08/08/08

at 8:08:08pm

The torch arrives at the stadium…

… and the games begin.

‘ One world, one dream’

The 2008 edition of the Olympic Games will be held in Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China.

The 2008 edition of the Olympic Games will be held in Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China.

China has built more than 12 new venues (stadiums, swimming pools, gymnasiums, tennis courts, baseball fields, etc) to receive athletes from all over the world with the latest technology.

China has built more than 12 new venues (stadiums, swimming pools, gymnasiums, tennis courts, baseball fields, etc) to receive athletes from all over the world with the latest technology.

New National Stadium : ‘The bird’s nest’

New Aquatics Center

 About 10,000 athletes from more than 200 different countries will participate in about 30 different sports such as… equestrian basketball swimming archery rowing tennis cycling football weightlifting hockey artistic gymnastics athletics wrestling volleyball baseball triathlon taekwondo

 About 10,000 athletes from more than 200 different countries will participate in about 30 different sports such as…

All the participants share the same dream: Winning an olympic medal. There are GOLD medals for the first place, SILVER for the second and BRONZE for the third.

But the olympic games are not only about winning. They are also about:  TRADITIONS  SYMBOLS  VALUES

But the olympic games are not only about winning. They are also about:

 TRADITIONS

 SYMBOLS

 VALUES

 The Olympic torch carries the Olympic flame. For each game the host country designs a new torch inspired in the culture of its people. Beijing’s torch is red , a lucky colour for Chinese culture and it represents ‘paper’ , one of the most important Chinese inventions. The torch is lit in Greece and it is passed from runner to runner across different countries. One of the most important traditions is the torch relay:

 The Olympic torch carries the Olympic flame.

For each game the host country designs a new torch inspired in the culture of its people.

Beijing’s torch is red , a lucky colour for Chinese culture and it represents ‘paper’ , one of the most important Chinese inventions.

The torch is lit in Greece and it is

passed from runner to runner across different countries.

One of the most important

traditions is the torch relay:

… and more than 110 towns in China! The torch will visit more than 20 countries…

 The torch relay is a symbol of the universality of the games and the union of nations. When the torch arrives at the National Stadium in Beijing, the Olympic games will begin. However, the torch relay has caused much controversy in many countries. There are groups which are opposed to China’s political ideas and organised demonstrations against Chinese government during the relays.

 The torch relay is a symbol of the universality of the games and the union of nations.

When the torch arrives at the National Stadium in Beijing, the Olympic games will begin.

However, the torch relay has caused much controversy in many countries. There are groups which are opposed to China’s

political ideas and organised

demonstrations against Chinese

government during the relays.

There are many symbols of the olympic games: The Olympic flag. The emblem. The mascots.

The Olympic flag.

The emblem.

The mascots.

The Olympic flag The five rings represent the five continents. They are interlaced to show the universality of the games and the meeting of the athletes of the world. The six colours of the flag (blue, yellow, black, green, red and white) represent all nations.

The Emblem The emblem of the Beijing Games, entitled “ Dancing Beijing”, combines the tradition of Chinese calligraphy and the theme of sport. It represents an athlete running in celebration of victory.

The emblem of the Beijing Games, entitled

“ Dancing Beijing”, combines the tradition of Chinese calligraphy and the theme of sport. It represents an athlete running in celebration of victory.

The mascots They are five fuwa (children bringing good luck) The fuwa are inspired by the colours of the Olympic rings and popular animals in China. Their heads represent elements of nature: sea, forest, fire, earth and sky.

Beibei Beibei represents fish and water , symbols of prosperity in Chinese culture. She is good at water sports and reflects the blue Olympic ring.

Jingjing Jingjing, the panda, represents happiness. The lotus flowers around his head symbolize harmony. Jingjing is good at weightlifting and represents the black Olympic ring.

Jingjing, the panda, represents happiness.

The lotus flowers around his head symbolize harmony.

Jingjing is good at weightlifting and represents the black Olympic ring.

Huanhuan Huanhuan is the big brother and represents the Olympic spirit. He symbolizes the Olympic flame and the passion of sport. Huanhuan is good at all ball games and represents the red Olympic ring.

Huanhuan is the big

brother and represents

the Olympic spirit.

He symbolizes the

Olympic flame and the

passion of sport.

Huanhuan is good at all

ball games and

represents the red

Olympic ring.

Yingying Yingying represents the Tibetan antelope, a protected species in China. He symbolizes a vast country and good health. Yingying is good at athletics,it represents the yellow Olympic ring.

Yingying represents

the Tibetan antelope,

a protected species in

China.

He symbolizes a vast

country and good

health.

Yingying is good at

athletics,it represents

the yellow Olympic ring.

Nini Nini represents a Golden winged swallow, a Chinese bird. Nini symbolizes good luck. She is good at gymnastics and represents the green Olympic ring.

Nini represents a Golden

winged swallow, a

Chinese bird.

Nini symbolizes good

luck.

She is good at gymnastics

and represents the green

Olympic ring.

The name of each mascot contains two syllables: Bei bei ( 贝贝 ) Jing jing ( 晶晶 ) Huan huan ( 欢欢 ) Ying ying ( 迎迎 ) Ni ni ( 妮妮 ) When you put the first syllables of each name together, the result sounds like “ Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni ”, which means “Welcome to Beijing”.

The name of each mascot contains two syllables:

Bei bei ( 贝贝 )

Jing jing ( 晶晶 )

Huan huan ( 欢欢 )

Ying ying ( 迎迎 )

Ni ni ( 妮妮 )

When you put the first syllables of each name together, the result sounds like “ Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni ”, which means “Welcome to Beijing”.

The Olympic games also try to transmit 3 important VALUES : : To give one’s best, on the field of play or in our daily life. : To consider sport as an opportunity to make new friends from all over the world, no matter the differences : To respect oneself, to respect others, as well as rules and regulations, to respect fair play. Excellence Friendship Respect

: To give one’s best, on the field of play or in our daily life.

: To consider sport as an opportunity to make new friends from all over the world, no matter the differences

: To respect oneself, to respect others, as well as rules and regulations, to respect fair play.

The main idea behind the Olympic games is: The important thing in the games is not so much winning, but taking part . The most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight .

The important thing in the games is not so much winning, but taking part .

The most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight .