(BEIJING, March 26) -- The recruitment of 96 pre-Games volunteers for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games has been completed.

The recruitment, the first of its kind, was launched on March 14 and has elicited an enthusiastic response from university students, on-the-job staff, retired people and even foreigners. Over 540 written applications and more than 500 telephone calls were received.

The enrolled people have gone through a series of interviews. After a training course, they will be assigned to a three-month part-time or full-time voluntary service at 21 departments of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), including such positions as international relations, technology, culture and communications, as well as opening and closing ceremonies.