More than 10,000 volunteers have gathered at 150 service spots
all over Beijing to provide road guide and emergency response
services in the ongoing 7-day National Day holidays as a rehearsal
for next year's Olympics services.
"I planned to visit temple fair with my family, but then there
is this volunteer program. I think I have to take part," said Wang
Jingrui, a 58-year-old volunteer.
She got up at about six in the morning and came to her post at
the New World Shopping Mall at downtown Beijing, after attending
her family breakfast.
At Wang's service spot, there are 10 volunteers aged above 58,
the age of the People's Republic of China. "We are celebrating the
National Day by helping others," Wang said.
Having participated in previous volunteer work, the senior
citizens speak some English and are very familiar with venues and
other things about the Olympic Games, Wang said. Her son and
daughter-in-law have also applied to be volunteers.
A visitor surnamed Li from northern China's Shanxi Province said, the volunteers were very
helpful. "There are so many service spots everywhere where people
can show me the way."
Volunteers also provided varied services like taking photos for
tourists and collecting litter, such as cola cans and plastic
bottles, and put them into the trash can.
By Sept. 23, 670,000 people have applied to be volunteers for
the Beijing Olympic Games, according to the Beijing Organizing
Committee for the Olympic Games.
(Xinhua News Agency October 2, 2007)