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Voila, Beijing unleashes 2008 Olympic Games emblem
Beijing, Aug 04: China, hoping to show a welcoming face to the world after the SARS outbreak, unveiled the 2008 Olympic Games emblem on Sunday, a traditional red seal depicting a figure with arms outstretched in victory and greeting.
Beijing, Aug 04: China, hoping to show a welcoming face to the world after the SARS outbreak, unveiled the 2008 Olympic Games emblem on Sunday, a traditional red seal depicting a figure with arms outstretched in victory and greeting.
In a lavish ceremony at Beijing's 580-year-old Temple of Heaven, organisers pledged the 29th Olympiad would be held open and transparent, pressing issues for China after the government admitted covering up the deadly outbreak earlier this year.
An official crowd of 2,008 guests gathered under a clear blue summer sky -- something of a rarity for the smoggy city of 12 million people -- for the event, which was delayed by several months because of the flu-like disease.
Chosen from a field of 1,985 entries from China and abroad, the winning design borrows from the Chinese practise of stamping everything from traditional paintings to parking tickets with a red seal engraved with Chinese writing.
Dubbed "Dancing Beijing" by the organisers, the emblem shows a stylised human figure in mid-stride with outstretched arms. It resembles the character "jing", meaning "capital".
"In this emblem I see the promise and potential of the new Beijing and a great Olympics. This is a milestone in your Olympic quest. As this new emblem becomes known throughout the world and as it takes its place at the centre of your games we are confident that it will achieve the stature of one of the best and most meaningful symbols in Olympic history," International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge told the crowd in a taped video statement.
Unveiling of the emblem also marks the start of marketing for the 2008 Games, which were awarded to a jubilant Beijing two years ago over the concerns of critics who faulted the Communist-ruled country's human rights record and undeveloped infrastructure.
China, which returned to Olympic competition only in 1984 after a 50-year absence, is spending tens of billions of dollars to build new roads, subways and sporting venues in Beijing to make sure its highest profile international event ever comes off smoothly.
As the evening sky darkened to match the deep blue roof tiles of the landmark Hall of Prayers for Good Harvests, kung-fu movie star Jackie Chan and Chinese women's table tennis champion Deng Yaping carried an ornate golden box to the white steps outside the hall.
Chinese parliament chief Wu Bangguo and IOC Coordination Commission chairman Hein Verbruggen removed a grapefruit-sized jade seal and stamped the emblem in red ink on piece of paper.
Hundreds of performers then staged a sports-themed show that portrayed runners, swimmers, bicyclists and martial artists in a production arranged by famed Chinese director Zhang Yimou.
Bureau Report
"In this emblem I see the promise and potential of the new Beijing and a great Olympics. This is a milestone in your Olympic quest. As this new emblem becomes known throughout the world and as it takes its place at the centre of your games we are confident that it will achieve the stature of one of the best and most meaningful symbols in Olympic history," International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge told the crowd in a taped video statement.
Unveiling of the emblem also marks the start of marketing for the 2008 Games, which were awarded to a jubilant Beijing two years ago over the concerns of critics who faulted the Communist-ruled country's human rights record and undeveloped infrastructure.
China, which returned to Olympic competition only in 1984 after a 50-year absence, is spending tens of billions of dollars to build new roads, subways and sporting venues in Beijing to make sure its highest profile international event ever comes off smoothly.
As the evening sky darkened to match the deep blue roof tiles of the landmark Hall of Prayers for Good Harvests, kung-fu movie star Jackie Chan and Chinese women's table tennis champion Deng Yaping carried an ornate golden box to the white steps outside the hall.
Chinese parliament chief Wu Bangguo and IOC Coordination Commission chairman Hein Verbruggen removed a grapefruit-sized jade seal and stamped the emblem in red ink on piece of paper.
Hundreds of performers then staged a sports-themed show that portrayed runners, swimmers, bicyclists and martial artists in a production arranged by famed Chinese director Zhang Yimou.
Bureau Report