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My name is Shi Yongle, a 43 years old fellow. I have been living in Beijing for 24 years and been serving the city for quite sometime. My car has served as a publicity car for the Beijing Olympics for 6 years. I have offered free lift to over 13,000 people, and distributed over 7000 leaflets promoting Beijing Olympics. I hope my efforts would help spread the message of love and promote the Olympic spirit.

I am going to recount my experiences here. I leave home at about 6 o'clock every morning. I usually parked my car near the bus stop station then invite people to have a hitch with me if they are going towards Gongzhufen, the place where I work. I wanted to offer my car to those in need of a ride. At first, it was hard for the people to believe that I was offering free rides. So I posted a "free lift" label on my car in order for the people to know that I am indeed offering a free ride. Then on April 2003, I stick the Olympic emblem and slogan on my car in a way that can promote the Olympic spirit.

I have helped all sorts of people, namely, the senior citizens who lost their way, those patients in coma, the blind people, and those who are handicapped. I once sighted two young men walking back and forth at the bus stop, looking so tense while checking their watches. They are obviously in a hurry to reach their place of destination so I approached them and offered them free rides. Later on, I realized that they are staff members of the Good Luck Beijing sports events who needed to go to the Wukesong Sports Center Baseball Field as soon as possible. Knowing that they needed to reach the place on time, I drove there as fast as I can and in less than an hour, they arrived at work without delay.


My publicity car

At this time, my car is named as the: "Olympic publicity car". The emblem logo of the Beijing Olympics and the five-ring flag of International Olympic Committee were printed on the engine cover. At the back of the car, there's a poster that reads "Beijing welcomes you." I've handed out 7000 leaflets to over 13000 people who rode with me. All passengers who rode with me wrote me special messages saying how they appreciated my good deeds and these were all written in 11 notebooks which I really value.

Most of the time, people misunderstood me of my good deed. There are also times when I unintentionally park at "no parking areas" so I ended up receiving traffic violation receipts from traffic enforcers. Despite all these experiences, I will still continue to be of good service to the people in the same way that I can spread the Olympic spirit. With this, I hope I can also spread the message of peace and friendship, which are what I really want to share to the people.

Source:
http://olympic.chinaassistor.com/2008/0715/Publicize_the_Olympics_in_the_car_10407.html

Armed police officers and a bulletproof police car patrol an Olympic traffic lane in Beijing on Saturday, July 12, 2008.

Thirty-nine bulletproof police cars rolled onto roads in Beijing on Saturday as part of the city's enhanced security efforts for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.

With armed police officers on board, the cars will be on duty around-the-clock patrolling Olympic traffic lanes, dealing with emergencies and handling possible terrorist attacks, according to a Xinhua News Agency report.

The Beijing Games organizers have taken comprehensive measures to protect the August and September events, including the deployment of air defense missiles around major venues and the setting up of checkpoints on the main roads leading to the capital.

The municipal traffic authority has designated the leftmost lanes on some of the city's main arteries as Olympic lanes with road-surface markers and roadside signs that show the five-ring logo as well as yellow sidelines.

The Olympic lanes will be reserved during certain hours for vehicles transporting Olympic and Paralymic officials, athletes and the media. Private passenger vehicles will be allowed to use the lanes at all other times.

Source:
http://news.chinaassistor.com/BeijingOlympics/2008/0714/Bulletproof_Cars_Patrol_Olympic_Lanes_10385.html

My name is Yu Shijun. I am 58 years old. Like many people of my age, I have precious grandsons and granddaughters. But there's a treasure I have that others don't: an Olympic banner stamped with the seals of 33 provinces and autonomous regions and 382 provincial and city governments in China. Since 2002, I've traveled around the country on my bike to publicize both the Olympics and environmental protection. I've traveled 80,000 kilometers and have carried the Olympic spirit with me the entire way.

However, I never gave up hope, and persisted in my efforts, through which I was named one of the Top Ten Most Caring People in China. In January of 2008, Deng Yaping and a BOCOG official presented me with a commemorative cup and a certificate declaring my membership in the Olympic Promotion Team of Star Volunteers. From then on, I began to fulfill my commitment to promote the Games.

The first 2,520 km

I liked sports very much when I was young. I've been swimming in the winter since 1968. After retirement I joined a sports club where I often swam, climbed mountains and rode bikes. In May 2002, 10 friends and I (4 Koreans and 7 Chinese) went on a bike trip through Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hebei, Shanghai and Beijing, publicizing the Olympic Games and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of foreign relations between China and the Republic of Korea. In 23 days we covered 2,520km and though it was difficult, I felt happy. This priceless experience game me an idea: why can't we travel like this around the country?




With my cycling friends

Olympic flag flutters on the summit of Mount Tanglha


In 2003, four friends and I -- all over 50 years old -- formed a cycling team. One or two times a week we traveled more than 100km to Laoshan Mountain. In June 2003 we rode 2,008 kilometers to Korea in 26 days, passing dozens of cities and towns like Taego, Pusan and Seoul.

As we traveled we spread the word about the Olympic Games, China and Qingdao.

In October 2003, carrying an Olympic flag given to us by the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Committee, we started our journey around China. In 19 days we covered 1,500km, riding through Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui and Zhejiang. In May 2004, we rode 2,008km in 25 days, through Tangshan, Beidaihe, Qinghuangdao, Shanhaiguan and Chengde. Finally we arrived at Beijing and took part in the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. In May 2005 we traveled 15,006km from Qingdao to Shanxi through ten provinces. Along the way we promoted the Olympic Games and the sailing competition that would be held in Qingdao. And three of us brought the Olympic flag to the top of Mount Tanghla -- 5,231 meters above sea level.

A trip to Hong Kong and Macao

Shortly after my son's wedding on October 12, 2006, I left for a trip to Hong Kong and Macao. In one and a half months, I covered 4,277km, passing seven provinces. Among our group of ten was an 82-year-old friend. Many people found out that I had come all the way from Qingdao and came to take photos with me and the Olympic flag. And many of them said that they hoped they could be volunteers during the 2008 Olympic Games!



More than 600 postmarks, a demonstration of my pursuit of the Olympic spirit

Cycling record: 382 seals and 80,000 km


In the last few years, I have made my mark all over China – from Tanglha Mountain to the Gobi desert, from Lhasa to Sanya. I displayed the Olympic banner on my bike and tried to demonstrate the Olympic spirit to my countrymen and tell people more about the Olympic Games. The flag has traveled 80,000 km with me and now bears 382 seals from provinces and cities across China. I have traveled to every corner of the country except for Chinese Taipei.

Volunteering at the Olympics

Now I'm learning English. Why? I want to be a volunteer at the Olympic sailing venue. There are less than 20 volunteers over the age of 50. I' m one of them. During the Olympic Games I will be providing services to spectators from around the world at a 530-meter long dam. The service I provide will always come with a sweet smile.

Information taken from:
http://olympic.chinaassistor.com/2008/0714/80,000_kilometers_of_Olympic_spirit_10380.html

My name is Lin Yifei. I am a twenty-year-old sophomore in the French Department at Beijing Language and Culture University. My experience as an Olympic volunteer began a year ago when I served as a liaison for foreign teams at the Good Luck Beijing sport events.

In August 2007 I was chosen as the liaison for the Tunisian wrestling team at the Good Luck Beijing World Youth Wrestling Championships. During the ten days of competition, I stayed with the Tunisian athletes for more than 15 hours each day and used my knowledge of French to help them when they encountered difficulties.

To prepare for my role, I searched online for information about Tunisian history, culture, food and customs and also looked for information about wrestling. But despite my preparations, we still encountered difficulties right from the start. Since the native language of the Tunisian athletes was Arabic, they spoke French with a heavy accent. For the first couple of days, the athletes and I had to draw, write and use body language to communicate.

During the World Youth Wrestling Championships, everything felt fast paced . Some days I would work for 18 straight hours; sometimes I didn't even have time to eat food or drink water. I was exhausted but also excited. I was glad to be able to help the foreign athletes.




Look at me!

In ten short days I became such good friends with the Tunisian athletes that when it was time to say goodbye, everybody cried. The coach of the Tunisian wrestling team calls me almost every month so that we can keep up with each other's lives. A short while ago, the coach told me that the female wrestler who was here in Beijing during the World Youth Wrestling Championships had qualified for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. And she asked her coach to tell me that we would be seeing each other again this August in Beijing. Many athletes and coaches from the team have asked the female wrestler to bring me Tunisian local delicacies. I am deeply touched by their friendship and their passion for the Olympics.

In August 2008, I will serve as a volunteer to provide language services for foreign athletes coming for the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It has always been my dream to serve Beijing and the Olympics. And now through hard work, the dream is slowly becoming reality.

Information taken from:
http://olympic.chinaassistor.com/2008/0714/Friendship_knows_no_boundaries_10379.html