| UPDATED: April-7-2008 NO.15 APR.10, 2008 | | Light the Passion, Share The Dream | | | | By ZHANG ZHIPING | | After six days of traveling across Greece, March 31 saw the Olympic flame finally land on Chinese soil, symbolizing the successful handover of the holy flame from one ancient civilization to another. The Olympic flame from its home in Heraeum, Greece, was used to ignite a bronze cauldron at Tiananmen Square, marking the start of the 137,000-km trip for the Olympic torch.
The flame, symbolizing peace, friendship and hope, is the incarnation of Olympic ideals and spirit. Having transcended divisions in politics, religions and cultures, the flame shows the human race's pursuit for courage and all that is good in people. Since the birth of the modern Olympics, the ignition of the sacred flame has on every occasion stimulated people's passion for the Olympic dream, inspiring the wish for peace, friendship and progress throughout the world.
The theme of this torch relay is "a trip of harmony." This theme conforms to the Olympic spirit. Through sport, we can promote harmony and cooperation among all peoples and build a peaceful society with dignity for all. This is an in-depth explanation of the theme of Beijing Olympic Games-"one world, one dream."
In the coming months, as a symbol of the Chinese people's pursuit of the Olympic spirit, along the ancient Silk Road both on land and sea, the Olympic torch will take a round-the-world trip, covering 21 cities on the five continents and 113 Chinese cities and towns across 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. In the process, the torch will also be taken to the top of Mount Qomolangma (Mount Everest)-the highest point on the Earth. A record total of 21,000 torchbearers from home and abroad will jointly take part in the longest and most difficult torch relay in Olympic history. As the 29th Olympic Games torch relay logo says, the Beijing Olympics will "light the passion and share the dream" and through the handover of the torch, spread the Olympic spirit of understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair competition throughout the world.
This is a critical moment in the process of preparing for the upcoming Olympics. On August 8, the Beijing Olympics will stage its opening ceremony. The start of the Olympic torch relay signifies the approach of this exciting moment.
On March 31, Chinese President Hu Jintao lit the flame at the welcome ceremony, announcing the launch of the relay of the Beijing Olympic torch, extending to the rest of the world the wishes and commitment of the Chinese Government and the Chinese people: China welcomes all those who are interested in the Olympic Games and will try to present to the whole world an excellent sporting event. |
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"To me, the Olympics mean challenging myself and realizing my dream. I had to try my best during the Games after I qualified to compete. As for the result, let it be."
"The Olympics stand for dreams, gains, happiness and enjoyment."
"As I entered the Olympic village in Athens in 2004, the feeling was totally different from [the feeling I got from] other events. It was my first Olympic Games. All the Chinese athletes united as one person to compete for the country. The Olympics mean much more -- pressure as well as motivation -- to every Olympian."
"I think participation in the Beijing Olympic Games is a dream shared by every athlete. We must make every effort to qualify for that. There are no exceptions for us, athletes who used to won Olympic gold medals."
"The results may be good or may not. I won't regret it as long as I've tried my best."
"I'll try my best to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games and realize my dream."
"The Olympics mean courage. The power of courage makes me fight till the end."
"The Olympics mean participation. A gold medal, to me, was not the final target. I just wanted to play my part well since I was a professional athlete."
"The Olympics mean pursuing my dreams."
"The Beijing Olympic Games, to me, mean starting over again from the very beginning."
"The Olympics can be regarded as a stage that can make every one's dreams come true. It is true that every Olympian has his or her own dream. The Beijing Olympics to me probably means my last remaining dream."
"No pain, no gain. I'll win a gold medal in Beijing as I did in Athens four years ago, and I'll give my coach a big hug as compensation for my neglect last time."
"I'll beat all my rivals to win a gold medal."
"The opportunity of participating in the Olympic Games is previous for football players since there is a limitation on age. I'll try my best to compete for China. But if I fail, I would like to go to Beijing to watch the Games. It's good to feel the Olympic spirit inside the venues." | |
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"To me, the Olympics mean challenging myself and realizing my dream. I had to try my best during the Games after I qualified to compete. As for the result, let it be."
"The Olympics stand for dreams, gains, happiness and enjoyment."
"As I entered the Olympic village in Athens in 2004, the feeling was totally different from [the feeling I got from] other events. It was my first Olympic Games. All the Chinese athletes united as one person to compete for the country. The Olympics mean much more -- pressure as well as motivation -- to every Olympian."
"I think participation in the Beijing Olympic Games is a dream shared by every athlete. We must make every effort to qualify for that. There are no exceptions for us, athletes who used to won Olympic gold medals."
"The results may be good or may not. I won't regret it as long as I've tried my best."
"I'll try my best to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games and realize my dream."
"The Olympics mean courage. The power of courage makes me fight till the end."
"The Olympics mean participation. A gold medal, to me, was not the final target. I just wanted to play my part well since I was a professional athlete."
"The Olympics mean pursuing my dreams."
"The Beijing Olympic Games, to me, mean starting over again from the very beginning."
"The Olympics can be regarded as a stage that can make every one's dreams come true. It is true that every Olympian has his or her own dream. The Beijing Olympics to me probably means my last remaining dream."
"No pain, no gain. I'll win a gold medal in Beijing as I did in Athens four years ago, and I'll give my coach a big hug as compensation for my neglect last time."
"I'll beat all my rivals to win a gold medal."
"The opportunity of participating in the Olympic Games is previous for football players since there is a limitation on age. I'll try my best to compete for China. But if I fail, I would like to go to Beijing to watch the Games. It's good to feel the Olympic spirit inside the venues." | |
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