The Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG) will recruit Chinese-speaking volunteers from all over the world, an official said on March 7.

The Committee will launch the international recruitment later this month, while Chinese embassies in foreign countries will help receive the applications, said BOCOG Executive Vice President Li Binghua.

It was learnt that between 80,000 and 100,000 volunteers are needed for the 2008 Olympics, scheduled to open on August 8, 2008.

There have been 350,000 people applying to work as a volunteer at the Beijing Olympics since domestic recruitment began last August, Li said.

BOCOG has also received applications from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as some from foreign nationals.

"We welcome overseas volunteers to join us, but they should at least speak some Chinese and can talk to us in the language," said Li, also a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People' s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top advisory body.

Li made the remarks on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the 10th CPPCC National Committee.

Li also said that at least 5,000 "professional volunteers" are needed to provide interpretation and company service exclusively for VIPs at the Games.