If you've been in Beijing or any of the other Olympic cities in the past few weeks， you'd be hard-pressed not to have seen them. Dressed in their sharp yet coolly casual and sporty blue and white uniforms， Beijing's Olympic Volunteers have become a common sight on the streets of the capital. Whether hanging out in one of 500+ information booths decorated with pictures of smiling volunteers and tourists， or helping out at one of the Olympic venues， the Olympic Volunteers are a conspicuous， friendly bunch who are always ready to help.

Trained in a range of skills including languages， first aid， navigation and customer service， some 600，000 volunteers from home and abroad will help to ensure the smooth running of the games. Their duties range from helping out lost tourists to preparing the Olympic stadium for various events， and they'll be on call every day between now and the end of the Paralympics in September.

Picked after a rigorous selection process， the Olympic Volunteers are the cream of the crop， the best examples of China's youth and adult populations， and range from 18 to 84 years of age. After the enthusiastic response to the original call for volunteers back in 2005， the Games' organizers went through several rounds of reviews before selecting one volunteer from every 10 applicants.

We took to the streets to meet some of the fine folk who will be serving the people at the Olympics this summer， to find out what motivates them， why they applied， and what they think about being an Olympic Volunteer.

1. Feng Qian， 20， from Qingdao， Shandong Province

How did you end up becoming involved in the Volunteer program?

Our school organised everything for us. We sent in our application， and BOCOG chose us based on that and a series of tests.

Why did you want to be Volunteer?

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A couple of reasons. This has never happened in China before， so I wanted a chance to serve my country. It's also a great chance to do something to improve my own skills and character.

What benefits do hosting the Olympic Games bring to China?

It's a symbol of our country's strength. It's also a good chance to show off our country to the eyes of the West， and promote mutual understanding between our cultures.

2. Wang Ming Ming， 21， from Li n Fen， Shanxi Province

Were there any tough requirements for volunteers ?

First of all， we had to get good marks during the interviews and examinations. Once we were selected， we trained every weekend. We had to learn first aid， self defence， how to deal with media from home and abroad， how to prevent AIDS， the history and culture of Beijing， and the history of the Olympic Games.

Why do you think the Olympics are so important ?

They are good platform for promoting peace， fair play and friendship. The Olympic spirit is cherished the world over as a symbol of healthy and fair competition.

What are the best things about being a volunteer?

It's a rare opportunity to do a good deed that actually has some meaning. For example， we were all sympathetic toward the disaster-hit people in Sichuan province， but besides donating money to charity there was little we could physically do. During the Olympics， we'll have plenty of opportunities to help people out in a real， practical sense.We make ourselves happy by helping others.

3. Yang Yue Kai， 20， from Da Xing， Beijng

Why did you apply to be a volunteer?

The whole world has waited in anticipation for the 2008 Olympics， and I wanted to be a part of it. It will add a unique dimension to my university experience. Besides， it was practically fate – the day it was announced that we would host the Olympics was my 13th birthday!

What are the best things about volunteering?

It's a chance to really get involved with society， meet plenty of new people and develop my own skills， particularly timekeeping! It's a great experience and will probably act as a stepping stone to a better job in the future.

What are you looking forward to most about the Olympics?

I just really hope everything goes well and the Olympics are a success.

4. Qu Tian， 20， from Beijing

Why did you volunteer?

I am a Beijinger and I think we all have to take responsibility for helping out during the Olympics. I want to help the guests who willcome to Beijing ， and becausethe Olympics will be held during the summer vacation I'll have enough time to really dedicate myself to making a difference .

What are you looking forward to during the Olympics?

I hope that Liu Xiang will perform well again this year， and I really hope that Yi Jian Lian could come back to play in the Games .

中文：

如果在過去的幾周內(nèi)你來過北京或去過其它奧運協(xié)辦城市，你會很驚訝地發(fā)現(xiàn)，他們隨處可見。衣著帥氣漂亮又酷的藍(lán)色白領(lǐng)運動休閑裝，北京奧運志愿者成為首都街道上熟悉的一道風(fēng)景。不管是忙碌在500多個由志愿者及游人充滿笑容的照片點綴裝飾的奧運咨詢臺，還是穿梭于各奧運場館之內(nèi)，這支醒目友好的隊伍隨時準(zhǔn)備幫助他人。

這支來自海內(nèi)外約有60萬人的隊伍接受過一系列的技能培訓(xùn)，包括語言、急救、航行和顧客服務(wù)，他們將全力協(xié)助奧運會的順利進(jìn)行。從幫助迷路的游客到做好各比賽場館的準(zhǔn)備事宜，他們各持崗位。從現(xiàn)在到9月殘奧會結(jié)束，他們隨時待命。

經(jīng)過嚴(yán)格篩選后，這些奧運志愿者都是最優(yōu)秀的人才，他們是中國青年和成年群體（從18周歲至84周歲）的優(yōu)秀代表。2005年奧組委首次招納志愿者，反響熱烈，經(jīng)過好幾場的考核后，組織者在每10名申請者中精挑細(xì)選出一名志愿者。

我們?nèi)ソ值涝L問這些將在今年夏季奧運賽事中為人們服務(wù)的好同志們，看看是什么鼓舞著他們，吸引他們申請成為志愿者，作為奧運志愿者他們又有何感想。

馮倩，20歲，來自山東青島

你是怎么加入志愿者這一龐大隊伍？

學(xué)校為我們組織申請。我們投送申請表格，奧組委通過我們在表格上填寫的內(nèi)容和相應(yīng)考試成績進(jìn)行篩選。

你為什么想成為志愿者？

有很多原因。這是中國有史以來第一次舉辦奧運會，所以我想借此機(jī)會為國家盡一點力，同時這也是一個鍛煉自身的好機(jī)會。

中國舉辦奧運會將帶來什么利益？

這代表著我們國家的實力。這是向西方展示中國魅力的好時機(jī)，可以促進(jìn)與西方國家的文化交流。

王明明，21歲，來自山西臨汾

成為奧運志愿者有什么嚴(yán)格的條件嗎？

首先，面試和考核成績要過關(guān)。一旦被選上，我們便每周末接受培訓(xùn)，培訓(xùn)內(nèi)容有：急救、自我保護(hù)、如何應(yīng)對國內(nèi)外媒體、艾滋病預(yù)防、北京歷史文化和奧運知識。

你認(rèn)為奧運會為什么會如此重要？

這為促進(jìn)和平、公平競爭及友誼提供了一個很好的平臺。奧運精神象征健康、公平競爭，全世界的人們都很珍惜這點。

作為志愿者，你認(rèn)為最讓你受益的是什么？

能借此機(jī)會做一些有意義的實事，機(jī)會難得。比如說，我們都很同情四川的災(zāi)區(qū)人民，除了捐錢，我們具體幫不上什么忙。在奧運期間我們可以實實在在地幫助需要幫助的人們。能幫助別人，我們自己也高興。

楊玥鍇，20歲，來自北京大興

你為什么申請為奧運志愿者呢？

全世界都對08年奧運有所期待，我想讓自己也參與這個盛會。這將給我的大學(xué)生活帶來一個獨特的經(jīng)歷。此外，這還是一個巧合——申奧成功那天正好是我13歲生日！

作為志愿者，你認(rèn)為最讓你受益的是什么？

這是個讓我真正接觸社會、結(jié)識更多的人及增長技能的好機(jī)會，尤其是讓我有更為嚴(yán)格的時間觀念！這是個很好的實踐經(jīng)驗，為我將來參加工作奠定一定基礎(chǔ)。

你對此次奧運最期待的是什么？

我只希望一切都好，奧運會圓滿結(jié)束。

曲添，20歲，來自北京

你為什么要申請成為志愿者？

作為北京人，我覺得我們應(yīng)該在奧運會期間盡點義務(wù)。我想幫助那些來北京的游客，再一個原因是奧運會剛好在暑假的時候舉辦，我正好有充足的時間，這個暑假會有所不同。

你對此次奧運最期待的是什么？

我希望今年劉翔繼續(xù)有很好的表現(xiàn)，還希望易建聯(lián)能夠回來參加奧運。