Beijing Creates History

By  Tang Yuankai

What happened on July 13 could best be summed up as a "sleepless night." An instant in history became everlasting happiness. When the news came that Beijing won the Olympic bid, millions of Beijingers were elated. More than 400,000 people gathered at Tiananmen Square - the heart of China - to celebrate the fulfillment of their long sought dream. In the meantime, shouts of joy throughout the nation made the world feel the heartbeat of the Chinese nation. Samaranch excited the 1.3 billion Chinese people.

It has long been a dream of the Chinese to host the Olympic Games. A night eight years ago was also sleepless, but that was a night of disappointment. Then, Beijing lost to Sydney by two votes, losing the opportunity to host the 27th Olympic Games in 2000.

Without complaint, without flinching and after much retrospection and elaborate planning, a brand-new Beijing once again threw its olive branch to the Olympic Goddess and finally won her smile.

Xinhua News Agency pointed out that it needs unusual insight to choose a host city for such a global grand event seven years later in this changeable world. The members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) believed that seven years later Beijing, and China, will have social stability, a developed economy, affluent people and an improved transportation and environment, as well as a progressive democratic legal system. Therefore, they cast their sacred votes to Beijing - capital of the largest developing country in the world.

Gaining the right to host the Olympics is a great success for any city because it forebodes long-standing honor, reputation and unlimited potential for economic development. But for Beijing, there is even more significance. After a long isolation and nearly 200 years of humiliation brought about by foreign invasion and oppression, the action of bidding for the Olympics serves as a demonstration that China is actively seeking integration with the world.

China has a population of close to 1.3 billion and a market potential that is appealing to any investor. Beijing boasts of an exciting blueprint for the Olympics and, more importantly, the enthusiasm of the people for hosting the Games. During a long-distance run, jointly sponsored by the Beijing 2008 Olympic Bid Committee and Proctor & Gamble, supporters of the Olympic bid from Beijing and Guangdong put their thumbprints on two separate cloth banners 2,008 meters long. The two banners were then joined together. The resulting 4,016-meter-long and 1.1-meter-wide banner sets a Guinness record as the longest cloth banner signed with thumbprints.

An authoritative Gallop poll revealed that 94.9 percent of Beijing residents support the Olympic bid and over 90 percent of Chinese citizens expressed vigorous support for Beijing's Olympic bid.

An independent survey conducted by a European company at the authorization of the IOC showed that 96 percent of Beijing citizens support the Olympic bid. Beijing's strength has impressed the world and China's sincerity has moved it. The Chinese will prove to the world that this major decision of the IOC, made at the beginning of the new century, is a wise move.

Beijing, with its successful bid to host the Olympics, has created history. For the first time the Olympic Games will be held in China, a vast and mysterious country with one-fifth of the world population and a 5,000-plus-year history of civilization. Beijing will continue to create history because it will present the world with the most brilliant Olympic Games ever.

Beijing to Honor Its Pledge

In a letter to IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, Chinese President Jiang Zemin indicated that the Chinese Government and the Chinese people will devote every effort to back Beijing, so the 2008 Olympics will be a grand gathering that carries the Olympic spirit, promotes world peace and enhances friendship among all peoples.

Beijing Mayor Liu Qi, who is also chairman of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Bid Committee, extended special thanks to the IOC for its confidence in Beijing's competence to host the Olympic Games. He expressed that the best way to show gratitude is to fulfill the expectations for Beijing. He pledged that Beijing would fulfill all its commitments to the IOC and said Beijing would establish the Olympics Organizing Committee in five months. In accordance with the rules of the IOC and requirements of the Olympic Charter, as well as commitments made in the Candidature Files, Beijing will do the preparations in a down-to-earth manner. Ultimately, Beijing will create a first-class competition environment and conditions for all athletes, provide the best facilities and services for all visitors, and ensure that the sports meet is the most successful in the history of the Olympics.

Liu further pointed out that the IOC, by awarding Beijing the right to host the