Volunteers for matches at the Beilun stop of the 2018 VNL, a competition launched for top men's and women's national teams of the world, pose for a group photo on May 6. [Photo/Xinhua]

Beilun district in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, initiated voluntary services for the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) on May 6 as matches at Beilun will be played between May 15 and 27.

Members of China women's volleyball team and nearly 1,000 volunteers from Ningbo attended the starting ceremony and a charity bazaar on the sideline.

Since Ningbo Beilun Sports and Art Center became home venue to China women's volleyball team in 2004, Beilun district has built a professional team of volunteers providing services in etiquette, security inspection and cheering.

Over the past 14 years, Beilun has played host to a series of volleyball games and nearly 30,000 local volunteers have served these events.

China women's volleyball team coach Lang Ping extended gratitude to Beilun, saying, "The women's volleyball team has achieved good results with Ningbo people's strong support, especially the well-organized voluntary services." She said Ningbo is a city full of love.

Athletes and volunteers participated in a charity bazaar after the ceremony, where they sold peripheral products of volleyball for charity projects in Ningbo.

The 2018 VNL is an inaugural competition and replaces the Women's Grand Prix. It will be consisted by 16 national teams across 21 venues worldwide between May and July 2018. The final stage will be held in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.  

Lang Ping, head coach of China women's volleyball team, writes an inscription for the charity bazaar in Beilun district of Ningbo, Zhejiang province on May 6. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]