The operations team for the Paralympic Family Hotel of the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games invited people with disabilities to take part in training aimed at strengthening team spirit and service last Saturday.

Some 120 team staff and more than 200 volunteers from seven Beijing universities vowed to work together efficiently and practically to provide quality service to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and other members of the Paralympic Family during the post-Olympic event.

Team members present at the Beijing Dongzhimen Middle School last weekend, as well as 40 people with hearing, visual or physical impairments, were separated into groups for sessions on improving teamwork and communication with disabled people.

"Formed this February with some 2,000 members, the Paralympic Family Hotel operation team is made up of BOCOG staff, Paralympic volunteers, security staff and contractors. The key issue facing us was how such a great number of people could work in harmony and efficiency," team director Jin Xu said.

On Aug 25, the team will enter into the Swissotel Beijing Hong Kong Macau Center, the official host hotel for the Beijing Paralympic Games known as the Paralympic Family Hotel. And on Sept 1, the hotel will open its doors to Paralympic guests from around the world.

During the Paralympics, which will take place from Sept 6 to 17, the hotel will serve as the headquarters and command center of IPC.

"Through training, I found that Paralympic volunteers not only need passion, but that also we should improve our service spirit, consciousness and skills," said Liu Xi, a volunteer from Beijing Normal University.

"I'm happy and relaxed when playing games and talking to these volunteers," Xu Lin said in her long pink skirt and knitted coat with golden embroidery.

Although she contracted polio when she was just 9 months old and has had to walk with the help of crutches ever since, the 21-year-old girl never ceases smiling.

She will perform in a band at the Paralympic opening ceremony for which she practices playing drums everyday.

(China Daily June 20, 2008)