China is the world's most populous country, so it is no wonder that Beijing has the most volunteers, said Guilherme Roseguini, a journalist from Brazil's television TVGLOBO.

"It is not bad. It is only different. People need to respect the difference," said Roseguini.

During the 11th Asian Games, held here 18 years ago, the concept of volunteering, which was introduced by 19th century religious missions from Western countries, was strange to the Chinese.

But it has became increasingly popular in the past few months. Chinese volunteers demonstrated their growing power as a new social force when many rushed to the southwestern province of Sichuan to help after the deadly May 12 earthquake.

The application of more than one million people to become volunteers exhibits the Chinese people's feelings towards the Games. "The Chinese people want to share the fun of Olympiad," said Wang Ke, an editor working for a Shanghai web site.

She would lose some 40,000 yuan (about US$5,900) for being absent from her job for two months. "I was admired by all my colleagues for coming to Beijing to be a volunteer," she added.

China's volunteer service has its roots in the 1960s, when the nation launched a campaign to learn from Lei Feng, a Mao Zedong-era model soldier known for his dedication, generosity and readiness to help, said Hou Baosen, who is in charge of volunteer work at the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Youth League.

In 2000, the day of March 5, which had been designated as a day to commemorate and learn from Lei, was named the "Chinese Young Volunteer Service Day." More than 25 million have registered as volunteers.