With the Paralympics starting this Saturday, volunteers from China and abroad are fully prepared to serve the Games.

Out of a total of 440,000 volunteers, over 10% will serve in Olympic venues and media centers. They are from 27 countries and regions around the world.

Japanese volunteer Nakayama Chie has served in the Main Press Centre, or MPC, for the Olympics and will continue her work till the end of the Paralympics. She told CRI that the extra training she received before the Paralympics has helped her better understand the Paralympic spirit. She now appreciates the Games even more.

"Though there are fewer journalists coming to report the Paralympics than the Olympics, my job does not change a lot. In fact, I think it gets even more difficult because I need to think carefully how to communicate well with athletes and journalists with disabilities."

During the Paralympics, shuttle buses will be taking passengers around the venues, the MPC and the Paralympic village. The buses have been specially adapted for the convenience of the disabled. Driver Cao Junxia is also a volunteer.

"There is a master switch that has been fitted into the bus. When turned on, the bus will automatically lower itself and a platform will stretch out of the door onto the footpath. It helps disabled athletes get on and off buses with ease."

Another 400,000 city volunteers will provide language services and general information based out of 550 booths around Beijing.