The song "Smile, Beijing" marked the climax of the ceremony. Children wearing the costumes of Fu Wa, the Beijing Olympic mascots, held the balloons in five Olympic colors and painted smiling faces on the balloon together with the spectators.

The launching ceremony also released the first issue of the periodical of Beijing Olympic Games Volunteer Work Coordination Group, Volunteer -- Together with Olympic Games.

After the ceremony, BOCOG and Beijing Olympic Games Volunteer Work Coordination Group held a joint press conference, expounding the overall situation of the volunteer program and policies concerning Games-time volunteer recruitment, and answered questions from domestic and international journalists.

It is reported that 70,000 volunteers would be needed for the Olympic Games, and another 30,000 for the Paralympic Games. The majority of volunteers of the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be recruited from the universities in Beijing. BOCOG also plans to recruit a certain number of volunteers from the residents nationwide, as well as compatriots from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, overseas Chinese, students studying abroad, and foreigners.

The application process will start in light of actual needs and situations. The applicants in Beijing may submit their applications in the following manners: The university teachers and students (including those from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and foreign nationals) can enroll voluntarily in the recruitment outlets on campus from August 28 2006;other people may apply via the BOCOG online system or by correspondence.

Meanwhile, certain organizations will be designated by BOCOG to receive the applications by their employees according to the requirements of professional volunteers.

From December, the applicants who reside in other provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities may enroll in such manner as designated by their local Communist Youth League Committees.

For compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, overseas Chinese, students studying abroad, and foreigners: if they work or reside in Beijing, the application mode designed for the applicants in Beijing may also apply; otherwise, they may apply from March, 2007 via BOCOG online system.

The recruitment in co-host cities (Qingdao, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenyang, Qinhuangdao, Hong Kong) will be arranged by the sub-committees of the BOCOG according to the general policy formulated by BOCOG.

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