“Where is Ji?” the first question asked in Asian Games
More than 12,000 athletes from all 45 members of the Olympic Council of Asia competed in the 19th Asian Games, which took place in Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China from 23 September to 8 October.
A total of 481 events were contested, with competitions in nine sports – archery, artistic swimming, boxing, breaking, hockey, modern pentathlon, sailing, tennis and water polo – will serving as Olympic qualifiers, with Paris 2024 quotas on the line.
More than 220,000 people were applied to be a volunteer at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, but successful and selected 37,600 volunteers provides high-quality volunteer working services in a variety of areas, including competition zone services, spectator services, media services, and logistics support services, , known as “Xiaoqinghe”. Their bright smiles and happy faces were an important part of the scenery, adding color to the Hangzhou Asian Games.These games was not possible without these unsung heroes.
In the golden autumn season, delegations from 45 Asian countries and regions, represented by their respective National Olympic Committees (NOCs), gathered on the shores of West Lake and the banks of the Qiantang River to participate in the 19th Asian Games hosted by Hangzhou. To ensure the smooth arrival and participation of these NOC delegations, many support teams worked tirelessly behind the scenes, and the NOC service team was one such group.
In 2022, Ji Yue registered as a social volunteer for the Hangzhou Asian Games. After undergoing a rigorous selection process, he served on the front lines as an assistant to the Pakistan Olympic Committee delegation. As a key volunteer for the Hangzhou Asian Games, he led a team of 10 assistant delegates, actively fulfilling their duties to assist the Pakistan Olympic Committee delegation in various aspects. This ranged from the initial arrival and registration of delegation officials and athletes to training and competitions during the games, accommodation and transportation within the Asian Games Village, as well as sightseeing and visits in Hangzhou. The NOC service team provided coordination, communication, and language services throughout, spending over twenty days in close proximity to “Pakistani” officials and athletes, forming a bond akin to a family.
Ji Yue and his team were also present at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Asian Games, responsible for the orderly assembly and dispersal of the delegation, having already conducted five assembly rehearsals before the opening ceremony. They walked an average of 30,000 steps a day, becoming a regular part of their daily routine.
“Where is Ji?” was often the first question asked by delegation officials and athletes when they needed assistance. “Ji, can you book a car to the boxing venue?” “Ji, can you help with athletes going to the airport?” “Ji, what happened when an athlete lost his accreditation card?” These were all questions that demonstrated the trust and reliance placed on Ji Yue. In addition to their daily responsibilities, he also actively responded to various unexpected incidents. For example, when an athlete arrived at 1:30 AM and couldn’t enter the Asian Games Village due to issues with his accreditation card, Ji Yue stayed up all night, communicating with relevant departments to ensure the athlete could rest in the Village. He also took immediate action when an elder bridge player fell in her room, contacting the Village polyclinic, arranging a vehicle and a stretcher for emergency aid, and accompanying her to the ICU, staying with her until the delegation’s responsible person took over at the hospital.
During the initial training and service period, Ji Yue was interviewed by Xinhua News Agency, CGTN, the China Youth Volunteers Association’s public account, and other media outlets. He shared his volunteer service experiences and promoted the spirit of volunteerism. On September 14, 2023, he served as the 99th torchbearer at the torch relay in Taizhou during the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, combining the spirit of “passing on the flame” with the spirit of volunteerism to convey a warm welcome and blessings to the Asian family. From October 7 to 8, 2023, he appeared on China Central Television’s News Broadcast and the “Asian Games Briefing” program, witnessing cultural exchanges and heartfelt farewells with Pakistani athletes, actively showcasing the spirit of Hangzhou Asian Games volunteers.
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