PyeongChang 2018 Volunteers Vow To Provide Best Service With Passion

The volunteers for the PyeongChang Winter Games on Monday vowed to contribute to a successful sport event by providing the best service to visitors next year.

The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) hosted an event in Seoul to celebrate the launch of the volunteer program, with more than 1,000 gathered to show their commitment to the first winter multi-sport event in South Korea. The POCOG is recruiting some 22,400 volunteers to assist with a range of tasks in areas that include medical help and language services. 

The volunteers took an oath to make the PyeongChang Olympics successful with their passion. 

"We will give our energy to every area with passion and make the Winter Games a festival open to everyone," the volunteers said in their oath. "We will move people's heart and show perfect volunteering service to the world."

The POCOG began their recruitment program in July and selected volunteers after conducting interviews and foreign language tests. The organizers said that the volunteers for the Winter Olympics can work a maximum 59 days starting January 1, 2018, and those who serve for the Paralympics can have a month-long job starting Feb. 19, 2018. 

The POCOG said it will allocate tasks to each volunteer no later than this month, and will offer training programs and education courses to improve their service abilities before the Winter Games open. The PyeongChang Olympics start on Feb. 9, while the Paralympics begin one month later. 

"With a kind word and happy smile, let's show the power of volunteers at the PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games that will be remembered in history," said Lee Hee-beom, chief of POCOG." 

Meanwhile, the organizers also unveiled the uniforms and shoes for staff and other operating work forces for the Winter Games. Designed by Youngone Outdoor, a clothing sponsor for PyeongChang 2018, the uniform used a hybrid material to keep the staff warm in the cold weather and make them comfortable when working outdoors. Under theme "Exploring the Festival," the main colors of the uniform are red and gray.