Macao makes donations to support Beijing Paralymics

MACAO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The Special Administration Region (SAR) government of Macao on Thursday announced that it has donated a total of 15 million yuan (2.22 million U.S. dollars) to the organizer of the Paralympics and the China Disabled Persons' Federation.

The SAR government has donated ten million yuan (1.47 million U.S dollars) to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the Olympiad (BOCOG) with the aim of "supporting the nation to held the opening and closing ceremony and advertising and cultural activities of the Beijing 2008 Paralympics," according to a press statement from the SAR government.

Another five million yuan (740,000 dollars) were also donated to the China Disabled Persons' Federation, which will be used to support the Chinese Paralympic team to participate in the Games, the SAR government said.

Representing the SAR government, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Chui Sai On, delivered the donations to the two organizations in Beijing on Tuesday, according to the statement.

The Executive Vice President of the BOCOG thanked the SAR government and its people for their support and concern over the Beijing Paralympics, saying the BOCOG will make all-out efforts to prepare and host the Games.

Over 100,000 volunteers from China and overseas start working

More than 100,000 volunteers from China and abroad have begun work in Beijing and its Olympic co-host cities. As we see now, they're there to offer a variety of services during the Games with professionalism and with a smile.

These American volunteers have come to the Olympic  Basketball Gymnasium for training for the first time. (CCTV.com)

These American volunteers have come to the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium for training for the first time.

They are being trained to work with Chinese volunteers to collect athletes' flash quotes in the Mixed Zone after they compete.

In the co-host city of Hong Kong, there is a diverse  range of volunteers. They are students, workers, retirees,  and housewives.

In the co-host city of Hong Kong, there is a diverse range of volunteers. They are students, workers, retirees, and housewives.

Lu Yijun is a volunteer at the equestrian venue. Once, a journalist asked her which country a horse belonged to.

Lu Yijun said, "I asked the equestrian staff to give me a list. Then I helped the journalist, according to the list. I think I was successful."

Volunteers are trained to provide services to many different of people. They may help with Chinese or English translations, or help visually impaired people.