Street talk: People proud to be part of history

Yao Ming (Houston Rockets' center and China's basketball backbone): "At this moment, I feel I am closer to the Beijing Olympics. I will cherish every day up to the 2008 Games and do my utmost to get a good result on home soil."

Liu Xiang (China's track star and 110 hurdles world record holder): "The honor and pride of taking part in the Olympics on home soil are so huge that I won't feel regret even if I don't win in Beijing."

Yi Jianlian (China's young basketball star and NBA rookie): "The Bejing Olympics is significant for all Chinese people. We will remember it for the rest of our lives. Now, I am ready."

Xu Haifeng (Marksman and China's first Olympic gold medal winner): "Many people are tipping China to top the medals table in Beijing, but I think it will be very difficult to beat the United States and Russia."

Guo Jingjing (China's diving diva and double gold winner at the 2004 Athens Games): "The Beijing Games will be my fourth Olympics. There is only a year left and I will be working hard to make sure I am at my peak in 2008."

The following comments are from visitors to the China Daily website:

sstina: "I'm a Chinese student in Beijing. I'd love to be a volunteer at the Olympics so I can help thousands of foreign visitors to China. Our Olympic Games will be the best ever."

ronglimeng: "I hope when the Chinese Taipei delegation marches into the stadium at the opening ceremony, all Chinese in the stadium stand up and give them a big welcome. I'm sure the 2008 Olympics will be a big success."

sunofsnow: "I would love to watch the Olympics in Beijing. I feel so proud the Games are being held there and it would be an honor to watch them. But as a student in Guangdong, Beijing is far from me, and it will cost too much to go there. So I will stay at home, stare at the TV and enjoy the live show. Good luck to all those who get to see events live."

(China Daily 08/09/2007 page6)