Hold fast, and let go: understand this paradox, and you stand at the very gate of wisdom. The art of living is to know when to hold fast and when to let go. For life is a paradox: it enjoins us to cling to its many gifts even while it ordains their eventual relinquishment. The rabbis of old put it this way:" A man comes to this world with his fist clenched, but when he dies, his hand is open." Surely we ought to hold fast to life, for it is wondrous, and full of beauty that breaks through every pore of God's own earth. We know that this is so, but all too often we recognize this truth only in our backward glance when we remember what it was and then suddenly realize that it is no more. We remember a beauty that faded, a love that waned. But we remember with far greater pain that we did not see that beauty when it flowered, that we failed to respond with love when it was tendered.
The 29th Olympics are going to be hosted in Beijing, China in 2008. Billions of people from all over the world are holding their breath, attaching great importance and looking forward to this grand occasion. In order to stress its significance, I, hereby, compose the ode as follows:
The said Olympic Games refer to the modern ones, which originated from ancient Greece but are different from their ancient counterparts. Originally, the Olympics had been held once every four years by the Greek since 776 BC in honor of Zeus, the king of all gods. The venue chosen was called Olympia, thus came the name of Olympia Games. The grand occasion used to last for 16 days when sports, music as well as other recreational activities were performed. The winners would be presented with laurels made of olive and bay branches, have their names engraved on the stone tablets and win great acclamations. The tradition lasted for over one thousand years before it came to an end by AD 394. The events aforementioned were ancient Olympics limited to one state, Greece only. The modern Olympics, however, started in 1896, with a history of over one hundred years. A Frenchman named Pierre de Coubertin was the first to advocate the resurrection of the Olympics and was applauded by numerous enthusiasts who gathered at Paris and decided to adopt the name of the Olympics held in ancient Greece. The new event was to be held once every four years in different cities around the world for peaceful purposes. The five rings on the specially designed flag represent a grand meeting co-held by the five continents. Hence the black, white, brown and yellow contestants from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, etc. could meet at the same arena. Moreover，the modern Olympics are characterized by humanitarian elements, the choice of mascots, passing-on of the holy fire, performances on the opening and closing ceremonies, national anthems played and flags raised. All of these well-intentioned and honor-oriented activities are performed consummately without any exception. Therefore, the contestants are most fascinated by the Games and would spare no efforts at all in vying each other for the olive crowns. Each and every of them is striving after the gold medals with which they are obsessed, and breaking old records and establishing new ones which know no limits. As the record before shall always be excelled by the later, who can remain ever victorious in the Olympics? It is most exciting to watch the Games where athletes are exerting their best while the spectators are cheering aloud. The whole world is overwhelmed and the entire earth is thrilled by such unprecedented and spectacular events!
As the centennial Olympics are drawing close with the largest scale ever of its kind, each state had been looking forward to winning its bid. Whenever a new Olympiad is to be held, there would always be numerous applicants scrambling for its bid, trying to be as persuasive as they can. The 29th was by no means an exception. On the contrary, the competition for its bid became ever fierce. On the day of declaration, all the officials of IOC were present in Moscow. Again, millions and millions of people were holding their breath, for they were extremely anxious to hear the last result by themselves, for fear that they should miss such a decisive moment. When the meeting was over, Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch solemnly declared: the host of the 29th Olympic Games will be Beijing! Like a sudden thunderbolt fallen, Mr. Samaranch’s remarks were promptly followed by cheers and hoorays from the ecstatic people across China and the deafening sounds of fireworks throughout the sleepless night. The exciting news was also greeted by smiles on the faces from other parts of the world and numerous congratulatory letters and correspondences arrived in Beijing without an end. Hence a new historical monument was erected!
Alas! Hosting the Olympics is far from an ordinary choice for the Chinese nation. On the one hand, Olympiad is to be hosted in China, one of the cradles of the world civilization, and the universal regret of never hosting such a great event in China is finally relieved. On the other hand, China is shedding its indigence and marching toward prosperity and strength and our long-cherished dream have come true at long last. In reminiscence, China can well be called one of the birthplaces of sports and games, and such a history is by no means later than that of the Greek Olympia Games. In retrospection of the original sources, we are fortunate to be able to find so many supporting evidences and proofs, which lie in our historical heritages. The most popular event in today’s world is no other than FIFA. However, our ancestors had started playing Cuju (similar to the present-day football) several thousand years ago all over Linzi, the capital city of Qi, one of China’s famous warlord states in ancient times. “The Cuju made of leather was played for fun”. Therefore, the said Cuju can be well called the predecessor of the modern football. The contests of swordsmanship during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C. – 476 B.C.) were recorded as “glittering shapes and shadows of clanking swords”, and they can be regarded as the precursor of the modern fencing. According to the historical records of the acrobatics of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. – A.D. 220), Wu Huo, China’s Hercules, raised a tripod vessel，which could be acclaimed as the progenitor of the modern weight-lifting. According to “The Book of Songs”, China’s ancient poetry, described swimming： “Rowing a boat where the water is deep; going swimming where the water is shallow”. Thereby, China can be regarded as the birthplace of swimming. The boat racing had been an ancient practice which reached its summit during the Han and Tang Dynasties (206 B.C. – A.D. 907), “the oars were hitting the waves like ten thousand swords flying, the rataplans of the drums sounded like one thousand thunders rumbling”. It was so spectacular that even people now may fail to beat their grandeur. As to archery, wrestling, horse-racing, gymnastics, etc., each can find its time-honored herald in ancient China. Actually，the new arena put up in China is no other than paying tribute to the birthplace of sports and compensating for the aforesaid regrets.
Upon hearing the news of China’s hosting the new Olympics, all of us could not help sighing with emotions over the vicissitudes of the Chinese nation, which had enjoyed prosperity over thousands of years but became disaster-ridden in modern history. Because of their fatuities, the rulers of the later period of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1644 - 1911) were coerced to sign many an unequal treaty which humiliated the nation and forfeited its sovereignty and China was soon carved up by the invading foreign powers through piecemeal encroachment or wholesale annexation. As the conquered slaves, the Chinese people could hardly secure survival, let alone promote our culture or enhance our physique. Confronted with the blood-thirsty butchers who could not wait to see our perdition, how could we compete against them for a place in the Olympics? Since then, the Chinese people were plunged into the abyss of misery, the remains of innocent people were seen everywhere. Such hatred was brewed over 100 years when the spirit of our martyrs shed both tears and blood. At such a time of great jeopardy, however, heroes came forth to raise the standards of revolt in order to save our nation from extinction. They were making most vigorous and perseverant efforts to turn the adverse situation to a favorable one and to win the rebirth of the Chinese nation. At the 10th Olympics, Liu Changchun was the only Chinese contestant representing China, and his solitude looked so saddening. Time passed and the situation changed greatly, a grand delegation of Chinese athletes was organized for the first time to attend the 23rd Olympics in Los Angeles, drawing worldwide attention. Xu Haifeng, a shooting athlete, won the first Olympic gold medal ever for China in the history of Olympics. The world exclaimed: the sleeping lion was awakening! Ever since, China has continuously made greater progress after each Olympiad. On the 28th Olympics, the Chinese athletes won 32 gold medals, ranking the 2nd in the world, displaying China’s strength as a sports power and casting away the humiliating title of “Sick Man of East Asia”. Along with growth of comprehensive national strength, Chinese has planned to go global as well as hosting one of the great occasions within China and this aspiration won immediate and nationwide support. Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bidding Committee had been struggling to this end despite extraordinary hardships. Mr. He Zhenliang exerted his vigorous efforts regardless of his senility. Through the concerted and unremitting efforts taken by generations, our 100-year-dream has finally come true.
The Olympic arena was transferred to Beijing as the five-ringed banner relayed from Athens to our capital. The ancient city of Beijing, situated in the center of the country’s hinterland, boasts a history of over one thousand years with a most advantageous geographical location: faces the sea to the left, neighbors the Taihang Mountains to the right, encompassed by rivers and mountains to the south, and rests on the Juyong Pass of the Great Wall. Since Beijing is such a conveniently-located traffic hub, it embraces the guests from all over the world. Beijing is so magnificent and well-equipped that there is no need to worry about its capability to host the Olympics at all.
As to its auxiliary venues, Qingdao and Hong Kong, are also blessed with many meritorious qualities. Facing the Jiaozhou Bay, the city of Qingdao belonged to Langya Prefecture in ancient times. Ying Zheng, the First Emperor of Qin (221 – 206 B.C.) had visited this area for immortality and Banqiao Town, an important harbor of the Tang (AD 618 - 907) and Song (AD 960 - 1279) Dynasties was located here. As Qingdao faces the sea, it can serve as an ideal place for yachting competition. Hong Kong used to belong to the ancient Canton and is a gateway to the south, it has long been famous for its legendary “Sweet Cataract in the Ocean”and “Red Incense Burner”. It has enjoyed greater prosperity since it returned to the motherland in 1997. Integrated with both the Chinese and foreign elements, Hong Kong is such a unique city, which is the best choice for horse racing.
Since Beijing won the bid for the Olympics, everything takes on a new and distinguished aspect. The three concepts of the 29th Olympics are: “Green Olympics”, “Scientific Olympics” and “Humanitarian Olympics”. To this end, greater importance has been attached to the treatment of air pollution and the seriousness of sandstorm has now been greatly alleviated; more plants have been grown and all streets are currently lined with shady and cooling trees. Characterized by both Chinese and foreign features, the wonderful designs of venues excel the nature; reminiscent of both the ancient and modern styles, the landscaping is beyond compare. As far as the concept of “Humanitarian Olympics” is concerned, sportsmanship, good manners, hospitality and courtesy are advocated.
One of the key jobs of the Olympic Games is to set the logo. The vivid and meaningful logo for the 29th Olympics displays the demeanor of the Chinese nation and embodies the Olympic spirit: the Chinese seal looks like both a dancing or running figure and the Chinese character of Bejing; the five rings interrelate each other, forming 2008.
As to Fuwa, its five-doll mascots: Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying and Nini, phonogramically means: Welcome to Beijing! Red, yellow, blue, green and black, the colors of the five rings were adopted for the dolls. The five auspicious and delightful mascots together create a record in mascot number in the history of Olympics.
Moreover, the slogan represents the objective of the 29th Olympics: One World One Dream. The universal aspirations are to be shared at the Beijing Olympics. “One World”: we share the same sky, same earth, same sun, same sentiments, same heart and soul, same code of conduct and same rules of competition; “One Dream”: we share the same hope, same pursuit, same expectations, same beatitude, same harvest and same honor. The centennial Olympics shall be blessed with enduring charm. The dream of one world shall finally come true in the Beijing Olympics.
My heart has been so deeply touched by the love between the heaven and earth and grandeur of our landscape that I can not help raising my head skyward and exclaiming: Long live, Olympics! Long live, Beijing! Long live, China!
