The Beijing Olympics will draw a large crowd to Beijing, including athletes, coaches, media professionals, and spectators from around the world who will flood in to watch the games. Zhu Hua, met some American students who will be working as Olympic volunteers and are looking forward to visiting the Chinese capital.
It's a normal day for Mark, a senior student at the School of Journalism, the University of Missouri. Besides attending class, he also works as an intern four days a week at a local TV station. He's been working extremely hard these days, for a big event he's been anticipating.
Mark Welsh, Student of University of Missouri
Mark Welsh, Student of University of Missouri said "I will follow the School of Journalism of the University of Missouri to Beijing, to stay for two months, volunteering with BOCOG."
Mark is one of the 60 students from Missouri who will go to Beijing as a volunteer. Nine other universities from the US, UK and Australia will send 240 more. The student volunteers will help collect athletes and coaches, and write press conference headlines.
Zhang Ernest Yuyan, Professor of University of Missouri said "We gave our students training about the regulations for foreign journalists covering the Olympics. And we also gave them lessons on Chinese culture, history and language.They say it has all been really useful."
The students will head to Beijing on July the 1st, and will spend the first three weeks in Renmin University learning more about Chinese history, culture and the media industry. The students say they just can't wait to get to China.
At a reception for the students, the chancellor encouraged them to learn about China and to learn from world media colleagues.
For these students, the once-in-a-life-time Beijing Olympics internship is no more than two months. But the impact of the program might be life-long when they get to know about China and its culture. And their efforts can help the world understand China better. Beijing Olympics, here's to you!
(CCTV May 7, 2008)