Special report: 2008 Olympic Games
Special
report: Reconstruction After
Earthquake
BEIJING, July 16 -- Two months after Sichuan province
was jolted by a devastating earthquake, locals are getting ready to welcome the
Olympic torch relay.
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Wang Qiang (in green shirt), Youth
League, Wenchuan County speaks to children in China's southwest
Sichuan Province, July 12, 2008. (Photo: CCTV.com)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
"There are just 27 days to go until the opening of
the 2008 Beijing Olympics. We are holding this activity so we can all feel the
Olympic atmosphere. You children were affected by the massive quake. But our
spirit has not died. We are here with the Olympics. 'One World, One Dream. Go
Olympics! Go Wenchuan! Go China!' "
Wang Qiang, Youth League, Wenchuan County, said, "We
are doing all this for the children in the quake zone. We want them to feel the
excitement and share the Olympics with all Chinese people."
Thanks to the local youth league, 500 students at a
temporary tent school are being given an opportunity to experience the Olympic
spirit.
"We are running three activities. First, we will
select five little torch bearers and hold a simple torch relay around our camp.
Second, we will choose five children to play the Fuwa mascots and they will
perform shows. On the third day, there will be Olympic-themed sports activities
and all the kids here will participate," said Wang.
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Children shout the slogans at
Wenchuan County, China's southwest Sichuan Province, July 12,
2008. (Photo: CCTV.com)
Photo Gallery>>> |
"To become a torch bearer, the kids have to pass a
quiz on facts about the Beijing Games. But fitness is also a must," Wang added.
Volunteer said, "Fitness is important for the torch
bearers. So I take them jogging every day."
Running is not the children's only form of exercise.
Although there are no bright lights or high-tech
sound system to make the stage shine, the volunteers are doing their best to get
into the Olympic spirit.
Volunteers said, "These are the slogans we made. It
reads 'Pass on our heritage and share the Olympics'. We will hang them on poles
over there and decorate our camp with Olympic slogans."
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Wang Qiang (in green shirt), Youth
League speaks to the reporter at Wenchuan County, China's southwest
Sichuan Province, July 12, 2008. (Photo: CCTV.com)
Photo Gallery>>> |
Wang said, "The Olympic spirit and our spirit of
reconstruction are the same. No matter how badly our homes are damaged, we will
rebuild our minds courageously."
The Olympic activities will run from Monday till
Thursday.
(Source: CCTV.com)
