A group photo of Chinese volunteers at the Paris Olympics.

Chen Zhuobing's DIY work of Olympic rings.

Chen Zhuobing, a student from the Sports Center of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), had long dreamt of volunteering for the Olympics. In 2024, she achieved her dream by volunteering for the Paris Olympic Games.

In November 2023, Chen received an acceptance notice after undergoing a series of assessments, becoming a dual Olympic volunteer for the Marathon and table tennis events at the Olympics and Paralympics.

She then participated in online and offline training, covering event procedures, safety knowledge, and equipment use to better serve athletes, spectators, and media from around the world. In preparation for her journey to Paris, Chen spent six days a week commuting between XJTU and a French language institute in Xi'an, dedicating two hours daily to learning French from scratch. After a year of persistence, her French proficiency significantly improved.

This was not Chen's first time volunteering for sports events. Since 2022, she participated in the FIBA Olympic Women's Basketball Qualifying Tournament and the WTT Star Challenge.

She has also won several honors, including the Mixed Doubles Championship at the Shaanxi Province College Table Tennis Championship and the Women's Singles Runner-Up at the Chinese University Sunshine Sports Table Tennis Tournament.

Before leaving for Paris, Chen prepared special gifts for her French friends, including Shaanxi-style chili oil and XJTU cultural and creative bookmarks. "During my time in France, I also organized a table tennis match, where everyone interacted in a relaxed and enjoyable sports atmosphere," she said.

While in Paris, Chen visited the China Disabled Women's Cultural and Creative Works Exhibition, which showcased nearly 300 exquisite creations, including fish skin carving, salt carving, embroidery, bamboo weaving, and velvet flowers. These pieces, rich in craftsmanship and cultural significance, visually and emotionally impacted the audience.

Chen also participated in a DIY section of the exhibition, where she enjoyed making her own creations. "These exhibits show the deep integration of Chinese traditional culture and the Olympic spirit," she said.