The Volunteers' Home at the Chengdu Universiade Photo: Zhang Yashu/Global Times

They may not be the protagonists of the Chengdu World University Games, but without them, this huge event could not get off the ground. Like all major sports events, volunteers are an integral part of the Chengdu Games.

Around 20,000 volunteers have been recruited for the Chengdu Games. They will serve at places like competition venues, the FISU Games Village, the main media center, airports and bus stations during the Games. 

Zhou Zhili, the workforce and volunteer manager at the Dong'an Lake Sports Park Artistic Gymnastics Venue Operation Center, was the first volunteer to receive an accreditation card back in June. 

She told the Global Times there are 349 volunteers working at the artistic gymnastics venue at 36 posts. 

"We also have 53 backup volunteers who are also fully prepared" in case of emergency, she added.

The volunteers at the venue mainly come from three universities in Chengdu, and most of them are students of Sichuan Tourism University. The flag raisers and concierges are from Sichuan Normal University, while the rest are from Chengdu Sport University.

Zhou said the young volunteers' vitality at work has impressed her. 

"They are very energetic, and are quick to respond," she told reporters. "No matter how tired you feel, the sight of them will make you relived and happy."

The Chengdu volunteers have been given the affection nickname Xiao Qingjiao, meaning "little green peppers." As qingjiao also sounds like "communication among youth," the nickname underlines the fact that the Chengdu University Games is a grand event for global youth communication, Chen Xuan, a volunteer at the Games Village, told the Global Times.

Chen, a student at Southwest Minzu University, works as a volunteer assistant at the Games Village. In charge of general management of the nearly 1,000 volunteers at the village, she calls herself "a volunteer for the volunteers."

Guided by the needs of volunteers, it provides services such as interactive communication, rest, supplies and exercise facilities. There is also a psychological counseling room for volunteers, as well as massage chairs, punching bags and other items for relaxation.

Chen Jiandong Photo: Zhang Yashu/Global Times

For 19-year-old Chen Jiandong, a Sichuan Police College student, being a volunteer at the Games is "the pinnacle of my life."

Chen, who will become a sophomore after summer vacation, is one of the 18 flag raisers at the Shuangliu Sports Centre Stadium - the venue for athletic competitions during the Chengdu Games. 

 "It is a great honor for me," Chen told the Global Times. "It also means responsibility. I know now I am a representative of a college, a province and even the whole country." 

Chen said the 18 flag raisers are divided into three groups of six, who will respectively raise the flags of the gold, silver and bronze medalists at the medal ceremonies. 

"I hope all the flag raisers can do a wonderful job and contribute our own strength to the Chengdu Games," Chen told the Global Times.