Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) Executive Vice President Jiang Yiman told journalists on August 7 that the RCSC is using the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games to push its messages on AIDS prevention and against discrimination and social exclusion of HIV positive people and people living with AIDS.

The RCSC has distributed thousands of copies of its booklet "Together for HIV and AIDS Prevention: a toolkit for the sports community". Simultaneously it is carrying out an AIDS awareness campaign among young people Chinese universities.

AIDS awareness booklets distributed by the Red Cross Society of China during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Ms Jiang also said the Society has mobilized more than 50,000 volunteers to staff 2500 Red Cross posts in Beijing for the duration of the Games. Trained volunteers will be on hand to carry out first aid and emergency medical treatment. Over 130,000 copies of the Society's First-Aid Manual have been distributed and the Society has provided first-aid training to more than 1.2 million people in the run-up to the Games, including 200,000 key staff in Olympic venues, tourist attractions, public transport and hotels.

The RCSC is also carrying out a campaign to encourage blood donation by distributing a special "Medal for Life" to donors during the Olympic period.

Red Cross Society of China volunteer Zhao Chen demonstrates resuscitation techniques at a Red Cross post inside Beijing's Forbidden City. The post, recently set up to cope with increased tourist numbers during the 2008 Olympic Games, has already treated over 200 people.

Kristina Lui (left) and Michael Wong came to Beijing as Red Cross volunteers for the 2008 Olympic Games. Kristina was born in China's north eastern Liaoning Province but now lives in Chicago. Michael was born in Hong Kong but lives in San Francisco.

(China.org.cn by John Sexton August 9, 2008)