People's Olympics

The last theme of the 2008 Olympic Games, the People's Olympics, is a humanistic principle that shows how truly meaningful this opportunity is for the Chinese people. The people have demonstrated again and again their eagerness to get involved. Generous displays of affection and national pride followed the Olympic Flame during the Olympic Torch Relay in Beijing in June 2004. This further encouraged ordinary people from all over China to get involved. High participation levels have been seen in various Olympic fund-raising and other supportive events.

 

On July 13, 2004, the third anniversary of Beijing's winning bid to host the Olympic Games, BOCOG launched the emblem for the 13^th Paralympic Games to be held in Beijing shortly after the Summer Olympic Games.

 

In addition, the Beijing Olympic Broadcasting (BOB) Corporation Limited, the company formed to manage Olympic broadcasts, was officially launched on October 28, 2004. Four days later, on November 1, the Beijing Olympic Media Centre was opened to begin assisting the media in reporting authoritative and regular news about Beijing's Olympic progress and activities.

 

BOCOG received 20,161 pieces of mail concerning the Beijing 2008 Olympic slogan, and 662 Olympic mascot designs were sent to BOCOG by December 1, 2004. The mascot will be announced sometime this year. In addition, a search for proposals for the best-ever opening and closing ceremonies began on March 1, 2005. Many world famous directors, such as Zhang Yimou and Steven Spielberg, showed great interest in designing the opening and closing ceremonies.

 

The city launched its volunteer recruiting programme for the 2008 Olympic Games on June 5, 2005. It has also launched a three-year campaign to improve residents' manners to prepare them for the 2008 Olympic Games. Topics to be covered include manners in daily life and social situations, on sports grounds, at work and at school, as well as etiquette in dealing with foreign cultures.

 

Beijing Partners Club for the 2008 Olympics was established in February 2005. Eighteen domestic and foreign enterprises have joined in the club.

 

There are more than 1,000 registered athletes in Beijing, and 1,229 new keep-fit programmes were established in 2004. BOCOG welcomes people from the world of sport and ordinary people to get involved.

 

Sidebar

Interesting news for 2008 Olympics

l        The 2008 Olympic Games will begin at 8:08 p.m. on August 8, 2008, and will end on August 24.

l        It is estimated that about 3 million foreign visitors will be attracted by the 2008 Olympics, and about 30,000 journalists from around the globe will come to write and photograph the community and the Games in Beijing.

l        It is anticipated that the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay will pass Mount Qomolangma.

l        There will be 28 main competition sports in the 2008 Games.

l        About 100,000 volunteers from around the world will serve during the 2008 Olympics.

l        The 2008 Olympics emblem is "Dancing Beijing"; its slogan is "One World, One Dream."

l        Established on December 13, 2001, BOCOG now has 18 departments with over 400 staff, including Marketing, Media & Communications, Venue Planning & Construction departments. By 2008, there will be more than 30 departments and 4,000 staff under the BOCOG umbrella.

(Source: Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad)