The 16th Asian Games, part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia has recorded over 130,000 registrations during its first phase recruitment of Asian Games volunteers.

GAGOC holds a press conference.

This first volunteer milestone was made as recruitment for the Asian Games began on April 21. It is estimated that 60,000 people will be recruited as Games-time volunteers for the Asian Games while some 500,000 city volunteers will also be recruited as well.

Volunteers are critical to the success of either an Olympic or Asian Games and the Guangzhou volunteers will be assigned to different sections to provide unique and high-standard services that will expand each individual's personal skill sets in order to improve the overall quality of the Games.

Reasonable rules and conditions for individual applications have been used and all volunteer appointments will be fully transparent to ensure equal and fair opportunity for each applicant.

Standardised recruitment policies will be in use as volunteers will be entitled to enjoy safe working conditions with all rights and entitlements provided to all volunteers. More recruiting stations will be set up in downtown areas of Guangzhou and group applications at universities and enterprises are to be encouraged.

Solicitation for the Volunteer Slogan and Volunteer Service Theme of the Asian Games was launched on March 3, 2009 and the Games organisers have received 768 replies via post and 6,532 e-mails received.

Addition to the volunteer recruitment, the Volunteer Slogan of the Asian Games will be "Together, we can make it better!" and the Volunteer Service Theme of the Asian Games is "Light up your life, become a volunteer!"

Pre-Games volunteering training and rehearsal will be held along with a cornucopia of volunteering service campaigns yet to be announced.

Individual, teams and groups of volunteers showing exceptional public service will be granted honorary titles.

Editor: Olivia