 |
|
Picture taken on the early morning of
Aug. 7, 2007 shows the Tian'anmen Rostrum encompassed by colorful laser
lights. A grand gala will be held on the Tian'anmen square Wednesday
celebrating one-year countdown to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. (Xinhua
Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
BEIJING, Aug. 9 -- The International Olympic
Committee has formally invited its branches around the globe to the 2008
Olympics. The invitations were delivered on Wednesday evening in the Chinese
capital, at a grand celebration of the one-year countdown to the Beijing Games.
In exactly one year's time, the Beijing Olympic Games
will open.
IOC president Jacques Rogge joined Chinese officials
to celebrate the moment.
At the grand gathering, Rogge delivered invitation
letters to Olympics committees of more than 200 countries and regions.
This invitation stands out from all its predecessors.
It's the first time in the history of the Olympics
that such an invitation was delivered from a host country. In the past, they all
were sent from the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Jacques Rogge, IOC president, said, "The world is
watching China with great expectations."
And Chinese leaders and Olympic organizers expressed
their confidence that the Games will be a success.
Wu Bangguo, chairman of NPC Standing Committee, said,
"The 2008 Beijing Olympics will be a high-level event with China's own
characteristics. This is a guarantee from China and our people. We'll strengthen
our cooperation with the IOC, spare no efforts in supporting the preparation
work, and ensure the Beijing Olympics are successful."
Liu Qi, BOCOG president, said, "The year ahead is a
crucial year for preparation for the Beijing Games. We will carry out the
instructions of President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, and focus fully on
preparing and organizing the 2008 Games. We will try to improve our security
measures and the city's environment, which will provide a more solid foundation
for successfully organizing a high-level Olympics with our own characteristics."
Artists from home and abroad gave their best
performances to an audience of nearly ten thousand people.
Besides Beijing, co-host cities, including Tianjin,
Shanghai,Qinghuangdao and Hong Kong also staged mass performances.
Although there is still one year to go, such
enthusiasm will linger until the big moment.
(Source: CCTV.com)
