The number of volunteers for the 2008 Beijing Olympics keeps rising.

The number this week reached 556,000, said Liu Jian, office director of the volunteer programs for the Beijing organizing committee.

That's a volunteer for every foreign guest, with about 550,000 expected to visit Beijing during next year's Games.

About 70,000 volunteers are expected to work at Olympics venues, with 30,000 more working at Paraylympic venues. The remaining volunteers will staff urban area outside the Olympic venues _ like bus stations, first-aid centers and subway stops.