The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX
Olympiad (BOCOG) and the Olympics Volunteer Work Coordination Group
officially launched their recruitment drive for volunteers for the
Olympics and Paralympic Games this morning.
Both Liu Qi -- member of the Political Bureau of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), secretary
of the Beijing municipal committee of the CPC and president of the
BOCOG -- and Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic
Committee (IOC), delivered televised addresses to extend their
congratulations.
"The recruitment of Olympic volunteers will be conducted in
accordance with the plans of the IOC and BOCOG," Liu said in his
address. "It's important in promoting the preparations of the Games
and opens up opportunities for the general public and friends from
home and abroad to participate in and serve the Games.
"To host a 'high-level' Olympic Games 'with distinguishing
features' is a solemn commitment made by the Chinese government and
BOCOG and it's also the common expectation of the Chinese people,"
he noted. "In 2008 the volunteers' smiles will be the best name
cards for Beijing. Since the Olympic volunteer program was
initiated on June 5 last year the preparations have progressed
smoothly."
Liu extended his gratitude to the friends from home and abroad
who've always shown great interest in and offered powerful support
to the preparations for the Games. He hoped that all the Chinese
people including those in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas
students as well as international friends would be actively
involved in submitting Olympic volunteer applications.
Once recruited the team would be expected to promote
volunteering, pass on the Olympic spirit, practice the concept of a
"People's Olympics," improve service awareness and their service
abilities and bear the historical responsibility and glorious
mission of making contributions to the Beijing Olympic Games, Liu said.
Rogge recognized the volunteers' contribution to the Olympic
Games and called on people from China and other countries to serve
as volunteers so they may greet the world in 2008.
At the launch ceremony both the online application system for
Olympic volunteers (volunteers.beijing2008.com) and the volunteer
consultancy hotline (86-10-12308) of the Beijing Olympic Call
Center were officially opened.
(Beijing2008.com August 28, 2006)