The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) launches a week-long philanthropy campaign in Beijing on the eve of the World Red Cross Day, with activities mostly focus on volunteer work for the upcoming Olympics.

The campaign, under the theme of "Joining hands for humanitarian work and serving the Olympics", is to feature galas, emergency aid rehearsals, and knowledge contests.

Meanwhile, RCSC is organizing other activities in other Olympics host cities including distributing in each city 150,000 pamphlets on first aid and getting involved with logo design, said Lei Shumin, an official with RCSC.

Statistics show the Society has up to date set up more than 500 posts to offer volunteer services in the host cities, trained more than 150,000 volunteers for the Games.

In August, the Society will offer emergency aid and information services in the Olympics venues including knowledge dissemination of first aid, emergency escape, AIDS prevention and voluntary blood donation, Lei added.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2008)