At the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre, the main venue of the 10th National Games, you can always find a white-haired elderly man in high spirits, working as a guide for spectators.

Meet 73-year-old retiree Liu Guozhang -- the oldest volunteer of China's biggest sports event.

Working for about one-and-a-half hours a day, Liu is more than happy to give back to his hometown.

"As an old Nanjing citizen, we feel proud when our city was chosen as the host of the National Games," Liu said. "It means that Nanjing's development has been approved by the whole country."

The enthusiastic volunteer is even rearing to go for the next hottest ticket.

"Through these days' work, I find myself capable enough for the voluntary tasks and if possible, I will also apply for serving as the volunteer for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as well."

Actually, Liu is not the only elderly member if the original applicants are put into consideration. During the recruitment of the volunteers, which ran from March 5 to May 18 this year, 6,000 citizens applied, with the oldest hitting the ripe old age of 80.

After careful selection, the group of 7,000 volunteers who made the cut will work directly for the Games in Nanjing, the main host city, including more than 6,000 students from universities and colleges, 600 from all fields and 150 from Hong Kong.

There will also be 8,000 volunteers in the other 12 host cities in Jiangsu Province.

"Serving for the Games is the wish of every people in Jiangsu, and we hope to gain the gold medal in the organizations as well," said Wei Guoqiang, director of the Volunteer Department of the Games' Organizing Committee.

"Before and during the Games, there will be altogether 100,000 volunteers to serve for the Games, which made the number of the volunteers of the National Games reach the highest. The total number of the volunteer service hours will surpass one million."

These volunteers will work in 11 fields, such as media and communications, Games services, contacting delegations, touring and cleaning, according to Wei.

"We have encouraged all the employees of the service industries in Jiangsu to offer top class services for all the participants of the Games," Wei added.

Serving with heart

Being a volunteer of the 10th National Games needs not only enthusiasm, but also heart.

The requirements for being volunteers of the Games are strict, Wei said.

"They have to have plenty of free time and to be able to stand by at any time," he said. "They are also required to obey the arrangement 100 per cent and don't ask for pay."

Besides these terms, the volunteers have to be able to shoulder the cost of transportation and eating as well.

In spite of all these rigid demands, people still eagerly came to volunteer.

"Although the volunteer work is tiring, we feel rich for having this valuable experience," said Hu Hongjun, an employee of PICC. "Sometimes, we have to stand under strong sunshine for hours or carry heavy equipment, but we have no complaints because we are willing to show the reputable image of our city through our efforts."

Of all the volunteers, the students' team, the largest team of the group, is undoubtedly shouldering the heaviest tasks.

"As venues volunteers, we have to be on standby from 8 am to 9 pm," said Jiang Yifeng, a senior student from Nanjing University. "We hope to build up a bridge of friendship between all the guests and local citizens through our enthusiasm, patience and confidence in the work."

To reward these hard-working volunteers, the organizing committee provides comfortable working conditions for them as much as possible.

"To secure the safety of the volunteers, we have bought the insurance for all of them," Wei said. "They could use the public transportation for free with their volunteer card during the Games, and we also make sure their food servings will be offered on time."

Treasure Olympics experience

Organizing such a large contingent of volunteers is a big challenge for the Jiangsu Organizing Committee and a useful experience for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as well.

"Since the setting up of our department last July, we have worked closely with the Beijng Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG)," Wei said. "There are two staff from BOCOG working in our department right now, and we hope they could get familiar with organizing volunteers and bring back our experiences and lessons."

It is estimated that about 100,000 volunteers are needed before and during the Olympic Games. The recruitment will start in August 2006.

The 10th National Games will raise its curtain in Nanjing this evening with a grand opening ceremony at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre. The 12-day event, dubbed "China's mini-Olympics," has attracted 9,922 athletes from 46 delegations. It will include 357 events of 32 sports, involving all the 28 Olympic sports for the first time.

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, will attend the opening ceremony as well.

(China Daily October 12, 2005)