While athletes bask in the glory of competition at the World Games, a quiet force works tirelessly to keep the global event thriving. Over 10,000 volunteers have become Chengdu's invisible ambassadors, navigating crowded venues and cultural barriers with equal grace.
From dawn until midnight, these dedicated individuals guide lost visitors in fluent English, coordinate last-minute logistics for delegations from 100+ countries and regions, and share Chengdu's iconic tea culture with curious attendees. Their neon vests have become symbols of reliability, with many participants calling them "the human GPS of the games."
Wang Tao, a volunteer team leader, describes the challenge: "We're not just solving problems – we're building connections. When a Brazilian athlete needed traditional Chinese medicine for a sprain at 2 AM, our team mobilized to help. These moments become the games' true legacy."
Cultural mediators work particularly hard to bridge divides. A team of 500 multilingual volunteers developed a 50-page guide to local customs, helping visitors from APEC members and beyond navigate Sichuan's unique traditions. Their efforts have transformed routine interactions into cross-cultural exchanges, with volunteers teaching basic Mandarin phrases while learning greetings in Polish and Swahili.
As night falls on the games' final day, these unsung heroes will leave without medals – but having shaped countless international friendships and demonstrated Chengdu's commitment to global cooperation through everyday acts of service.
