 Olympic torch lights the way to Xi'an
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-04 07:42
Editor's note: Xi'an Mayor Chen-Baogen is scheduled to delivere the following speech today to welcome the Olympic torch: The much-anticipated Olympic flame, a symbol of peace, friendship and progress, has arrived in Xi'an. The Olympic torch lighting in Xi'an is a long-cherished dream of the people. I wish to start by extending on behalf of Xi'an Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Xi'an Municipal Government and 8.3 million Xi'an people a very warm welcome to the arrival of the Olympic flame. The Olympic flame is a century-old dream of the Chinese people. It is also a dream of Xi'an people. Xi'an is one of the cradles of human civilization as well as Chinese civilization and Chinese sports. Early in the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907), sports like polo, tug-of-war, wrestling and Chinese weichi (the game of go) had masses of participants. Cuju, known as football in ancient China, was very popular as an elegant activity during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) 2,000 years ago.
For years, Xi'an has been made efforts to promote development of physical culture and sports by holding mass sports activities to improve the physical fitness of its people and build a harmonious society. Xi'an is also home to athletes who won medals at Olympic and Asian Games. Xi'an has been named one of the "Excellent National City of Mass Sports" for 12 consecutive years. Xi'an athletes have now put all their efforts into training before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games begin, striving for more achievement and medals. Beginning at the start of this year, about 40 activities with the theme of "People's Olympics, Travel in Xi'an" have been and will be widely held in the city. Holding the banner of "faster, higher and stronger", Xi'an is working hard for new victories in all respects and writing a new chapter in realizing people's dreams. Xi'an is one of the historic cities and ancient capitals of the world as well as a vigorous and dynamic modern city. It is a transportation hub, a base of higher education, science and research and equipment manufacturing, and a center of finance, technology, education, tourism, commerce and trade in the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River.
It is a city where ancient and modern civilization have been interwoven through time, a city where old and new show the elegance of the times, and a city where human resources and natural resource exist interdependently, all of which forge distinguishing features of Xi'an city. Gathering human resources and cultural relics, Xi'an enjoys a reputation of a national "natural museum of history". Xi'an has emerged as one of the most popular tourism cities in the world thanks for its unique and diverse tourism resources. It received more than 30 million visitors from home and one million from abroad in only last year. More than 100 heads of state and politicians from home and abroad have been to Xi'an. In the past 10 years, the growth rate of the city's GDP has remained at 13.3 percent. With rapid economic development, Xi'an has been upgrading the overall service of the city. As a result, the natural and residential environment and quality of life have been clearly improved. Xi'an is open to welcome tourists and investment from all over the world. Light the passion share the dream. The torch relay in Xi'an not only brings great Olympic spirit but also presents the city to the world with its ancient civilization, openness and innovation, vigor and vitality, beauty and harmony- the city provides numerous of opportunities to the outside world. Under the Olympic spirit, the people are stepping up efforts to build Xi'an into an international and modern city and going all out to support the Beijing Summer Olympic Games. Let's hold the Olympic torch, cheering for Xi'an, for China and for the Olympic Games. (China Daily 07/04/2008 page10) |
