恪盡職守——北京奧運志愿者準備就緒

If you've been in Beijing or any of the other Olympic cities in the past few weeks， you'd be hard-pressed not to have seen them. Dressed in their sharp yet coolly casual and sporty blue and white uniforms， Beijing's Olympic Volunteers have become a common sight on the streets of the capital. Whether hanging out in one of 500+ information booths decorated with pictures of smiling volunteers and tourists， or helping out at one of the Olympic venues， the Olympic Volunteers are a conspicuous， friendly bunch who are always ready to help.

Trained in a range of skills including languages， first aid， navigation and customer service， some 600，000 volunteers from home and abroad will help to ensure the smooth running of the games. Their duties range from helping out lost tourists to preparing the Olympic stadium for various events， and they'll be on call every day between now and the end of the Paralympics in September.

Picked after a rigorous selection process， the Olympic Volunteers are the cream of the crop， the best examples of China's youth and adult populations， and range from 18 to 84 years of age. After the enthusiastic response to the original call for volunteers back in 2005， the Games' organizers went through several rounds of reviews before selecting one volunteer from every 10 applicants.

We took to the streets to meet some of the fine folk who will be serving the people at the Olympics this summer， to find out what motivates them， why they applied， and what they think about being an Olympic Volunteer.

1. Feng Qian， 20， from Qingdao， Shandong Province

How did you end up becoming involved in the Volunteer program?

Our school organised everything for us. We sent in our application， and BOCOG chose us based on that and a series of tests.

Why did you want to be Volunteer?

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A couple of reasons. This has never happened in China before， so I wanted a chance to serve my country. It's also a great chance to do something to improve my own skills and character.

What benefits do hosting the Olympic Games bring to China?

It's a symbol of our country's strength. It's also a good chance to show off our country to the eyes of the West， and promote mutual understanding between our cultures.

2. Wang Ming Ming， 21， from Li n Fen， Shanxi Province

Were there any tough requirements for volunteers ?

First of all， we had to get good marks during the interviews and examinations. Once we were selected， we trained every weekend. We had to learn first aid， self defence， how to deal with media from home and abroad， how to prevent AIDS， the history and culture of Beijing， and the history of the Olympic Games.

Why do you think the Olympics are so important ?

They are good platform for promoting peace， fair play and friendship. The Olympic spirit is cherished the world over as a symbol of healthy and fair competition.

What are the best things about being a volunteer?

It's a rare opportunity to do a good deed that actually has some meaning. For example， we were all sympathetic toward the disaster-hit people in Sichuan province， but besides donating money to charity there was little we could physically do. During the Olympics， we'll have plenty of opportunities to help people out in a real， practical sense.We make ourselves happy by helping others.

3. Yang Yue Kai， 20， from Da Xing， Beijng

Why did you apply to be a volunteer?

The whole world has waited in anticipation for the 2008 Olympics， and I wanted to be a part of it. It will add a unique dimension to my university experience. Besides， it was practically fate – the day it was announced that we would host the Olympics was my 13th birthday!

What are the best things about volunteering?

It's a chance to really get involved with society， meet plenty of new people and develop my own skills， particularly timekeeping! It's a great experience and will probably act as a stepping stone to a better job in the future.

What are you looking forward to most about the Olympics?

I just really hope everything goes well and the Olympics are a success.

4. Qu Tian， 20， from Beijing

Why did you volunteer?

I am a Beijinger and I think we all have to take responsibility for helping out during the Olympics. I want to help the guests who willcome to Beijing ， and becausethe Olympics will be held during the summer vacation I'll have enough time to really dedicate myself to making a difference .

What are you looking forward to during the Olympics?

I hope that Liu Xiang will perform well again this year， and I really hope that Yi Jian Lian could come back to play in the Games .

中文：

如果在過去的幾周內你來過北京或去過其它奧運協辦城市，你會很驚訝地發現，他們隨處可見。衣著帥氣漂亮又酷的藍色白領運動休閑裝，北京奧運志愿者成為首都街道上熟悉的一道風景。不管是忙碌在500多個由志愿者及游人充滿笑容的照片點綴裝飾的奧運咨詢臺，還是穿梭于各奧運場館之內，這支醒目友好的隊伍隨時準備幫助他人。

這支來自海內外約有60萬人的隊伍接受過一系列的技能培訓，包括語言、急救、航行和顧客服務，他們將全力協助奧運會的順利進行。從幫助迷路的游客到做好各比賽場館的準備事宜，他們各持崗位。從現在到9月殘奧會結束，他們隨時待命。

經過嚴格篩選后，這些奧運志愿者都是最優秀的人才，他們是中國青年和成年群體（從18周歲至84周歲）的優秀代表。2005年奧組委首次招納志愿者，反響熱烈，經過好幾場的考核后，組織者在每10名申請者中精挑細選出一名志愿者。

我們去街道訪問這些將在今年夏季奧運賽事中為人們服務的好同志們，看看是什么鼓舞著他們，吸引他們申請成為志愿者，作為奧運志愿者他們又有何感想。

馮倩，20歲，來自山東青島

你是怎么加入志愿者這一龐大隊伍？

學校為我們組織申請。我們投送申請表格，奧組委通過我們在表格上填寫的內容和相應考試成績進行篩選。

你為什么想成為志愿者？

有很多原因。這是中國有史以來第一次舉辦奧運會，所以我想借此機會為國家盡一點力，同時這也是一個鍛煉自身的好機會。……