Volunteers to share enthusiasm and skill

Seventy-seven-year-old volunteer Yu Zhendong exercises every morning to stay in shape to well serve the visitors from home and abroad during the coming Qingdao Olympic sailing competition.

"I am very proud to be a volunteer and eager to play a part in the Olympic events," he says.

Qingdao citizens are indeed enthusiastic about the Olympics. More than 4,000 people have applied to be city volunteers, said the Communist Youth League Qingdao Committee (CYLQC).

As well, nearly 20,000 people have applied to the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Committee (QOSC) to be volunteers and 1,500 have been formally recruited.

Wang Haitao, assistant chairman of the QOSC, says that "volunteers in Qingdao will provide the most considerate and thoughtful services for athletes during the competition".

The recruits will receive a range of training, including some foreign language skills and etiquette to enhance their service abilities. Instruction for each person requires at least 24 hours of coursework.

The committee has also recruited 200 volunteers with backgrounds in security, medical treatment, massage and lifesaving at sea.

During this year's Olympics and Paralympics, 150 help stations will be opened in public areas and scenic sites of the city. More than 1,000 volunteers will provide assistance in translation, information, emergency response and transportation.

Xia Zhengqi, deputy secretary of the CYLQC notes that foreign volunteers will also serve the competition.

"We have to date recruited over 100 overseas volunteers from 11 countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany and India. Some can also speak fluent Chinese."

Canopies will be erected at 12 sites, including May Fourth Square, Qingdao Pier and Zhongshan Park, for 100 volunteers who will display their skills in paper cuts, charcoal drawing and calligraphy. Events to share sailing knowledge and promote tourism will also be held.

To create festive Olympic environment, a young cheering squad will provide team spirit during the Qingdao leg of the torch relay and during Olympic sailing events.

A call center manned by volunteers fluent in foreign languages will provide information and translation services for foreign visitors.

"We have now recruited nearly 60 volunteers capable in English, Korean, Japanese and German. Most of them are college students. We still need volunteers who can speak Italian and Arabic," Xia said.

(China Daily 04/23/2008 page24)