June 17, 2010 - Bill Webber, former executive secretary of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC), visited the Organizing Committee of the Guangzhou Asian Games. Mr. Webber is the chief interpreter at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, the 2000 Sydney Olympics and other global athletic mega events. He is also the designated interpreter for political leaders of many countries.

In the afternoon, Mr. Huang Ka, the Deputy Director of the Public Relations Department of the Organizing Committee of the Guangzhou Asian Games led the staffs to welcome Mr. Webber. Also joining the meeting was the deputy director of the Language Services Division of the International Relations Department of the Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee. Staffs from the Language Services Division presented the progress in organization and preparation of the Guangzhou Asian Games and in language services. Mr. Webber was impressed by the efficient preparation work of the Guangzhou Asian Games and, in particular, by the well-structured operational plan of the language services which ensured orderly preparation and organization. Then Mr. Webber and his delegation shared their experience in language services for large international sport games and in management of professional interpreters and translators. Profound and effective discussions were held and information exchanged over relevant issues in language services of the Guangzhou Asian Games.

Mr. Webber was also invited to give lectures at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and Zhongshan University on June 17 and 18, 2010, drawing an attendance from around 600 people including staffs of the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, volunteers of language services of the Games, and university students and teachers. In the lectures, Mr. Webber shared with the audience his rich experience as a professional interpreter as well as the experience of managing the interpretation team on many large international sport events. He explained the role and responsibilities of an interpreter in large international sport games and how they prepare for work in a simple but accurate way. The former deputy director of the Language Services Division of the International Relations Department of the Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee shared his experience for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and discussed with the teachers and students on how to be an eligible volunteer of language services.

The lectures were applauded by all teachers and students. In the heated Q&A session, Mr. Webber, proving to be a man of knowledge, answered queries from students with humor and intelligence.