On the afternoon of June 5, 2005, BOC President Li Lihui attended the Launch Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Volunteer Program held in Beijing Hotel. Also present at the ceremony were IOC President Jacque Rogge, Member of CPC Central Political Bureau and BOCOG President Liu Qi, State Councilor and BOCOG First Vice-President Chen Zhili, Director of the State General Administration of Sports, COC President and BOCOG Executive President Liu Peng, Mayor of Beijing and BOCOG Executive President Wang Qishan, President of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) and BOCOG Executive President Deng Pufang, senior officials from the State General Administration of Sports, CDPF, BOCOG and Beijing Municipal Government. Guests from the Olympic partners such as Bank of China, Air China, Adidas, Volkswagen China, Kodak, China Networking Communications and China Petrochemical Corporation were invited to the ceremony. In addition, experts and scholars from home and abroad, volunteer organizations, and representatives from society and Olympic co-host cities, amounting to a total of nearly 1,000, also participated in the ceremony.
The mark of volunteers for the Beijing Olympic Games was unveiled during the ceremony. The mark, designed in the style of traditional Chinese calligraphy, consists of two red heart-shaped rings, symbolizing the linked hearts of volunteer and people they serve. Below the rings are human figures dancing cheerfully, representing volunteers and displaying their dedication. The English word “Volunteer” is also incorporated in the mark.
According to the Guideline for Implementation of Action Plan of People’s Olympics released in February, Beijing is to recruit a 100,000 strong force of volunteers for 2008 Olympic Games. The recruiting work will start from 2006, mainly targeting college students while mobilizing the whole society for Olympic volunteering.
During the ceremony, Dr. Rogge and Mr. Liu Qi delivered speeches respectively. A congratulatory letter from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was also read out. Ms. Chen presented the volunteers’ banners to representatives of volunteers from Beijing and other Olympic co-host cities.
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