City of Long Beach

LA Chinese Consulate

2008 Beijing Olympics - Qingdao Volunteers Committee

Long Beach Gears Up to Help 2008 Sailing Olympics in Qingdao
June, 2005 - Long Beach, CA

            With Qingdao designated as the site for all the sailing competitions for the 2008 Olympics, Long Beach-Qingdao Association has launched a volunteer project to help.  “While I was in Qingdao this past June,” said Dr. Mary Barton, Chair of LBQA, “I asked if our 1984 experiences with the Olympic sailing events would be helpful for the Qingdao officials.  The City Foreign Affairs officials thought it would be very well received.”

            While preparations on the U.S. side are still preliminary, co-chairs Diane Jacobus, Special Assistant to the Mayor, and Mary Barton are hopeful that many locals will be interested in volunteering to help.  The two anticipate that the LBQA side’s contributions may be in several areas: how to recruit, train, and manage volunteers during such a massive event; how to integrate volunteers into the ongoing culture of a city, and actual assistance during the events of 2008, and perhaps earlier.  “We emphasize that we’re not paying for trips to Qingdao,” said Barton, “but we know there are many people here who would find it enjoyable to help, so this may prove to be a good opportunity for them.” 

            Preliminary sailing events will be held in Qingdao in 2006 and 2007, so that the City will be well rehearsed by 2008.  Thus, there may be opportunities fairly soon for Long Beach volunteers to share their expertise in Qingdao.  In Qingdao, Ms. Yu Liying will be the liaison to assist in communications and planning. 

            Anyone interested in helping on the Long Beach side is asked to contact Dr. Barton via email at mebarton@aol.com.

More on this topic:

• Committee Mission and Goals

• About Qingdao and the 2008 Olympics

• Committee Update

LBQA Sponsors

California State University
Long Beach

California State University
Los Angeles