The heart of China came alive on August 8, as Beijing’s famous Tiananmen Square glowed under a barrage of fireworks to mark the one-year countdown to the 2008 Olympic Games. Over 10,000 people from around the world gathered in the capital to celebrate the occasion under a clear evening sky.

A high-profile presence of Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, and Liu Qi, President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, showed the importance China pays to hosting the world’s premier sporting event.

Impressed by China’s state-of-the-art venues, improving city environment, enthusiastic volunteers and overwhelming public interest, Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), paid tribute to the Chinese people’s efforts in preparatory work, and is confident that Beijing will not only host a successful Olympic Games, but also provide an excellent opportunity for visitors to discover China.

At the countdown ceremony, Rogge presented Beijing Olympics’ invitation letters to all IOC members.