Cartoon characters sign up to help
The volunteering for the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games is being kicked off by a group of characters with a difference - they are cartoons.
To promote the Asian Games, taking place in November, several well-known cartoon characters swore on January 24 at the Guangzhou Grandview Mall to become Games volunteers.
The enthusiastic group includes Pleasant Sheep, Big Big Wolf, Yang Yang, Caicai, Zhang Xiaohe and many others.
Yang Yang, the Guangzhou-volunteers representative, was appointed team leader, and Pleasant Sheep and Caicai were made the vice-team leaders.
The ceremony began with a film in which the cartoon characters appeared, at which the fans screamed excitedly.
Then the cartoon characters accepted their volunteer certificates, presented to them by the Asian Games Volunteer Department (AGVD), and promised to do their best in serving in the Games.
Wang Huanqing, the director of the AGVD, said the cartoon characters could make use of their popularity to promote the Asian Games, and would help the development of Guangzhou's cartoon industry.
'Besides, they will attract more teenagers to join the volunteer services of the Asian Games.'
The AGVD provided a registration spot at the ceremony for cartoon fans who wanted to join the Asian Games cartoon-volunteer-service team.
Fans were enthusiastic: it was estimated that 350 people registered within two hours.
Ling Jie, a student of Guangzhou No4 Middle School, is a loyal fan of Pleasant Sheep. After reading about the event in a newspaper, he immediately decided to become a volunteer, to show support for his idol. 'I will put this activity in my diary as winter-holiday homework,' he said. 'I am also asking my best friend to come with me.'
