Paris 2024: behind the scenes

Chinese volunteers at the Paris 2024 Olympics reflect on their transformative experiences, from navigating their roles to forging international friendships.

"I was just 5 years old during the 2008 Beijing Olympics," reminisced Chen Penghan, a 21-year-old student at Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU). "But I vividly remember watching the captivating opening ceremony with my family and seeing the Chinese delegation enter the stadium. From that moment, I told myself: one day, I want to be part of this grand event."

The 2024 Paris Olympics, held from July 27 to Aug 12, saw records broken and friendships forged. The success of this monumental event wouldn't have been possible without the efforts of 54,000 volunteers, and Chen was one of them.

Chen, along with 26 other students from 14 universities partnered with the Alliance Francaise, a French language institute, was chosen as a volunteer.

Since their selection in the summer of 2022, the volunteers have attended free French lessons and participated in various cultural activities provided by the institute.

Liu Jinyu, 23, a recent graduate of BLCU with a bachelor's degree in international relations, was fluent in English at the time of recruitment but had only just begun learning French.

"The language lessons were incredibly helpful; I was able to reach a B2 level (the highest level) in the DELF (Diplome d'Etudes en Langue Francaise) in just over a year," Liu said. "The cultural activities also helped me adjust to life in Paris more quickly."

On the field

Chen served as an Olympic Family Assistant, accompanying the president of the National Olympic Committee of Burkina Faso, as a guide and translator.

"The only challenge was at the beginning; since I wasn't used to their accent, I sometimes had trouble following everything 100 percent," Chen said. "But the president and the athletes were very understanding. They would repeat themselves or speak more slowly."

Chen mentioned that in the Olympic Village, exchanging pins is a great way to build friendships.

For example, the president gave Chen an Olympic pin of Burkina Faso, which has since become his favorite. In return, Chen gifted the president a key-chain of Hehua, one of the most beloved pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan province, which the president also cherished.

"Volunteers would often compete to see who had the most pins," Chen said. "However, we all knew that the true essence of these exchanges was the friendship and the emotional value behind the pins."

Xu Jiarui, 22, a student at Wuhan University in Hubei province, was a member of the Event Services Team stationed at the Stade de France, the national stadium of France, where the track and field events and the closing ceremony took place.

Xu's responsibilities varied daily, from checking tickets at the gate and staffing the information desk to guiding spectators to their seats inside the stadium. While these tasks might seem minor, Xu found satisfaction in them.

"The most rewarding part of this job is capturing people's Olympic moments," Xu recalled, sharing how a French spectator once thanked her for "taking the best family photo of their lives".

In addition to the daily changes in her duties, Xu was assigned to different volunteer teams in the stadium, which gave her the chance to interact with a broader range of international volunteers than many other positions.

Like Chen, Xu was also enthusiastic about collecting pins, and one of her favorite pieces came from a Japanese volunteer. It was a pin featuring Mount Fuji, and Xu gave her one with the Chinese version of the Olympic Rings. They then took a photo together, holding the pins they had exchanged.

The Japanese volunteer also wrote her name in kanji and asked Xu how it was pronounced in Chinese. Xu explained the pronunciation and added that her name means "beautiful, red-crowned crane" in Chinese.

"It was a sentimental moment for me," Xu said. "No matter what history our countries may have, we were there, volunteering side by side for an event that symbolizes peace for humanity."

Liu was assigned to the transport team, a post somewhat removed from the main Olympic events. Her job was to provide assistance and information at the shuttle bus station of the Olympic Village.

Despite the challenges of working under the sun for almost seven hours a day, she felt a strong sense of achievement in helping athletes get to their training sessions and competitions on time.

Liu also built friendships with other volunteers and shared insights about China. For example, when a Mexican volunteer asked her about 3D-printed figurines, she explained that they had been available in China for several years. She also mentioned eyeglasses that can translate in real-time.

"He couldn't believe it and kept asking if they really exist," Liu recalled with a laugh, adding that the most effective way to see it is probably to come to China and experience it for himself.

"Just like my time in France, an immersive experience is often the best way for international friends to truly understand China," she said.

While Liu didn't get the chance to watch any of the games in person, another volunteer, Luo Xiaosong, was able to cheer for Team China firsthand.

Luo, 21, is a French major at Zhengzhou University of Aeronautics in Henan province. He served as a National Olympic Committee Assistant for the athletes from the Republic of Sudan, helping with tasks like carrying luggage and running errands.

Luo had the opportunity to attend events such as badminton and table tennis, where Chinese athletes won gold medals.

"It was completely different from watching the games at home," Luo said. "The tension was real, and I almost cried when the national anthem of the People's Republic of China played in the stadium."

He also mentioned another perk of being a volunteer: getting to see Olympic athletes every day. However, he emphasized the importance of managing excitement and showing respect to the athletes.

"We would only approach them when they were free and in a relaxed mood because we were representing our country at all times," said Luo. "If a Chinese volunteer disturbs the athletes, it could negatively impact the selection of Chinese volunteers for future events."