Beijing is such a large city that sometimes even those who've been here for ages may need to consult a map to navigate its constantly changing streets. Now thanks to Olympic volunteers, tourists don't need a map or guidebook to get around. During the Beijing Olympics, millions of volunteers are at hand within and outside the sports venues.

A commentary in the English newspaper China Daily says that the Olympic volunteers provide a golden chance for outsiders to see the real China. Come rain or shine, people will have no difficulty finding people wearing brightly colored shirts with Olympic logos waiting to lend a hand. But a lot more than 1.7 million had applied to be volunteers and doing their bit for the Beijing Olympics.

The paper concludes that the aim of the Olympics is to promote understanding across political and cultural borders. No matter who wins the most medals at the Games, one thing is clear – the volunteers will win the hearts and minds of visitors to Beijing.