Olympic Times – Sports Daily

A Beijing Olympic official on Sunday strongly criticized the attempt by some “pro-Tibet independence” activists to sabotage the torch relay event in London, as an obvious act of defying the Olympic spirit.
A spokesman from the torch relay center of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee said that as the highest symbol of the Olympic spirit, the Olympic flame represents peace, friendship and progress. Under the authorization of the International Olympic Committee, the Beijing Olympic torch relay is taking its journey of harmony throughout the world, sharing the passion and glory of the Olympics with the world, and has received warm welcome from the people en route.
However, a few “pro-Tibet independence” activists attempted to sabotage the torch relay in London today, which is a serious violation of the Olympic spirit, as the Olympic flame belongs to the world, the spokesman said. The act will surely arouse the resentment of the peace-loving people, and is bound to fail, he added.

Local policeman clashes with a protester (bottom) during the Olympic torch relay in London, April 6, 2008.
A few “pro-Tibet independence” activists tried to sabotage the torch relay, stirring clashes with British police.
At least 25 people were arrested. (Xinhua/Qi Heng)

London welcomes the Beijing Olympic flame on Sunday as part of the global Olympic Torch Relay in the run-up to the Beijing Olympic Games. As a grand festival in London, tens of thousands of people lined the route of the relay to cheer the event, far outnumbering the protesters.
Yet some protesters tried to sabotage the torch relay, by trying to grab the torch or extinguish it, stirring clashes with British police. At least 25 people were arrested.
The torch is traveling through ten London boroughs from Wembley in the west to Greenwich in east London, with each borough marking its arrival with entertainment and local events, bringing London’s color and vibrancy to life while showcasing the capital’s famous landmarks.

from: xinhuanet.com

British champion rower Sir Steve Redgrave started the Olympic torch relay in London on Sunday, taking it out of Wembley stadium for the London leg of its journey to Beijing.
Eighty athletes, entertainers and dignitaries will relay the torch along a 31-mile route from Wembley Stadium to the O2 Arena in Greenwich.
Those taking part in the relay include 10 Olympic champions, among them are marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe, 18 schoolchildren and public figures such as news reader Sir Trevor McDonald and musician Vanessa Mae.
Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes will run the last stage of the route to complete the relay before lighting the Olympic cauldron in front of 5,000 spectators.
On its journey through the city the torch will be carried on foot, on an open-topped double decker bus and by light railway past some of London’s most iconic sights.
Despite bitter temperatures and sleet, impromptu carnivals are expected as the torch passes iconic landmarks such as Nelson’s Column, St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge.

London Vice-Mayor Nicky Gavron (R) hands over the Beijing Olympic torch to quintuple Olympic gold medallist rower Steve Redgrave, who starts the Sundaly’s relay in London, at Wembley Stadium, April 6, 2008. About 80 athletes and celebrities will carry the torch by foot, bike, boat and bus during the 31-mile relay. [Xinhua]

from: chinadaily.com.cn

Pop music and movie star Jay Chou from Taiwan struggled to produce a song for the Beijing Games because neither he nor long-time collaborator Vincent Fang had attempted writing this kind of music before.
The pair worked on the song A Long Journey for five months and finished a demo in Taipei on March 9. Chou told the Shanghai-based Oriental Daily he rushed to complete the song and ended up e-mailing it to Beijing Olympic officials at night just before the deadline.
BOCOG will reveal the songs for the Olympics and Paralympics 100 days before the respective Games start.
Chou, known for his roles in the Zhang Yimou-directed Curse of the Golden Flower and Initial D, said the song marked a new departure for him.
“I think the feeling of the electric guitars is a little stronger than just using the piano,” Chou said. “If listeners from Europe and America hear this kind of music, I hope it can make them jump back a little!”
The song blends Chou’s traditional Chinese sounds with other genres like rock and electro.
Some of Fang’s lyrics, written in Mandarin, have already been leaked on the Internet: “A long journey, countless nights, waiting for a clear moon, on the border of dreams, the wind blows ceaselessly, never feeling tired, the East is worthy, who is number one, let us pursue perfection.”
March 10 was the closing date for the fourth round of Olympic song solicitations. Organizers said they were looking for 25 songs for the Olympic Games, 10 songs for the Paralympics, one theme song each for the Olympic and Paralympic torch relays, theme songs for the volunteers and a piece of music for the award ceremonies.
Light the Passion, Share the Dream, composed by Hong Kong musician Chris Babida, has already been named for the Olympic torch relay, which got underway March 24. I am a Star, by Emil Chau, will be used for Olympic volunteers.

Giorgio Moroder and Kong Xiangdong’s Forever Friends is considered a leading candidate for the Olympic theme tune. This would be Moroder’s third Olympic theme song.
“National characteristics should be reflected in the song,” he said. “For example, Korean musical elements were used in Hand in Hand. This time, we have used Chinese music from Liu Yang River instead of Jasmine, because the latter has been overused.”

BOCOG started song hunting in 2003 and collected over 300 in 2005 alone, including Wishing Star by another Taiwan artist, Huang Dawei. Over 4,000 songs have been submitted over the last four years, including at least 30 for the theme song.
Canadian singer Celine Dion, who will perform on April 13 at Beijing Workers’ Stadium, has also sent a candidate theme song to BOCOG. The multiple Grammy Award winner sang The Power of the Dream at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta Games. Four years ago in Athens, Icelandic artist Bjork took the honor, performing Oceania in a towering white and purple dress.
Former Olympic gold medalist Yang Ling penned the lyrics to one offering entitled I stand on the Olympic Winner’s Podium.
Beijing Satellite TV (BTV1) launched the program Olympic Songfest on Jan 5 last year so viewers could vote for their favorites.

from: chinadaily.com.cn

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Princess Anne will welcome the Beijing Olympic torch when it comes to London on Sunday.
London organizers confirmed at a news briefing on Thursday that Brown will talk with a disabled athlete torchbearer at No 10 Downing Street before watching him receive the torch outside.
The Princess Royal will attend the grand finale at the Peninsula Square where the final torchbearer Kelly Holmes, women’s 800m and 1500m Olympic champion in Athens, reaches the stage to light the Olympic cauldron.
The London leg, as part of the global Olympic Torch Relay, features a 31-mile (approximately 50 kilometers) route, longest among the 21 cities that the Olympic flame will travel to on five continents.
Large crowds are expected to cheer on the 80 torchbearers, including sports stars, celebrities, Paralympians and young people recruited from schools as they carry the torch through ten London boroughs.
Former rower Steve Redgrave, who won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games, will start the relay at 10:30 am from Wembley Arena and Holmes is due to reach the O2 Arena in Greenwich at about 6 pm to ignite the cauldron.
Other torchbearers, who will be taking part by foot, bike or boat, include tennis player Tim Henman, the girl band Sugababes, actress Denise van Outen, news presenter Trevor McDonald, violinist Vanessa Mae, sailor Ellen MacArthur and Arsenal footballer Theo Walcott.
A programme of free events is planned at key points along the London route, which will take in Notting Hill, China Town, Trafalgar Square and the South Bank, St Paul’s Cathedral and East London.

from: chinadaily.com.cn 

The sacred flame of the Beijing Olympics arrived in this Turkish biggest city at 00:05 on Thursday (GMT 2105 on Wednesday) to start the second leg of an unprecedented global torch relay.
The Olympic flame, carried in a specially-designed lantern, was flied into Istanbul onboard a chartered plane from Kazakhstan’s largest city Almaty, the first leg of the global relay.
The Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG) executive vice president, Jiang Xiaoyu, carried the flame lantern and walked off the plane and made a spell of exhibition at the airport, which is located in the European part of Istanbul.
Upon arrival, the Olympic flame and the whole delegation were welcomed by a cheering crowd, among whom were vice governor of Istanbul province Ergun Gungor, senior official of the Turkish Olympic Committee Yalcin Aksoy and Chinese ambassador to Turkey Sun Guoxiang.
Earlier on Tuesday, Aksoy said that the 17.8-km torch relay will be started on Thursday afternoon in Istanbul, the only city in the world located on two continents — Asia and Europe.
According to Aksoy, the starting point of the relay in Istanbul will be the city’s signature St. Sophia Square (adjacent to Sultan Ahmet Square) and Tugba Karademir, a promising Turkish figure skater aged 23, will be the first runner.
Then Karademir and following torch carriers, along the 2-km-long Olympic convoy, will wind their ways through the city and across the Bosporus Bridge, a famous suspension bridge spanning Asia and Europe.
After returning to the European part of Istanbul, the torch will head for the destination, Taksim Square, for the lighting of a ceremonial cauldron. At the end, celebrations and plays will be staged on the square. With it, the Olympic flame will go to Russia’s St Petersburg.
Aksoy added then that Turkey’s national TV broadcaster TRT will broadcast live some major parts of the torch relay and enable Turkish people around the country to share the passion and joy of the torch relay.
The 2008 Olympic flame was ignited on March 24 in Ancient Olympia of Greece and was handed over to Beijing on March 31 after a six-day relay in Greece.
The 130-day torch relay will cover 137,000 kilometers before the flame returns to Beijing and enters the National Stadium on Aug. 8 for the Olympics’ opening ceremony.
A total of 21,880 torch bearers will be participating in the unprecedented relay, which is held under the theme of “Journey of Harmony.”

from: xinhuanet.com

The city of San Francisco has made public the Beijing Olympic torch route which will travel about 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) along San Francisco’s waterfront, it was reported on Wednesday.
In discussing the details of the route, mayor Garvin Newsom asked activist groups to remember that the Olympics are not about politics but about the performance of athletes and “the spirit of unity and the things that unite us,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
City leaders, including Newsom, have expressed concerns over the past few weeks that releasing details of the torch route would jeopardize security of the event by encouraging people who want to disrupt or stop the relay.
The torch relay will start with a ceremony at McCovey Cove, travel along the Embarcadero past Fisherman’s Wharf and briefly through the Marina District, and head back along the Embarcadero to Justin Herman Plaza. A closing ceremony is scheduled to take place at the plaza.
The event will start at 1 p.m., and it will take the torch about an hour and a half to traverse the route. More than 80 people from across North America have been selected to carry the flame. Their names have not been made known.

from: xinhuanet.com

More countries have voiced their opposition to the boycott of Beijing Olympics.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday that the Olympic Games are an important sporting occasion and is of great significance to the world.
He confirmed he will represent Britain at the Beijing Olympics and will be present at the welcoming ceremony when the Beijing Olympic flame arrives in London on Sunday.
Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said his government opposes a boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games and representatives of Denmark’s royal family and government will attend the event in August.
“Sports must not be confused with politics,” he said, adding that Denmark should send official delegates to Beijing in support of its athletes’ participation in the Olympics.
Earlier, Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller told reporters when attending a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Slovenia that it is wrong to threaten to boycott the Olympics and a boycott will deeply hurt the Chinese people.
Last Friday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said a boycott of Beijing Olympics is pointless. According to Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic’s spokesman Marek Trubac, the president believes sport has to tie not to divide and a boycott will only hurt athletes.
Also last Friday, Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spanish minister of foreign affairs and cooperation said that his country will be present at the Beijing Olympics in August.
“The Olympic Games are the best platform to eliminate controversies and crises and to start dialogue and so we shouldn’t be boycotting them,” he told reporters in EU foreign ministers meeting in Slovenia, noting that Spain is not in favor of a boycott.
Last Wednesday, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said he does not believe “a boycott of the Olympics is a sensible or the right thing to do,” and his country will not boycott the Beijing Olympics.
He added that the Olympics should be used to facilitate China’s engagement with other countries. The Olympics are a chance to put the spotlight on China but also to enhance China’s engagement with the international community, he said.

from: xinhuanet.com 

Chinese President Hu Jintao lit a cauldron at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square with the Olympic torch Monday morning, marking the official start of the round-the-world relay.
The ceremony kicked off on the square at the heart of Beijing two hours after a specially chartered Air China plane carrying the flame from Greece touched down at about 9 a.m.
Vice President Xi Jinping, member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), addressed the ceremony.
Zhou Yongkang, member of the nine-man Political Bureau Standing Committee, and other CPC and state leaders attended the ceremony.
Also present was International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission chairman Hein Verbruggen, who addressed the ceremony on behalf of IOC president Jacques Rogge.
The flame is scheduled to depart from Beijing on Tuesday for the Kazakh city of Almaty, the first stop in its global tour of 135 cities.
The relay will cover 137,000 kilometers in 130 days before the flame finally arrives at the National Stadium in Beijing on Aug 8,2008 for the opening ceremony.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (1st R) shakes hands with Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the Coordination Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), during a welcome ceremony for the Olympic flame and launching of the Beijing Olympic torch relay at the Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, on March 31, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

from: xinhuanet.com

The Olympic Flame has arrived in Beijing, announcing that the first ever Olympic Games in China will soon begin.
The combination of the Olympic flame and torch is one of the most well known and strongest symbols of the Olympic movement, heralding not just the arrival of the Games but also spreading a message of peace or “Ekecheiria”, as the Greeks call it, to the world.
From today, the torch will carry the flame across the globe, creating anticipation and excitement for the Beijing Games wherever the relay passes.
Crossing five continents, 21 cities around the globe, and more than 113 cities and prefectures on mainland China, wherever it passes the Olympic torch relay will cause everyone, whatever their nationality, culture or belief, to pause for a few moments to reflect on its message of peace and the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.
All along the relay route people will be touched by the magic of the Olympic Games and what it represents.
Indeed, many people, especially young people, will find that the Olympic torch relay ignites a passion and inspires them to participate in sport, to give their very best in all they do, and emulate their heroes.
It is the torch’s ability to touch us that allows it to reach out to the world, beyond the host city, to bring the Olympic values closer to society and call the people of the world to the Games.
I am certain that the Games themselves, will not only be a moment of sporting excellence, but also an opportunity for the people of China and the world to learn, discover and respect each other.
Allow me to conclude by thanking you, President Hu Jintao, and the Chinese people, for your continued support for the Beijing Games and for the Olympic torch relay. Your passion and enthusiasm will allow these Games to fulfill their full potential.
I would also like to thank our Chinese friends from the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, and in particular its president Mr. Liu Qi, for their strong and continuous focus on making the Beijing Games a unique and exceptional celebration of humanity.
Now, let’s all celebrate together the arrival of the Olympic flame in Beijing before the real party in 130 days — the opening of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing.

from: torchrelay.beijing2008.cn

Beijing Olympic sponsors are using their moment in the limelight to improve their corporate social responsibility (CSR) profiles.
The People’s Daily quoted International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacque Rogge as saying sponsors’ CSR undertakings have boosted their images worldwide.
Worldwide Olympic partner Samsung Electronics said CSR is one of the top reasons for its expansion in the Chinese market.
Since 2005, the South Korean company has contributed 9 million yuan ($1.23 million) toward building 45 primary schools in rural China.
In 2002, the firm also established a scholarship that has so far been awarded to more than 2,300 Chinese students.
In 2004, soft drinks giant Coca-Cola launched a poverty alleviation project to train 1,470 young farmers in areas such as toy production, mechanical repairs and bench work.
In 2003, General Electric employees showed their charitable sides by raising 240,000 yuan to help China combat SARS.
They also donated lighting equipment to flooded areas in Sichuan in 2004 and sent rice to the province during a 2006 drought.
Diversified minerals and metals company BHP Billiton has financed protection projects for the Great Wall, giant pandas and the environment in Lijiang, Yunnan province.
In 2006, Lenovo Group, the first Chinese company on the IOC’s TOP Partners list, started a campaign in 854 counties to promote the Olympic movement among more than 8 million people.

from: chinadaily.com.cn 

A Russian sports official said on Monday that it will be a “great honor” as the Olympic flame travels to Russia’s St. Petersburg on April 5.
The Olympic torch relay will go through the five continents, including five cities of the European continent.
“St. Petersburg will be one of these cities. This is a great honor,” Interfax news agency quoted Russian Olympic Committee spokesman Gennady Shvets as saying.
All the Olympic champions who reside in St. Petersburg, other renowned athletes of the city, and some Olympic champions from other Russian cities will take part in the four-hour torch relay.
“The torch will pass through many famous cultural and historical relics as well as beautiful views… to showcase the unique features of St. Petersburg to the world,” Vyacheslav Chazov, president of the committee of physical culture and sport in St. Petersburg said last week.
The Beijing Olympic flame was ignited in a traditional sun-ray ceremony at 11:45 local time (0945 GMT) on Monday in front of the Hera Temple of ancient Olympia, Greece.
The torch will be relayed in Greece for six days and then taken to Beijing in a five-month world tour.

from: xinhuanet.com

A backup plan was successfully rehearsed yesterday to ensure that bad weather does not dampen the torch-lighting ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Games, today.

The flame for the torch was obtained from a previous rehearsal for yesterday’s practice, the last of the ceremony, instead of starting the flame with the sun’s rays through a concave steel mirror.

The “Highest Priestess” of the ceremony, played by Greek actress Maria Nafpliotou, lit the Olympic torch with a flame from an ancient Greek pot. The flame had been lit by sun rays during a rehearsal on March 20 in front of the ruins of the Temple of Hera.

According to common practice, if the priestess failed to obtain the flame because of bad weather, the flame lit from previous rehearsals will be used.

Zhang Ming, director of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay Center, said the rehearsal was to try out lighting the torch in cloudy conditions, which have occurred recently in Olympia and worried local organizers.

The Hellenic Olympic Committee has also announced a change in the opening of the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the Beijing Games – it will be held at 11 am instead of noon, local time, which is 5 pm Beijing time today.

The ceremony will be moved into a museum near the site of the ruins if it rains, Greek Culture Minister Michalis Liapis said.

Bad weather affected the torch-lighting ceremony for the Sydney 2000 Summer Games, and the two Winter Olympics – Salt Lake City in 2002, and Nagano in 1998.

At the last rehearsal yesterday, which was held at noon, 22 priestesses came in front of the ruins of the 2,600-year-old Temple of Hera, with the Highest Priestess praying to Apollo before lighting the flame.

The priestesses, led by a small boy with an olive branch, went into the ancient Olympia stadium and performed dances in ancient Greek style.

The Highest Priestess then received the olive branch from the boy and passed the flame and branch to the first torchbearer, Alexandros Nikolaidis, the Greek Olympic Taekwondo silver medallist who will also start the torch relay.

The relay will officially start today after the lighting ceremony. As introduced by organizers, the Olympic Flame will be carried 1.528 km by 605 torchbearers in Greece. Several Chinese torchbearers will also bear the flame in Greece, with Olympic swimming gold medalist Luo Xuejuan being the first one by taking the flame from Nikolaidis.

source: xinhuanet

China on Sunday refuted a warning that U.S. visitors to Beijing for the Olympic Games would be under surveillance, saying the privacy of foreign visitors would be protected.

“There’s no special arrangement which is beyond the security measures widely employed in accordance with international rules at public locations, hotels and offices in China,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.

Qin was responding to a question concerning a warning released by the U.S. department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs last Thursday, which said hotel rooms and offices in Beijing are considered to be subject to remote technical monitoring and may be accessed at any time without the occupant’s consent or knowledge, making U.S. visitors’ privacy hard to be protected.

“Privacy in China is always under protection according to the law, and there’s no need for foreign visitors to worry about that,” Qin said.

“The warning by the U.S. bureau is irresponsible,” he said.

from: xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/24/content_7844887.htm

Guns, drugs, explosives, and poisonous and radioactive materials will be banned from Beijing’s Olympic venues, a security official said Thursday.
Animals, drinks, radio equipment, and banners and oversized flags will also be prohibited, but guide dogs and small flags on poles shorter than 1m will be allowed, Zhu Yijun, from the Beijing Olympic security command center, said at a press conference to announce the new security regulation.
Drinks are banned to remove the risk of spectators throwing containers, while radio equipment makes the no-go list as it may disturb TV broadcasts and the operation of security equipment, he said.
Banners and oversized flags are not allowed because they could block people’s view of events, Zhu said, adding that the Olympic Charter already bans any form of political, religious or racial propaganda at venues.
Liu Shaowu, director of the security division of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, said the rules are in line with those introduced at previous Olympics, with some elements being specific to the Beijing Games.
He said the eight-chapter regulation, which will be published in full soon, also stipulates that venues must be equipped with at least one X-ray machine, two walk-through metal detectors, one vehicle security check channel and a system to automatically check vehicle chassis. Special security check channels will be set up for the disabled.
“All people and vehicles will have to go through security checks before entering venues,” Liu said.
“If everything is okay, a person can pass through a standard security check in about five seconds. But that might be longer for media workers if they are carrying a lot of equipment.”
Liu also urged spectators to leave their bags at home.
“The venues will provide all kinds of services. There’s no need for people to bring too many things.”
Liu said he was confident the Games will be safe.
The security operation in Beijing will directly involve about 80,000 people, including police, professional security guards and volunteers, he said.
“The number will be adjusted according to specific circumstances.”
Security became a focus for media attention following a foiled attempt on March 7 to crash a passenger jet flying from Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, to Beijing.
Former Public Security Minister Zhou Yongkang said late last year that although the general security situation for the Beijing Olympics is stable, the challenges of “terrorism, separatism and extremism” remain. “The Olympic Games is a big target for terrorism,” Zhou said.
International anti-terrorism experts have said China should learn from other countries and proposed information exchange within the international community.
“The large number of athletes and visitors to the Beijing Games and billions of people watching TV will make the event a prime target for terrorists,” Boaz Ganor, founder of the Israel-based International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, said in an interview. “Their desire to harm us and their threat against us remain real.”

from: chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-03/21/content_6554347.htm

Shandong province will be the first province to sell tickets for a new kind of sports lottery, the instant lottery, beginning on March 23.
The lottery will then go nationwide in May and June, China’s Sports Lottery Administration Center announced last week.
The Olympic-themed instant lottery has five varieties and features different themes such as “To be No 1″ and “Good luck to China”.
The lottery tickets display the Fuwas (the five Beijing Olympic mascots), Olympic game introductions and the Olympic torch relay route and other designs.
The face value of the tickets will range from 5 to 10 yuan.
Different from other sports lotteries, which give players a 50 percent chance of winning, the instant lottery will have a 65 percent prize-winning rate, with the top prize totalling 250,000 yuan ($34,965).
Buyers will have to go to designated places to cash in tickets worth more than 5,000 yuan.
Online operation will ensure the lottery selling remains open and fair, officials say.
In 2007, China’s total lottery sales exceeded 100 billion yuan, an increase of 18 billion yuan or 20 percent over 2006, setting a 20-year record in China’s lottery history.
China launched its first lottery in June 1987. Lottery ticket sales are one of the main sources of funding for building community sports facilities and financing the country’s social welfare programs. Lottery bylaws stipulate that a minimum of 35 percent of receipts must go to the welfare sector.
The sports lottery public welfare fund contributed 2.75 billion yuan to the Beijing Olympic Games.

from: chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-03/18/content_6544784.htm

Olympic worldwide sponsor Lenovo is partnering with the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) for the March edition of “Olympians in Life,” a free educational program focusing on the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay, it was announced on Wednesday.
Available online at www.usolympicteam.com, the month’s lesson plans focus on the torch relay, which travels to its only stop in North America, San Francisco, California on April 9, as well as the design of the Olympic Torch, the USOC said in a statement.
In addition to its overall Olympic sponsorship, Lenovo is also a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay and designer of the Olympic Torch and other torch relay components including the lantern that carries the “mother flame” and the city cauldron lit by the last torchbearer in each city.
Teachers throughout the United States are encouraged to utilize the lessons plans to promote Olympic Ideals and Values, while creating an excitement for the Olympic Torch Relay and the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Lenovo’s sponsorship of ‘Olympians in Life’ has given the USOC the opportunity to reach out to America’s youth regarding the importance of the Olympic Ideals and the spirit of the Olympic Torch Relay,” said USOC Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr.
“The Olympic Torch is recognized by countries throughout the world as a symbol of peace and tolerance, and by spreading its message through educational programs, Lenovo and the USOC hope to share the magic of the Olympic Movement with future generations,” he said.
“As a worldwide partner of the Olympic Torch Relay and designer of the Olympic Torch, Lenovo is thrilled to bring the excitement of the relay to classrooms around the country,” said Scott DiValerio, Lenovo senior vice president and president, Americas. “Our partnership with the USOC enables us to reach students around the country and bring to life one of the most symbolic events of our generation.”
“Olympians in Life” resources also include support of Paralympic programming for kids with physical disabilities.
The 2008 Olympic Torch Relay, co-sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, Samsung and Lenovo, will begin with the lighting of the Flame in Olympia, Greece, on March 24, 2008. After its arrival in Beijing on March 31, the torch will start its journey on April 1, traveling to 21 international cities, including San Francisco, before returning to the Chinese mainland where it will traverse the country for more than three months.
Having been carried by more than 21,000 runners, the Flame will enter the Olympic Stadium as part of the Opening Ceremony of the XXIX Olympiad on August 8, 2008.

from: chinadaily.com.cn

Indicating the official start of the Beijing Olympic torch relay, the lighting ceremony for the Beijing Olympic torch will be held in Ancient Olympia, Greece on March 24 as scheduled.

Intensified and orderly preparations for the event are underway, an official of the Greek Olympic Committee was quoted by Xinhua as saying.

As a tradition, the torch lighting ceremony is held in front of the Temple of Hera of Ancient Olympia. Starting out from Olympia, 605 Greek torchbearers run a distance of 1,528km in Greece to relay the torch for seven days. The relay will pass through 16 regions and 43 cities, in addition to four communities, with 29 celebration events along the route. At 3:00pm on March 30, the flame arrives at Panathenian Stadium in central Athens, where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896. On March 24, 2008, the Greek Olympic Committee will hold the ceremony to hand the flame over to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

For the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, the flame was lit in front of the Temple of Hera, the site of Ancient Olympia, with an ensuing Olympic torch relay. Since then, the tradition has been carried out for a total of 16 Olympic Summer Games.

The torch lighting for the Olympic Winter Games was first held in 1964 in front of the monument to Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games. So far 12 Winter Games have had their flames lit at Ancient Olympia in a ceremony similar to that of the Summer Games, with the same artists playing the part of the priestesses.

With the stadium, arena, the athletes’ dormitory and religious service facilities such as the altars of Zeus and Hera in place, the site of Ancient Olympia hosted the ancient Olympic Games between 2700 BC and 1600 BC. Afterwards, the site fell into ruins as a result of religious conflicts, earthquakes and robberies.

source: beijing2008.cn 

In line with the theme of hosting a “green” Olympics, Volkswagen will provide environmentally friendly vehicles for the Chinese mainland leg of the Olympic torch relay.
Volkswagen Group China (VGC), along with its joint venture partners, Shanghai Volkswagen (SVW) and FAW-Volkswagen (FAW-VW), were named the official automotive suppliers for the Chinese leg last week.
“It is a great honor for Volkswagen to have been chosen as the official supplier for the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay,” said Dr Winfried Vahland, president and CEO of VGC.
“The 2008 Beijing Olympic Torch Relay will make Olympic history as the longest torch relay ever, covering the broadest geographical area and involving the largest number of participants.
“We will do everything we can to make this the greatest torch relay ever.”
At the announcing ceremony, Volkswagen unveiled that up to the end of 2007, all of Volkswagen Group’s joint ventures have been awarded SO14001 certification for meeting strict environmental protection standards.
To mark the announcement, SVW and FAW-VW unveiled the four models selected as the official vehicles for the torch relay, the Touran, Octavia Mingrui, Magotan and Sagitar, each of which is emblazoned with the unique logo of this milestone event.
Volkswagen will also provide a range of related services as well as technical and logistical support for the torch relay on the Chinese mainland, which is scheduled to run from May 4 to August 8. This segment will last 97 days and span over 40,000 km.
VGC, SVW and FAW-VW will establish a fleet of 959 new vehicles especially for the event. Of these, 346 will form the core motorcade, another 583 will serve as administrative and support vehicles, and 30 will be used for commercial purposes.
The torch relay motorcade will travel through 113 cities and regions across 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China. It will move atless than eight km/hr for 8 to 12 hours every day.
SVW and FAW-VW will also provide a dedicated team of professionals, comprised of more than 200 of the company’s best technical support and after-sales service staff, to provide 24/7 support along every step of the journey.
The automotive giant views its Olympic sponsorship deal as its “best investment in China” to date.
“Sponsoring the Beijing Olympic Games is the best opportunity to show Volkswagen’s support for the development of China,” said Vahland.

from: chinadaily.com.cn