Li Changchun (3rd R Front), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, announces the slogan for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games during a ceremony held by the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee at the Workers' Gymnasium in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2005. The slogan for the 2008 Olympic Games is "One World, One Dream". (Xinhua Photo)

The Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee holds a ceremony to announce the slogan for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Workers' Gymnasium in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2005. The slogan for the 2008 Olympic Games is "One World, One Dream". (Xinhua Photo)

Actors and actresses perform during a ceremony held by the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee to announce the slogan for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Workers' Gymnasium in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2005. The slogan for the 2008 Olympic Games is "One World, One Dream". (Xinhua Photo)

    BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhuanet) -- With the dream of uniting the world around the Rings in 2008, the Beijing Olympic Games has a new slogan -- One World, One Dream.

    The slogan, presented at a grand ceremony Sunday held at the Workers' Gymnasium in the Chinese capital, replaces the previous one "New Beijing, Great Olympics", which had been used during the city's bid for the 2008 Games.

    "One World, One Dream" was selected from more than 210,000 entries received from around the world.

    "There was no single winner. The slogan embodies the wisdom of hundreds of thousands of people," said Liu Qi, President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG).

    BOCOG launched a global search for a slogan for the 2008 Games in January this year. "One World, One Dream" was picked after several rounds of selection and revision by experts in fields like Olympics, sociology, sports, culture and language.

    BOCOG had hoped the focus of the new slogan would shift from the city itself to the Olympic Spirit of unity, friendship and progress and traditional Chinese cultural value of harmony and peace.

    Liu said "One World, One Dream" perfectly meets their requirements.

    "It conveys the noble ideal of people in Beijing as well as in China to share their civilization and create a bright future hand in hand with people from the rest of the world," he said.

    International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge sent a letter of congratulation to BOCOG. "The Olympic Games are unique in their ability to attract the world's attention, using sport to promote peace and understanding. The IOC is delighted that BOCOG's slogan for the 2008 Olympic Games has captured that Olympic spirit," said Rogge.

    George Hirthler, who has served as lead writer or communications strategist for seven international Olympic bid campaigns-- Atlanta 1996, Istanbul 2000, Stockholm 2004, Klagenfurt 2006, Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and for 18 months until December 2004, NYC 2012, said the slogan suggests something profound and leaves room for broad interpretations.

    "While the phrase is simple, it is also profound. While it is personal, it is also universal. The repetition of one makes it easy to remember," said Hirthler.

    China's IOC member He Zhenliang also spoke highly of the slogan.

    "The theme clearly conveys the solidarity of humanity and the shared global experience that unites the world in the Olympic Games," said He.

    Games organizers have increasingly used Olympic theme slogans as an important platform to launch their communications campaigns.

    Slogans from past Games, such as "Share the Spirit" of the 2000 Sydney Games, and "Light the Fire Within" of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, have caught people's imagination and inspired millions around the world. "Welcome Home" also became a highlight during last summer's Athens Games and was a source of boundless pride for Greeks.

    According to the BOCOG, the theme slogan, paired with the seal - like logo, will appear everywhere as part of Beijing 2008 identity.

    Factbox: Slogans of previous summer Olympic Games

    Following are the slogans of previous Olympic Games:

    Seoul Summer Olympics in 1988 -- Harmony and Progress

    Barcelona Summer Olympics in 1992 -- Friends Forever

    Atlanta Summer Olympics in 1996 -- The Celebration of the Century

    Sydney Summer Olympics in 2000 -- Share the Spirit

    Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002 -- Light the Fire Within

    Athens Summer Olympics in 2004 -- Welcome Home

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