Ceremony honors Games champions

By Lei Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-30 14:13

"We have stamped China's red seal on the history of the modern Olympic movement," said President Hu Jintao as he greeted Chinese Olympic heroes who were honored at a huge gathering of 6,000 people at the Great Hall of the People Monday.

President Hu Jintao greets Olympic and Paralympic medalists at the Great Hall of the People Monday. [Xinhua]

The country has also fulfilled its commitment of delivering a "high-level Olympic Games with distinguished features", he said at the grand ceremony attended by all top leaders.

"After seven years of hard work, China fulfilled its solemn promise to the international community that it would organize a wonderful Games," Hu said.

Altogether, 340 teams and organizations and 566 individuals were awarded for their outstanding work for the Olympics and the Paralympics. They included representatives from more than 1.7 million volunteers, staff members of the organizing committee BOCOG, medal winners at both Games, and media groups.

BOCOG and the Hong Kong sub-committee for the Olympic equestrian competition were among those awarded. Zhang Yimou, director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the two Games, also received an award.

The Olympic news center of China Daily was among the prize-winning media groups. Xie Songxin, the team's director, also received an award.

"Working for the Games was a great experience that will help me all my life as I have learned a lot from it," Wan Lipeng, an award winner from Peking University, told China Daily.

On behalf of the Chinese people and the government, Hu expressed gratitude to the Olympic family, the international community and the participating countries and regions, as well as those who made great efforts and sacrifices for the Games.

He thanked overseas Chinese for their support, citing their donations for building Olympic facilities such as the National Aquatics Center, or the Water Cube.

Vice-President Xi Jinping said: "The successful hosting of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics has carried forward the Olympic spirit and improved understanding and friendship between the Chinese and people from the rest of the world."