Beijing 2022 ramps up recruitment

Beijing 2022 organizers expanded their international recruitment and training process with the launch of a new talent program on Tuesday.

The program outlines the requirements and training methods for seven types of positions directly related to the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, as well as four categories related to urban services and logistics support.

China's lack of experience in winter sports has forced Beijing 2022 to recruit foreign experts in key technical positions to ensure the Games is hosted to international and professional standards, said Yan Cheng, the 2022 organizing committee's human resource director.

"Our talent program will be carried out with a global vision, with equal emphasis on training our own staff and importing experienced foreign experts," Yan said on Tuesday.

Beijing 2022 has already hired 14 foreign specialists to lead local staff in venue management, course design, competition organization and snow making.

A total of 31 organizers, including employees of previous Winter Games, have also been hired from the first international recruitment search last year.

Contract negotiations have also been opened with seven Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics organizers, who will be expected to join the 2022 organizing committee, according to Yan.

Meanwhile, around 1,100 domestic staff will be trained in 18 subjects ranging from winter sports skills to event management.

The organizing committee has a reserve talent pool of 1,862 hopefuls who are capable of advance skiing for job types such as first aid, security and snow making.

A volunteer recruitment process will be launched in the second half of 2019 based on 70 existing core volunteers who have served at February's Pyeongchang Games in South Korea.