The summer of 2024 has been marked by the arrival of the 33rd Olympic Games in Paris, France, and joining the excitements were two students from Tsinghua University's School of Journalism and Communication, who served the Olympic Games as volunteers. They were He Yixuan, a master's student majoring in international journalism, and Katherin THOUVENIN, a Ph.D. student from France.

Tsinghua University's official social media has specially produced a series of videos of the two volunteers introducing the Paris 2024 Olympics and their volunteering work, which is hereby forwarded.

The video opens with the two students describing their volunteering experience at the Pont Alexandre III, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris. He Yixuan worked as an Olympic Family Assistant during the Paris 2024 Olympics, accompanying some of the International Olympic Committee delegates to sports events or conferences. Katherin was serving as a National Olympic Committee Assistant and was responsible for supporting the Chinese delegation by facilitating communication between the team and the Olympic Village.

After passing in front of the Grand Palais, where the fencing competitions were held, Yixuan and Katherin walked to the Paris 2024 official megastore. They introduced the ceramic souvenir designed by Professor Bai Ming of the Academy of Fine Arts at Tsinghua University together with a French designer. Their visit was followed by the description of the Paris 2024 mascot, the Phrygian hat. They further shared the four new disciplines that have entered the Games -- surfing, breaking, skateboarding, and climbing.

At the end of the video, they sat on the lawn in front of the Grand Palais and talked about their views on the volunteering work,  while calling the attention of the audience to learn more about the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

On August 12, with the closing of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the volunteering work of Yixuan and Katherin came to an end. They went to see the Olympic Flame with other volunteers and felt the romance of the hot air balloon in the night sky of Paris.

Message from the students:

He Yixuan, Master’s student in International Journalism and Communication

“As a member of the 45,000 volunteers for the Paris Olympic Games, I was honored to be an Olympic Family Assistant, responsible for welcoming guests accompanying the International Olympic Committee. For me, this experience enables me to not only meet many like-minded friends but also further understand the organization and operation of the Olympic Games.

Through this experience, I deeply understand the spirit of "no sports, no Tsinghua". Sports is not only a cross-border language, but also a bridge to communicate with the world. Through the Olympic Games, people from all over the world gather together to enjoy the charm and surprise brought by competitive sports.

In Paris, I was there to witness the opening ceremony on the Seine River, Zheng Qinwen's historic win, Quan Hongchan's splash disappearing performance, the tenacity of the Chinese women's volleyball and hockey teams, the elegance of Tsinghua's athletes, as well as the splendid fireworks of the closing ceremony......

Although the Olympic flame has been extinguished, the Olympic spirit will remain in people's hearts forever. My experience as an Olympic volunteer has strengthened my belief to become an international sports journalist in the future. In this way, I intend to record the breakthroughs of human limits one after another, and to bring more people closer together!”

Katherin THOUVENIN, Ph.D. student in Journalism and Communication

“As an assistant for the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of China, I am very excited and honored to be involved in contributing to the Chinese delegation at the 2024 Paris Olympics, serving this elite sporting nation on the world stage.

As an NOC assistant, I am primarily responsible for facilitating communication between the team and the Olympic Village, ensuring that the delegation's needs are met promptly, and helping them to better focus on the competition. This role provided me with a unique perspective on the inner workings of the Olympic team and gave me a deeper understanding of the logistics, coordination, and dedication required for the athletes.

Additionally, the experience allowed me to become part of the global Olympic community and connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds. It was a unique opportunity for me to be personally involved in the heart of the Olympic Games, witnessing historic moments and contributing to an event that inspires millions of people around the world. Assisting the Chinese delegation and contributing to its success is an unparalleled sense of achievement. Overall, being an NOC assistant for China at the Paris 2024 Olympics is not only an honor, but also a deeply rewarding experience that combines service, and a passion for sports and culture.”

Written by Katherin THOUVENIN