What's in a smile? Yang Ying, a 23 year-old "Smile Ambassador" from Tianjin, knows that a smile involves not only facial expression, but also language and action.
Yang became a smile ambassador almost by accident. In 2005, when she was a second-year college student, Yang entered a contest in Beijing for "smile ambassadors" as the only representative of Tianjin. Yang was rather busy with schoolwork and school activities prior to the contest, so she had limited free time to prepare for the contest.
But her radiant smile won over the judges.
As a smile ambassador, Yang would later attend the commencement ceremony for Olympic volunteers in Beijing on June 5, 2005. Before the ceremony, however, Yang attended several intensive days of training that covered basic ceremonial information and what else, but how to smile.
"Smiling is a natural thing, but by rehearsal time for the commencement ceremony, our facial muscles had begun to cramp up," says Yang.
For Yang, being a smile ambassador is a full-time job. In the two years since being given her title, she has become conscious and cautious of her speech, poise and actions. She won't event cross the street if the light is red. Yang hopes to set an example by her actions and encourage other people to come out and volunteer for the Olympics as well.
(BOCOG October 19, 2007)
