exams in written and oral English, as well as comprehensive and specialized subjects. The whole process of recruitment is expected to end in late June.

It is the latest in a series of public recruitment since the BOCOG was set up in December 2001. In 2002 and 2004, a total of 81 people were recruited to BOCOG from as many as 6,000 applicants.

At present, BOCOG has 629 staff members, and the number is expected to reach 40,000 in 2008.

"As the 2008 Games approach, we are in great need of specialized people," Zhang Zhiwei, director of BOCOG's human resources department, told a press conference.

"According to our work plan, the number of BOCOG staff will double this year," he said.

Meanwhile, Qingdao's organizing committee for Olympic sailing events are also offering 13 posts to fill.

(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2006)