Beijing will need an estimated total of 60,000 to 100,000 volunteers for the 2008 Olympic Games, Vice Mayor Liu Jingmin said on Monday.

Volunteers will be indispensable for the Olympic Games, Liu said at the sports round-table meeting of the ongoing Fortune Global Forum held on Monday in Beijing. Beijing Volunteer Association has worked out an action plan for the great sports event and will soon carry it out, Liu said.

In regard to preparations for the Paralympics, Beijing has been focusing on removing obstacles for the handicapped in information exchange, transport and living, said Liu.

According to Liu, Beijing spent 600 million yuan (US$72.3 million) in upgrading its public service facilities, roads and tourist destinations over the past three years.

Special sidewalks and audio crosswalk signals for vision handicapped people and obstacle-free overpasses have been arranged all over the city. Meanwhile, buses, metro and airport are being revamped for the handicapped, said Liu.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2005)