Chinadaily.com.cn sharing the Olympic spirit

Volunteers: Too much of a good thing?
By Erin Zureick (Chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-06-18 18:41

 

Chinese officials plan to deploy a veritable army of volunteers when the Olympics roll into town next year. The 2008 Beijing Games will feature 500,000 volunteers - 100,000 for the Games and another 400,000 to guide tourists through the city and smooth over any potential language barriers.

But the launch Monday of the city's volunteer recruitment program begs the question: Why do they need so many?

In the end, it's not about quantity; it's about quality.

Most foreign tourists are not going to be prepared for what they'll face in Beijing during the Olympics. English translations are often hit or miss. The majority of restaurants don't cater to foreigners and the idea that cab drivers will learn English by next August is a fantasy at best.

I first came to Beijing about a year ago as an American student eager to improve my Chinese speaking skills. After two years of studying Mandarin at my university in North Carolina I figured my 10-week stay in Beijing would be no big deal.

However, it quickly became apparent that I would need the help of my Chinese roommate and others more adept in the language to help me adjust to Beijing's fast-paced lifestyle and the cultural differences I encountered.

If Chinese officials hope to launch a successful Olympic Games, they'll need to pick volunteers who are capable of helping out clueless foreigners just as my friends and my roommate helped me last year.

It's not going to do foreign tourists any good to have countless volunteers to get advice from if the volunteers can only offer a smile and directions that aren't very clear.

Is the world asking a lot of China? Yes. There is no doubt about that. But despite Beijing's building frenzy of subways and Olympic facilities, it's going to take more than glitzy accommodations and sleek athletic venues to satisfy Westerners who come from a service-oriented culture.

In just over a year, the world will expect Beijing to make the leap from tourism novice to world-class destination. The only way the city will even come close to expectations is if volunteers are trained properly and carefully selected.

After living in Beijing the past two summers, it's clear to me that people here take the Olympic spirit very seriously. That's why so many have applied to be volunteers at the Games - officials don't know what to do with them all.

While the attempt to get as many people involved as possible is admirable, Olympic organizers should carefully evaluate where its human resources are allocated.

With the right planning and the right volunteers, I'm sure many tourists can get to know the Beijing I understand and love.

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