CCTV´s Spring Festival Gala on snow storm

Snowfalls, the worst in decades have devastated southern, central and eastern China. The storms have brought death, building collapses, power blackouts, highway closures and crop devastation. The Chinese people have launched an all-out rescue and repair effort in disaster-stricken areas. CCTV's Spring Festival Gala, the country's premier entertainment show on New Year's Eve, will dedicate a full segment to draw attention to victims of the disaster. There are thousands of stranded passengers, still unable to make their way home. And the program will salute the rescuers heading for the devastated regions, trying to save lives.

Famed Chinese news anchor Bai Yansong, leads a list of 12 prominent television hosts who will take part in a poetry recital addressing the savage storms. The program is expected to send a message of comfort and concern for all those stranded while on their way home to families.

The segment runs after the Song of Farmers, midway through the four and a half hour show. Chinese actor Wang Baoqiang, star of the series "Soldiers' Attacks," will lead farm workers in a song, saluting their role in transforming the Chinese landscape.

The smooth linkage between the two segments is expected to add impact to the poetry recital.

Director Chen Linchun, says the segment is an impromptu addition to an already crowded line up. Non-headline programmes are being shortened to make way for the additional segment.

Director Chen Linchun, said, "The program is expected to buoy people's spirits. There is no way that we should be frightened by this storm. We see in this program a top-down effort to help in stricken areas. People are in danger, others are coming to help. "

The setting for the added segment is right in keeping with the theme of Spring Festival Gala 2008. The gala casts a keen eye on Chinese society, intended to reflect national values of the past and in years to come.

There's also a segment with an Olympics theme. The segment opens with an awe-inspiring display of basketball acrobatics. It carries on with "The Dream of a Century," which traces China's participation in previous Games. It takes note of past achievements of Chinese athletes and comes to a climax with the song One Dream, sung by people of many different nationalities.

Zhu Tong, Vice-director, cultural programming center, said, "Over a hundred years or so ago, China sent out its first ever athlete to the Olympics. Now that the Chinese people are trusted and blessed by the world to hold these very games in home terrain, it's huge. And it's reflected by a wide assortment of song and dance. "

Apart from the two special segments at the Gala, the line up remains fluid. Programs on the show may be subject to change, right up to the big night, next Wednesday.