Relaxing his athletic body in a chair with his letter of commitment in hand, Joshua Jerga said the thing he expected most as an Olympic volunteer was to enjoy the next seven weeks in Beijing.

"It's like one big love party, (it) brings everyone together," he said.

Jerga was among 40 students from Australia's University of Newcastle who flew into Beijing early on Thursday and joined the rest of the 292 overseas volunteers who will serve with the Olympic News Service (ONS) during the Games.

Gathering at the Beijing Foreign Studies University in the afternoon, the Newcastle students submitted their letters of commitment to the Games organizers and were formally admitted as volunteers.

Since they're journalism or public relations majors, the 40 students will be flash quote reporters at the venues for swimming, diving, judo, weight-lifting, fencing and badminton.

Matthew Russell expected his work to be exhausting but intriguing. "It's cool to meet people from all around the world, from different backgrounds and cultures."

The other ONS volunteers come from eight universities in Australia, the United States and Britain.

Jerga said he, as an Australian, was mad about sports, recalling his sleepless nights in London in the summer of 2000 watching the Sydney Olympics on TV. "We love all sports and the Olympics are the greatest games in the world."

Jerga, who will work at the Aquatic Center, or Water Cube, said he most wanted to interview Australian female swimming star Stephanie Rice.

"I will ask her if she is more nervous competing herself or watching her boyfriend compete." Her boyfriend is Eamon Sullivan, a 50-meter freestyle record-breaker.

Picked through tests and interviews in their home countries, the ONS volunteers will receive two days of training organized by ONS headquarters starting on July 15.

They will get on-site training with Chinese volunteers at venues until Aug. 8, when the Games are due to open.

Newcastle senior Abbey Wright said she expected to see big crowds here and was trying to learn some Chinese. "I can say hello, thanks, good-bye and where's the toilet now."

Jerga said he tried to keep an open mind when coming to Beijing from winter-time Australia and was comfortable with the hot, humid weather here.

"Beijing is absolutely lovely! Everyone seems so friendly, polite and warm, always smiling," he said. "Some have said the pollution is really bad. I don't think it is that bad. I can't complain at all."

Beijing is to host about 100,000 volunteers during the Olympics and Paralympics. More than 1.12 million applied for volunteer posts, of whom 22,000 were foreigners.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2008)