24 August 2008

Beijing, China: Volunteers were honoured at the close of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and UNV volunteer Liu Hui received an award on their behalf.

Local and international volunteers were applauded during the closing ceremony, with their valuable work acknowledged by both the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, and the head of the Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG), Liu Qi.

"At this moment, we hope you will bear in mind… the smile and dedication of the volunteers. We sincerely wish the Olympic Movement a sustainable development," said Mr. Liu.

As one of the top volunteers involved with the Olympics, UNV volunteer 'Lucy' Liu (Liu Hui) received a Coca-Cola 'Live Positively' Award.  Ms. Liu worked as a communications officer for the 'Strengthening Volunteerism for Development in China Through the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games' project, and also voluntarily participated in the relief operation after the May 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Aiming to "celebrate those who make positive choices and strive to better themselves, their communities and others in their everyday lives", the Live Positively Awards began during the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics. Global Olympic sponsor Coca-Cola recognized the Volunteers for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad on 22 August for "their selfless work, joyful participation and positive contributions".
 
Liu Hui was chosen by BOCOG and Coca-Cola as one of five volunteers to receive this award on behalf of the thousands of others.  The ceremony was shown on Chinese state television, with an audience of around 300 million.

"It's my honour to get this 'Live Positively Award' from Coca-Cola, and many thanks for your support," she said.  "The citation reads: 'This certificate is in recognition of the work you did as a volunteer to make the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games a positive experience for everyone.' It's definitely a positive experience for my whole life as well."

The evening before the closing ceremony, volunteers were toasted by the President of China, Hu Jintao, at a banquet for foreign leaders and international dignitaries. "The glory goes to the Olympic Family, to athletes who have competed hard, to volunteers from different parts of the world and to friends the world over who have been involved in the Beijing Olympic Games in various ways," said President Hu.

The growth of volunteerism for development in China during the Olympic Games was also recognized. In an earlier event, Shen Qianfan, Deputy Director of the BOCOG Volunteer Department and Vice Secretary General of the Beijing Youth League (BYL) pledged that BYL will make major efforts to harness the spirit of Olympic volunteerism as a force for development after the Games.

"One of the key legacies of the Games should be the increased participation of Beijing and Chinese citizens in volunteerism.  Volunteers make real and significant contributions to social development and we will provide increased opportunities for meaningful ways to serve to their communities and country," he said.

For further coverage in Chinese, click these links:
www.beijing2008.cn/bocog/sponsors/headlines/n214576180.shtml
news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-08-23/013514345478s.shtml
2008.qq.com/a/20080823/000386.htm
news.xinhuanet.com/olympics/2008-08/22/content_9620566.htm