Beijing 2022 volunteers thanked by IOC President

Following a briefing to the press, the IOC President was greeted by a few dozen volunteers who sang a rendition of the Beijing 2022 song “Together for a Shared Future” while performing the accompanying dance. Afterwards, Bach expressed his appreciation in a short address, saying: “Thank you for your contribution. Your smiles have warmed our hearts,” before handing them some official pins. 

Volunteers have been integral to the success of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, welcoming athletes, officials and media from around the world. More than 18,000 people are working as volunteers during the Games, with 94 per cent under the age of 35. Easily recognisable in their blue and white uniforms, they have been offering support in every venue and across a wide range of functional areas, from press operations, broadcasting and venue operations to logistics, security and transport.

It’s not only the excellent performances of the athletes that make the Games, but also the hard work of all the volunteers. In many ways, they are among the heroes behind the scenes, playing a vital role in both operations and the positive atmosphere experienced across all areas.

One of those 18,000 heroes is Wei Yining, a postgraduate student at Beijing Forestry University who has been working as a volunteer in the Main Media Centre. Wei remembers watching the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 as a child and says that her love of the Games is what inspired her to become a volunteer for Beijing 2022.

“My dad is a sports fan, and he passed on his love of sport to me,” she explains. “I remember for the 2008 Olympic Games, I was sitting in front of the TV set with my dad. And now I’m here with that love to serve the Beijing Games. All the volunteers are here because of such love. We all love volunteering, and we all love the Olympic Games.”

As well as having the opportunity to experience the Olympic Games first-hand, Wei believes her time in Beijing will benefit her in the future. “This experience of working as a volunteer here is incredibly valuable,” she says. “I’ve learnt how to be committed and how to achieve the best of myself. This will be something that can influence my whole life. The Olympic motto is ‘faster, higher, stronger – together’; and I will do my best to make sure I can achieve that.”

The Beijing 2022 Organising Committee received more than one million applications for volunteer positions at the Games, with the overwhelming response of the Chinese public echoing that seen for the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, which helped create a legacy of volunteerism within the country.

And for Wei, she hopes that the warmth shown by the volunteers will also leave a lasting impression on all those at the Games. “The temperature in Beijing is still very cold, but our hearts are still very warm,” she says. “I hope that this warmth will stay with everyone, together with this unforgettable experience.”