When Beijing won the race to host the 2008 Olympic Games it caused a great sense of excitement and jubilation in China's capital. Beijing won out over Toronto, Paris, Osaka and Istanbul to become the first city in China to host an Olympic Games.
When the announcement was made by outgoing Olympic president Juan Antonio Samaranch, it was greeted with wild scenes of jubilation from the Chinese delegation in Moscow, and with fireworks in Beijing itself. More than 200,000 people packed into Tiananmen Square to celebrate the news - the largest spontaneous demonstrations since the democracy movement of 1989. From officially staged firework displays to spontaneous cheering and hooting of car horns from the massive crowds who brought the streets of Beijing to a near standstill, there was no doubting the genuine delight in China at the International Olympic Committee's decision. "Smiles everywhere, joy ignites," read the headline in the Beijing Morning Post. Even top political leaders, including President Jiang Zemin, joined the crowds, grinning broadly and hugging ecstatic revellers.
"Comrades, we express our deep thanks to all our friends around the world and to the IOC for helping to make Beijing successful in its Olympic bid," said the President.
China's nationalist rival Taiwan welcomed the Olympic decision, with many believing that it could reduce the military and political tensions between the two countries.
As the capital of the People's Republic of China, Beijing is the nation's center of government, economy, culture, and international activities, as well as serving as a transportation hub to the entire country. With a population of 11 million people, Beijing contains 18 districts and counties covering an area of 10,450 square miles. The suburbs contain: Dongcheng, Xicheng, Xuanwu, Chongwen, Chaoyang, Haidian, Fengtai, and Shijingshan. An outer suburban area consists of: Fangshan, Mengtougou, Changping, Tongxian, Shunyi, Daxing, Huairou, Miyun, Pinggu, and Yianqing.
Beijing commemorative coins circulate in Portugal Beijing News.Net Lisbon, (Xinhua) A total of 487,500 coins of 2.5 euros alluding to Portugal's participation in the Beijing Olympics are circulating at Continente supermarket subsidiaries for the benefit of the national olympic mission.
Egypt too supports Beijing Olympics Beijing News.Net Cairo, (Xinhua) Egyptian Olympic Committee president Mounir Sabet has expressed his support for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, saying that he is opposed to any boycott of the Games or attempts to mix sports with politics.
Intestinal infection toll mounts to 34 in China Beijing News.Net Friday with two more deaths reported from the eastern province of Anhui as nearly 25,000 people, mostly children, were infected, health ministry officials said Friday.
Nearly 140 Tibetan exiles arrested at anti-China demonstrations Earth Times Kathmandu - Nepalese police Friday detained nearly 140 Tibetan exiles during anti-China demonstrations in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu. For the second consecutive day, Tibetan exiles tried to...
Olympics course for sports journalists in Nigeria Beijing News.Net Lagos, (Xinhua) The International Olympic Committee in conjunction with the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) is to organise a high-level training course for sports journalists in Lagos. Tony Nezianya, NOC's Public Relations Officer, said that the course was to prepare the journalists for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games' coverage.
China modernising its nuclear arsenal to survive first strike Beijing News.Net London, : China is modernising, expanding and overhauling its nuclear weapons arsenal in order to compete with other major powers of the world and survive a first strike.
Olympic flame lights "Window of China People's Daily The Olympic flame moved on its journey Thursday in Guangdong Province, passing through Shenzhen, the &Window of China's Reform&. Shenzhen, which is going to host the 2011 Universiade, is...
China battles deadly EV-71 virus Los Angeles Times Chinese authorities have ordered local health officials to swiftly report all new cases of a fast-moving virus blamed for killing 28 children across the nation and infecting more than...
Death toll from child virus reaches 30 in China MSNBC The death toll from a viral illness that is striking children across China has risen by two to 30, health officials said Thursday, as the number of reported cases jumped to nearly...
Death toll from child viral disease up to 30 in China Examiner Ap Photo/Oded Balilty)China's Director General of Emergency Teng Zijian, left, Health Minister spokesman Mao Qun'an, center, and World Health Organization China representative Hans Troedsson attend...
Northwest to launch nonstop flights between Seattle and Beijing Yahoo Northwest Airlines will start new daily nonstop service between Seattle and Beijing in a move that will bolster the Pacific Northwest's trade ties with China and give travelers more...
Tibet tour ushers in golden period People's Daily As local climate turning increasing warmer, Tibet tour has ushered in the golden period after the region's sightseeing sites reopened to Chinese tourists during the Labor Day holiday from...
UK Architects RMJM To Design $90m Biotech Facility In Beijing Medical News Today Uk architecture firm RMJM has been appointed design architect for a state-of-the-art $US90 million biotechnology research and development centre in Beijing , it was announced recently. The new...
Beijing subway security checks hard to swallow Yahoo Workers in some subway stations in Olympic host city Beijing have started asking passengers carrying bottled drinks to take a swig to prove they are not carrying banned liquids...
Beijing Games may be Jamaica Gleaner Anthony Foster, Freelance WriterVERONICA Campbell-Brown, Olympic 200m and world 100m champion, said she is determined to win the double in Beijing because this may be her last Olympic...
Beijing promises safe food for Olympics athletes, audiences People's Daily The capital is able to guarantee food safety for athletes and audiences during the Olympics, a city official said in Beijing on Thursday. &Beijing has established a comprehensive food safety...
New health woes as China moves from famine to feast Reuters The government of the world's most populous country is in the unenviable position of having to deal with rural areas so poor that malnutrition is still a threat, while at the same time formulate...
Beijing to heighten transportation security for Olympics New Jersey Online ... amp;amp;#151; Passengers riding the subway and major bus routes in Beijing will undergo strict security checks starting at the end of June ahead of the Olympics, police said Friday. All...
Barbadian PM concludes China tour People's Daily Barbadian Prime Minister David Thompson left Shanghai for London Friday morning, wrapping up his five-day official visit to China. Thompson started his visit from Beijing on as a guest of...
China, Pak plan corp to build nuclear power plants Times of India China and Pakistan plan to set up a corporation to build nuclear and coal-based power plants in this country, and Beijing has agreed to expedite the delivery of six atomic power plants...
China hails doctor for raising child virus alarm Reuters A deadly strain of hand, foot and mouth disease has killed two more children in China, bringing the death toll in recent weeks to 32, state media said on Friday, as it praised a...
China producer price index up 8.1 percent in April Tampa Bay Online China's producer price index, a key inflation indicator, rose 8.1 percent in April over the same month a year earlier, the government reported, as a top economic official...
Farmers, herdsmen beneficiaries of Tibetan development People's Daily Tibetan farmers and herdsmen were better-off on the whole in 2007 and, by 2010, their average income is expected to reach the medium level among their peers in other provinces and autonomous region...
Beijing to relocate 20,900 rural dwellers by 2012 People's Daily Beijing plans to relocate 20,972 rural residents from mountains to plain areas or towns to improve their living conditions and the environment in the next five years. The relocations involve 8,557...
EU launches anti-dumping probe against Chinese wire rod People's Daily The European Commission launched Thursday an anti-dumping probe against wire rod from China, Moldova and Turkey, opening the fourth case targeting Chinese steel products in five months. &The...
China concerned over high grain prices Seattle Post-Intelligencer China said Thursday it is concerned about rising international grain prices and will provide $2 million to help the U.N. World Food Program provide aid to the...
Recovering Yao wants top-eight finish in Beijing The Seattle Times The Olympics are still three months away, and already Yao Ming is trying to work the officials. Recalling that he fouled out against the United States in his Olympic debut eight years ago, the...
China-EU trade expansion leads to reciprocity People's Daily Trade between China and the EU has kept rising significantly and benefited for all. That outweighs any debates on statistics about the bilateral trade surplus or deficit. Mr. Yu Yuantang, director in...
China may encourage firms to buy farmland abroad Market Watch Beijing is considering a plan to encourage Chinese companies to purchase farmland abroad in an effort to ensure stable food supplies, according to media report Friday.
Beijing making concert effort at Vatican Los Angeles Times When the China Philharmonic Orchestra performs for Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican next week, it will start with Mozart's religiously inspired Requiem and end with a popular Chinese...
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