University volunteers are a great help to blind football players at the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympics Games co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
For Kong Xiangzhi, a university student in Guangdong, serving as a ball boy for the special football match is a highly demanding job.
"We must remain fully attentive and remain alert all the time, closely watching the ball's trajectory. This is very important. If the ball goes out of bounds and is not promptly returned to the designated spot, it will slow down the pace of the entire match," Kong said.
Specifically designed for athletes with visual impairments, blind football match uses the ball equipped with a built-in bell, and the players rely entirely on sound to navigate direction and shoot goals.
"Because there is a bell inside the ball, if the bell rings too loudly when we retrieve the ball, it can affect the athletes' judgment in the field. Therefore, we need to hold it steadily and try our best to keep it silent," said Kong.
Zhan Ying from the local Xinghai Conservatory of Music is volunteering to help blind football players wear eye masks during the match.
Zhan said volunteers like her face a dual challenge of technique and time. Each team of volunteers must finish the mask wearing for 10 players within 10 minutes before a match.
"While wearing the mask, we must be aware of the athletes' condition. For example, if he is nervous, we should gently reassure him during the process. If the athlete has old injuries on the face, we must take extra care in putting the mask on for him," said Zhan.
"What touches me the most is when some athletes say 'I remember your voice. You were the one who helped me in the last match.' I feel being trusted and remembered at that moment, and that feels so warm," she said.
Zhan said it's a meaningful job to be a volunteer for the special games participated by people with disabilities.
"What truly moves me is the resilience and fighting spirit displayed by the athletes. For us volunteers, it has instilled a precious strength into us. That is to face any challenge with determination, going all out and never giving up, just as they do," she said.
Running through December 15, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympics Games feature 40 major events across four disability categories: physical, visual, hearing and intellectual, drawing 7,824 registered athletes from 34 delegations nationwide.