Hong Kong is throwing its weight behind the Beijing Olympics not only by hosting the equestrian events, but also in the form of 299 volunteers, most of them in place ahead of tonight's opening ceremony.
The volunteers were recruited by the Home Affairs Bureau, and were selected from more than 7,000 applicants through written tests and interviews. All are fluent in Putonghua and mostly aged between 18 and 30.
'I think the volunteers will definitely feel proud about being able to help during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and will do their best to help make the first Olympic Games on Chinese soil a success,' Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Carrie Yau Tsang Ka-lai said at Hung Hom station as she saw off 100 volunteers who travelled to Beijing by train on August 1.
They were set to join 140 Hong Kong volunteers who had already travelled to Beijing.
Sarah Lau Sau-ning, 22, and Lydia Lau Lai-ning, 21, said they felt lucky to have been selected for the squad. The sisters will join other volunteers in providing assistance for spectators, with the eldest working at the Water Cube and the younger at the Bird's Nest.
Lydia's work at the Bird's Nest gave her the opportunity to see a dress rehearsal of tonight's opening ceremony. 'It's gorgeous,' she said, adding that, with an audience, she thought the actual show tonight would be even more 'fantastic'.