Chinese mark 100-day countdown to Olympics with sports, song

BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese people welcomed the upcoming Olympic Games in various ways on Wednesday, 100 days ahead of the gala.

In the northwestern Shaanxi province, a countdown placard for the Olympics was erected on the square of the Terra-cotta Museum in the capital city, Xi'an. The ceremony was attended by He Zhenliang, former vice-chairman of the International Olympic Committee and honorary chairman of China's Olympic Committee.

"I have tasted both the bitterness of loss and the happiness of success during China's two applications for hosting the Games," he said. "Now that it is just 100 days away, I believe that it will become a success and a milestone, both in world Olympic history and in China."

Liu Mei, a farmer who went to Xi'an just for the ceremony, appeared excited. "The Olympics is drawing near and it is quite a hot topic among us. We are also ready, to cheer for China, cheer for Beijing."

On the square in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet scarred by riots last month, the images of the five Fuwas (Beijing Olympics mascots) rendered in flowers attracted residents and tourists, who posed in front of the display for pictures.

More than 3,000 people, including students from Tibet University, performed Tibetan dramas and gymnastics. "We have rehearsed for quite some time, in the hope of showing the enthusiasm of we Tibetans for the Games," said 67-year-old Zhoigar. He was part of a group shouting "Good luck Olympics, Goodluck Beijing," followed by blessings in Tibetan language.

Many cars in the streets of Lhasa had a red sticker on their windows, which read "Support the Olympics, Cheer for Beijing."

Guo Qingshan, a businessman in the city, and several friends have been handing out the stickers for free in downtown Lhasa.

"We want to count down for the Olympic Games with more people in our own way," he said. "Lots of people asked for the stickers and the 5,000 we made have been given out."

In the northeastern Jilin province, students and residents in the capital city Changchun joined a long-distance run to mark the 100-day countdown.

The activity started at 9 a.m. despite strong wind. On the square of the municipal sports center, students were drawing on a 100-meter scroll and thousands signed their names on another that read "Support the Olympics with civility, love our country rationally."

"The activity reminded me that the Olympics is nearing and is just 100 days away," Li Xiulan said.

"There are many elderly people among the runners who insisted on being involved," said Guo Zhongjun, head of the Changchun city bureau of sports, adding that similar activities would be held to mark the 50-day countdown.

Some other cities also chose to mark the occasion with running, which is seen as a healthy way to celebrate.

Zhao Guangjin, a torchbearer in the northern Shanxi province, said he feels enormous responsibility. "I will accomplish my task successfully," he pledged.

Grandmother Bian Yue'e, 80, is the oldest torchbearer in Shanghai. "I run 400 meters every day as practice for the torch relay," she said. "We elderly people are ready!"

"My heart speeds up at the thought that the Olympic Games are coming ... I am so excited," said Zhou Yimin, a local citizen.

Ten people from areas including Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong mounted the peak of 6,178-meter Mt. Yuzhu in the Kunlun range in Qinghai at 11 a.m. on Wednesday to mark the day.

In the remote northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, people from various ethnic minorities, including Uygur, Kazak and Hui, performed their own dances in the squares of the capital, Urumqi, attracting some 5,000 spectators.

"It is the common wish of all ethnic groups that the Beijing Olympics is a great success," said Memet Sadik Abdulla, head of the regional sports bureau, who noted that Xinjiang would send a team of six athletes from five ethnic minorities to compete in four categories and 13 judges to work in the Olympics.

As the Beijing Olympics torch relay through other countries ended on Tuesday after a mix of warm welcomes and disruptions by "Tibet independence" forces, netizens signed their names in support.

On Sina.com, 8.1 million netizens including many from foreign countries signed to show support for the torch relay. Online forums held a fund-raising drive to buy national flags and sought "escorts" to ensure a smooth relay of the Olympic flame.