Beijing Olympics 2008

The operation team for the Olympic (Paralympic) Village of the Beijing Olympic Games was formed on Thursday.
Taking the floor at a meeting to announce the conception of the team, President Liu Qi of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) described it as an important event in the preparatory work for the Beijing Olympics because the village is the base of services for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Being one of the most important venues during the Games, he said, the village will provide first class services to ensure the success of the Games.
He urged all staff members to attach great importance to carrying out the concept of the “People’s Olympics” and the people-oriented principle.

Outlining his requests, Liu put forth seven specific endeavors:

- ensure the on-schedule completion of the buildings and facilities;
- ensure the availability of all materials;
- ensure the timely assignment of all posts;
- ensure the timely installation of all provisional facilities;
- ensure the success of the comprehensive full-load tests;
- ensure the Games-time normal operation of the village; and
- ensure timely village work transition from the Olympics to the Paralympics.

In a word, the village’s construction and the team’s preparations must meet the over-all demands of the organization and operation of the Olympic Games.
Liu also called for orderly, smooth and efficient operation of the village through the team’s management and coordination systems and the staff’s attention to details, awareness of risks and emergency-response capabilities, and through necessary test runs and rehearsals to lay a solid foundation for the Games-time operations.
Du Deyin, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Beijing People’s Congress, deputy-mayor of the Olympic (Paralympic) Village and director of the operation team, attended the meeting and made a speech.
He stressed the need to make the best preparations, as the village is the most important non-competition venue for the Beijing Olympics and home to Games-time athletes and journalists.
The meeting was chaired by Lu Hao, vice mayor of Beijing, deputy mayor of the Olympic village and first vice director of the operation team.
Leading officials of BOCOG and departments of the Beijing Municipality, staff of the operation team, and representatives of the Beijing Olympic partners, sponsors and suppliers attended the meeting.

from: xinhuanet.com 

Director Liu Jian of the Volunteer Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) discussed on Tuesday morning the Beijing Olympic Volunteer Program with those present at a press conference at the Beijing Olympic Media Center.
Following is Liu’s account of the volunteer program as it stands. The volunteer program has received widespread attention and concern from the public since launching on June 5, 2005. The plan called for the recruitment of a total of 100,000 volunteers for the Olympics and Paralympics, in addition to 400,000 city volunteers to provide information, language, emergency and other services in the city and around the venues.

Volunteer applicant pool reaches 800,000.
The Beijing Olympic Volunteer Program consists of six working projects (The “Towards Olympics” Voluntary Service Project, The BOCOG Pre-Games Volunteer Project, The Games-time Volunteer Project, The City Volunteer Project, The Social Volunteer Project, The Olympic Volunteer Work Legacy Transformation Project) and the “Smile Beijing” theme campaign.
The applicant pool has already reached 800,000, setting an Olympic volunteer record. More than 20,000 volunteer applicants were invited to serve during the “Good Luck Beijing” sport events in 2007.
At the end of 2007, approximately 80 percent of the volunteers required for the Olympic and Paralympic Games had been initially confirmed.

Volunteer training, benefits and incentive program in the works
Volunteer training consists of general training, professional training, venue training and on-post training. Paralympic volunteers receive additional training in specialized topics related to the Paralympic Games. Training is conducted via distance training, on site training and training by practice.
More than 90,000 volunteers have tested the training system, with 80,000 volunteers receiving general training and 30,000 receiving professional training.
Volunteer work benefits include: special identity cards; volunteer work uniforms; meal provision during work hours; complimentary public transportation service within designated areas; and accidental and emergency insurance during work hours.
In addition, volunteers will be acknowledged for excellence in their service.

More than 920,000 apply for City Volunteer Project
According to Liu Jian, during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, 500 volunteer service stations will be set up throughout the city, with some 400,000 volunteers offering their time and skills. Post-Games, the city volunteer service stations will remain an important legacy of the Olympics. So far, some 920,000 people have applied to become city volunteers.
The city volunteers were put to the test during the Spring Festival, the Labor Day holiday and the National Day holiday in 2007.
Various activities have taken place under the “Smile Beijing” theme campaign since it kicked off on August 8, 2006. The activities have included environment beautification projects; projects to maintain the transportation system; and songs to spread the “volunteer smile.” The volunteer “Smile Wristband” has since become a popular, and even fashionable, accessory.

from: beijing2008.cn