A volunteer wearing a protective mask holds up a sign during a ice hockey test event match, held in preparation of the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, at the National Indoor Stadium on November 12, 2021 in Beijing, China. Photo: VCG

Ever since the global recruitment of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games launched on December 5, 2019, more than 1 million people have applied to be volunteers.

Among the 1 million candidates, over 19,000 have been selected to lend a helping hand during the Winter Olympic Games and the Winter Paralympic Games. 

More than 2,000 disabled people in China have applied to be the volunteers at the upcoming games. Among the successful candidates, the youngest volunteer is 19 years old and the eldest 63. Despite living with disabilities such as hearing or physical impairment, these volunteers will dedicate themselves to helping people during the Games with enthusiasm. 

"Designing such a considerate voluntary system, Beijing, as a 'dual Olympic city,' can not only show its capability in hosting such a global sports gala, but also show its spirit and attitude to protect differences, celebrate world bonding and deliver optimism and help," Wang Chuming, a cultural expert, told the Global Times, explaining the cultural symbolism behind the Olympic Games.  

Prior to the Games, the selected volunteers are expected to go through four stages of training - general, professional, venue and on-the-job training - which will involve 23 courses. 

"If they do not go through the first four stages of training, volunteers would not be ready when they start their work, as learning while serving cannot guarantee service quality," Teng Shengping, the director of the Volunteer Department of the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee, told media. 

Volunteers will be allocated to particular positions such as an early stage volunteer project, providing services during the competitions and city volunteering positions. 

City volunteers in Beijing for the Winter Games started working at various city service stations on Sunday, which is also International Volunteer Day. 

During the Winter Olympic Games, they will be helping with information consultation, language translation, assisting with disable accessibility, emergencies and so forth. They are also provided with personal insurance and other necessities such as clothing and a meal budget. 

"I will stand at this post," Liu Yukun, a 63-year-old Paralympic discus athlete who signed up to be a volunteer for the 2022 Winter Games after being touched by the enthusiasm of volunteers at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, told media. 

A volunteer wearing a protective mask holds up a sign during a ice hockey test event match, held in preparation of the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, at the National Indoor Stadium on November 12, 2021 in Beijing, China. Photo: VCG

Ever since the global recruitment of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games launched on December 5, 2019, more than 1 million people have applied to be volunteers.

Among the 1 million candidates, over 19,000 have been selected to lend a helping hand during the Winter Olympic Games and the Winter Paralympic Games. 

More than 2,000 disabled people in China have applied to be the volunteers at the upcoming games. Among the successful candidates, the youngest volunteer is 19 years old and the eldest 63. Despite living with disabilities such as hearing or physical impairment, these volunteers will dedicate themselves to helping people during the Games with enthusiasm. 

"Designing such a considerate voluntary system, Beijing, as a 'dual Olympic city,' can not only show its capability in hosting such a global sports gala, but also show its spirit and attitude to protect differences, celebrate world bonding and deliver optimism and help," Wang Chuming, a cultural expert, told the Global Times, explaining the cultural symbolism behind the Olympic Games.  

Prior to the Games, the selected volunteers are expected to go through four stages of training - general, professional, venue and on-the-job training - which will involve 23 courses. 

"If they do not go through the first four stages of training, volunteers would not be ready when they start their work, as learning while serving cannot guarantee service quality," Teng Shengping, the director of the Volunteer Department of the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee, told media. 

Volunteers will be allocated to particular positions such as an early stage volunteer project, providing services during the competitions and city volunteering positions. 

City volunteers in Beijing for the Winter Games started working at various city service stations on Sunday, which is also International Volunteer Day. 

During the Winter Olympic Games, they will be helping with information consultation, language translation, assisting with disable accessibility, emergencies and so forth. They are also provided with personal insurance and other necessities such as clothing and a meal budget. 

"I will stand at this post," Liu Yukun, a 63-year-old Paralympic discus athlete who signed up to be a volunteer for the 2022 Winter Games after being touched by the enthusiasm of volunteers at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, told media.