Tue, August 05, 2008
BEIJING, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The 120th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) opened in Beijing on Monday, with Chinese President Hu Jintao attending the opening ceremony and pledging the hosting of a high-level Olympic Games in the Chinese capital.
"The Chinese government and people will honor their commitment, and do their utmost to host a high-level Olympic Games with distinguishing features," said Hu at the grand ceremony held in the National Center for the Performing Arts in central Beijing.
"It is also our hope that through the Games, we can show the world the sincere aspiration of the Chinese people to share the benefits of development and to join with the rest of the world in building a bright future," he added.
Calling the Olympic Games "the largest international sports and cultural event in the world" and "a grand celebration of friendship and peace for mankind," Hu said China hoped the Beijing Games would further promote the development of the Olympic Movement, further spread the Olympic spirit, and further enhance the cooperation in sports and other fields between China and other countries and regions.
Sport has played a vital role in promoting China's social and economic development, and served as a major bridge for China's exchange and cooperation with the outside world, said the president.
He also praised the modern Olympic Movement for its "outstanding contributions to the progress of world sport, the strengthening of friendship among athletes and people of the world, and the promotion of world peace and development."
In his speech, IOC President Jacques Rogge said that he believed the Beijing Games would be a "historic" one and would significantly advance the Olympic goals of universality and fair play.
The Beijing Games are already a "landmark event for the Olympic Movement," said Rogge. "The mere fact that the Olympic Games are coming to China -- home to nearly 20 percent of the world's population -- is significant."
The Games will also leave a great legacy for China, he said, adding that history will view the 2008 Olympics as a significant milestone in China's remarkable transformation.
The annual IOC session was convened just four days before the opening ceremony of the 29th summer Olympic Games, scheduled to be staged in the National Stadium in north Beijing on Friday evening. The session ends on Aug. 7.
Prior to the opening of the IOC session, President Hu also had meetings with Jacques Rogge, IOC Honorary President Juan Antonio Samaranch, and Chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Beijing Olympics Hein Verbruggen.
