Li Hao
THERE is a shortage of volunteers who speak minor languages such as Arabic and Spanish for the Universiade, which is expected to attract athletes from more than 100 countries, according to the Universiade volunteer recruitment department.
Because of the shortage of candidates, the volunteer department will try to recruit volunteers from Hong Kong where there is a concentration of universities.
However, it would still be hard to meet a strong demand during the Games even though Hong Kong could provide at most 1,000 multilingual volunteers, so authorities plan to recruit 350 students from 35 universities throughout the country.
The department has called for applications from people who speak minor languages.
Usually a main force of volunteers for major sporting events, university students would hardly be the dominant group of volunteers in Shenzhen because of its smaller number of universities, event organizers said.
Training for volunteers has already started in universities.
The department plans to recruit 20,000 volunteers for sports venues, 250,000 city volunteers and 1 million social volunteers. A total of 70,000 people have applied.
City volunteers are expected to provide information at public places such as train stations and tourist resorts.
Social volunteers are expected to promote Universiade culture and assist with the maintenance of social order in residential communities.
Social and city volunteers will work three shifts each day at 750 volunteer service centers throughout the city beginning two months ahead of the Universiade, which is scheduled to open Aug. 12.
Volunteer service centers will be completed in June next year.
Applicants can log on to volunteer.sz2011.org to apply. City and social-volunteer applicants can call 12355 to apply.
