阅读理解Han Qian, 35, is now responsible for recruitment(招募)at the Volunteer Department of the Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee. Thirteen years ago, he was a volunteer at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
"I'm honored to take part in two Olympics," said Han. "Being a volunteer is different from organizing them, though both are great experiences. Passion is necessary for being a volunteer, which requires volunteers to be in high spirits and warm-hearted. But being an organizer, they may face many new challenges because more thinking and planning are needed in organizing volunteers."
Because of COVID-19, volunteers need to be quarantined(隔离)after the test events as well as after the Winter Olympics and Paralympics(残奥会). This means they have to give up more time for this job. As around 90 percent of the volunteers are university students, according to Han, this could affect their schoolwork. So Han's team has helped schools to support the students as much as they can.
Han's team worked with schools to recruit students. "For example, volunteers from Tsinghua University are responsible for the National Stadium, while those from Peking University take care of the National Aquatics Center, Han said. The cold weather is another challenge, as some games will be held outdoors. The outdoor volunteers need to have physical training, like 15-kilometer walks, to prepare for their work. The organizing committee also provides hats, warmer pads and more frequent shifts for them.
"Many volunteers have developed interest in winter sports because of this experience," Han said. "I've seen them post pictures of themselves skiing and skating. I'm happy that the volunteering experience is meaningful for them."