Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

BASKETBALL players are going to great lengths on the court of the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center to progress to the final round of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

While in other places at the venue, a group of passionate young volunteers are rushing on their feet to ensure the games get smoothly under way.

Zhang Kehe, a volunteer with Shenzhen Water Group, told the Shenzhen Daily that he comes to help after finishing work. “Sometimes I feel tired, but helping others makes me happy,” said Zhang.

The Shenzhen site has a total of 481 volunteers from Shenzhen University, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen Polytechnic, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen Water Group and the Shenzhen sports volunteer team, according to the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of Communist Youth League of China. They have been divided into seven groups, working shifts to serve at the sports venue, hotels and the airport from Aug. 26 to Sept. 15. Their responsibilities include supporting basketball teams during their practices, and offering hospitality services and media assistance.

“I was arranged to work at the media desk, helping to check the list of reporters before delivering them their media bags. Although my job is simple, everything is closely connected. So I have to be very careful,” said Yuan Tingyu, a volunteer from Shenzhen University.

Out of his great passion for basketball, Chen Daoyi from SUSTech applied for the job. Chen works at the designated media hotel. Sometimes, he has to work until 9 p.m., but Chen said that the significance is beyond his imagination. “Aside from managing shuttle buses, I have helped media friends from Jordan find Arab restaurants and stores to fix their mobile phones. We also exchanged opinions on different games and cultures. Before they left, we exchanged our working clothes,” said Chen.

The fans’ spirit has also left a lasting impression on the volunteers. “I remembered a fan from Jordan. He watched every game involving Jordan. No matter what the situation in the game was, he would always call on the spectators to cheer for Jordan’s team. His spirit is really inspiring,” said He Qingkang, a volunteer working in the media areas at the sports venue.

The fans are always elated to see their favorite teams snatch wins, while for the volunteers, it is just a delight to hear a sincere thank you from the people they have helped.