(BEIJING Jan. 19) -- He Xi, a sophomore at Beijing Sport University, has a low voice but is as appealing as the sunny smile on her face can give.

The 20-year-old girl cherished her experience as a volunteer so much that she described it as "the most unforgettable experience in my life."

She joined the Olympic News Service (ONS) section of BOCOG Media Operations Department on July 21, 2006 and spent 46 days serving the International Softball Federation (ISF) XI Women's Fast Pitch World Championship held in Beijing.

A girl next door called Sissi

On July 24, 2006, He Xi, or more often called Sissi by her schoolmates, walked into the Beijing's Fengtai Softball Field, the first new-built Olympic venue in Beijing and started off as a volunteer.

Every day, Sissi commuted with a heavy laptop and had to suffer the crowded bus, but she said the experience in those days was a life-time treasure.

Pre-event warm-up

Before the event began, she was assigned an important task of sorting out the information. That would include competition format and rules, results from previous championships, results from previous Olympics, facts and figures of ISF, and facts and figures of Chinese Softball Association (CSA). She was also responsible for packing up an enormous number of resumes – data about the 16 participating teams, up to a hundred of coaches and athletes, and referees as well.

"It sounds like a dull and jumbled work, but is really helpful for the interviews in the days to come...We are not worried about when conducting interviews without an Italian translator, because we know that the Italian athletes can speak English.

"With the information, fears fade away and everyone looks so familiar. They seem to be our friends known for long, and we become more confident dealing with them." She said.

Games-time responsibility

Sissi said the task for her is specified into three parts: competition review, flash quotes and press conference highlights.

To write a review, she had to watch the competitions and put down the highlights, including results and tactics. The reports would then be printed in press release and on the event website.

She would also make quick quotes of the athletes and coaches right after the competitions end, either by directly taking questions to them or recording the interviews conducted by others.

The press conference highlights were considered important. She and her partners would write down in English the highlights at the conclusion of the competitions.

Friendship forever, teamwork prevails

The eight volunteers for the championship's ONS were divided into two teams. Chances were that one could not catch up the next press conference with the current reporting unfinished.

"We kept in mind that we were a complete ONS team. It is the best way to successfully accomplish the task if only we help each other and learn from each other… The event taught us the power of a united team."

She valued the friendship as highly as she did with the experience. "I think the true merit of the volunteer work lies within."

Confident of becoming an excellent Olympic volunteer

Sissi has applied for the volunteer of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and she would be a junior undergraduate when the Games begin.

Her family is very supportive and her classmates admire her, Sissi said, "I will definitely become an excellent Olympic volunteer."