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Beijing Speaks to the World Event Held One Year Before the Games

Guten Tag,” “Bonjour,” “Hola” and “Hello, to the world”….

On August 8, 2007, beginning the one-year countdown to the opening of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, foreign-language fans gathered in the Beijing Capital Library to say “hello” to the world in German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Russian and other languages.

The capabilities and the enthusiasm of local residents for foreign languages services reflect their great respect and preparations for the Games.

The event, organized by the Organizing Committee of Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages Programme and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, introduced a new online foreign languages study platform to boost the campaign. Some Olympic exhibitions and a photo and text display about foreign customs attracted a lot of visitors.

In the Reporting Hall of the Beijing Capital Library, foreign language fans and their representatives from all walks of life staged prepared programmes before audiences to display the achievements of the Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages Programme, and the organizers of Beijing Speaks to the World event distributed books freely to library visitors to encourage their foreign languages studies. The speech of an English study expert aroused the passion of the participants.

In the Cultural and Arts Exhibition Hall, the enthusiasm of the foreign languages lovers was fully stirred during the interactive games with the foreign expert, whether the challengers were teenagers or senior citizens. During the games, the participants learned more English expressions for shopping and travelling and some other foreign language addresses. Some participants said that they appreciated this kind of activity, because it gave them a chance to practice their foreign language skills. They hoped to learn more foreign languages to support the 2008 Olympic Games, displaying the good image of Beijing and passing on the kindness and enthusiasm to their overseas friends.

The Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages Programme was started up in 2002; the campaign has brought in more and more residents through activities designed to promote the Olympic Spirit. The enthusiasm and foreign languages skills of Beijing residents for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games have improved rapidly because of this activity, which will lead to an improvement in services in Beijing during the Games. By the end of 2006, 4.87 million Beijingers could speak a foreign language, accounting for 31.6 percent of its permanent residents. By the end of 2007, this number will increase to 5 million, creating a good language environment for the 2008 Olympic Games and making Beijing a more pleasant international city in which to live and work.