By Xu Aiying, Kim Tae Won and Kim Young Shin
Seoul | Nov. 6, 2017

“Passion! Smile! The Olympic spirit! The Passion Crew volunteer group is launched today!”

Members of the so-called “Passion Crew,” volunteers who will help athletes, the Organizing Committee and spectators at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, were chanting that during a ceremony to launch their volunteer troupe at Seoul’s COEX convention center on Nov. 6.

Starting in July 2016, volunteers went through interviews, foreign language tests and training to win a volunteer position. The Passion Crew consists of 19,554 Koreans and 1,220 non-Koreans from 64 countries, including the U.S., Canada, France and mainland China.

The uniforms were also unveiled that day.

The red and gray uniform consists of eight items: a ski jacket, a lighter jacket, a T-shirt, ski pants, boots, a beanie, gloves and a backpack. The color red, one of the colors on Korea’s national flag, represents sports festivals. The color gray means they are a “hidden supporter.” The uniforms were designed to keep volunteers warm, active and visible, and to protect volunteers who will be working long hours in the cold.

Simon Soltes, a Czech volunteer who's currently a student at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, will interpret and translate during the Winter Games. “I applied for the position because I’d feel sorry to miss out on such a meaningful event as the Winter Olympics during my stay in Korea,” he said. “I want to take this opportunity to help visitors in Pyeongchang and to let them learn more about Korea.”

Volunteer Chang Chul hee helped out during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/ Japan and the 2014 Asian Games. The upcoming Winter Games is the third international sporting event in which he will take part. “I worked as a guard for 11 years at the National Museum of Korea and helped many non-Korean tourists. Just by looking, I can tell if someone needs help or not. I want to be the one who can offer a hand and help them if they have any question.”

The Passion Crew for the Winter Olympics will be active for 59 days, starting Jan. 1, 2018, and the group for the Paralympic Games will serve for 31 days, from Feb. 19.

“The athletes will compete and the Organizing Committee will operate the event. However, for those who are visiting Korea, volunteers will make the Olympic Games for them. I hope your activities are successful and that they become one of your best memories in your life,” said Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Roh Tae-kang.

xuaiy@korea.kr