The specialized volunteers for the Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will be recruited, according to organizers.

 

The recruitment will focus on eight service areas including VIP escort and translation, vehicle driving, media operation, sport organization, medical service, awarding ceremony, reception and accommodation as well as security, said an official with the Volunteers' Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

 

He said those people who meet the requirements for the specialized volunteers and have already applied on line or registered in Beijing's districts or counties, or higher education institutions, will also be included in the ranks for selection. He did not give a launch time but indicated that the first batch of specialized volunteers is expected to be decided in August 2007.

 

The official made the remarks in conjunction with a BOCOG meeting on Thursday to deal with the volunteer work for the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, which was chaired by Qing Wei, chief of the Coordination Group of the Volunteer Work for Beijing Olympic Games and deputy secretary of Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

 

Liu Jian, head of the office for the coordination group and secretary of the Beijing Youth League Committee summed up the work done so far and informed of the task for the next stage. Liu said coordination groups will also be set up at the district and county level.

 

Since it was kicked off on August 28, the Beijing Olympic volunteer program has been warmly received, with more than 220,000 applicants and 600,000 information seekers.

 

(BOCOG October 31, 2006)