Friday 8 August 2008

The 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, Begin 08.08.08 at 8pm

同一个世界同一个梦想

(One World, One Dream)

The "Dancing Beijing” emblem, depicting
a Chinese seal inscribed with the
character "Jīng" (
京), from the name of the
host city, in the form of a dancing figure.





Today 8th August 2008 at 20:00 (8pm Beijing time - 12:00 GMT) the 29th Olympiad begins with the opening ceremony at the 'Birds Nest' Olympic Stadium

The 2008 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the 'Games of the XXIX Olympiad', will be held in Beijing, People's Republic of China from 8th to 24th August, 2008 and will be followed by the 2008 Summer Paralympics from 6th to 17th September 2008.


The Summer Olympic Games, and the Winter Olympics are welcome sporting events which I and many others look forward to every four years.

This year the capital city of China, Beijing has the great honour to host the games, and the preparation has been meticulous and efficient, so these Summer Olympic Games should be one of the best ever.

The Olympiad is the premier sporting event which brings together the best sportsmen and sportswomen from around the world, irrespective of their race, religion, political, or other differences, and provides the venue for each and everyone of them to compete against each other on a level playing field for the glory of themselves and their respective countries.

Political and other issues should not be allowed to mar the true Olympic Spirit, the host nation must be especially careful not to let their actions to forcefully suppress any peaceful protests detract from the sporting spirit, as well as negate, to some extent, all the dedication, hard work and goodness that has been part and parcel of the seven year programme to prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

China has changed almost beyond recognition in the past four decades, of course not all the changes have been beneficial to everyone, but overall China has perhaps become a better place than it was when I visited the country several times in the mid to late 1960s.

There are still a lot of outstanding issues yet to be resolved, these include allowing more freedom of speech and expression, giving the citizens more human rights, reducing the inequality of wealth, healthcare and other benefits between the cities and the rural regions, and other important humanitarian issues.

The adverse effects of pollution, dams, and 'over development' are some other issues which have yet to be resolved

The Malaysian team are in Beijing, and all Malaysians will be giving them 100% percent support.
Hopefully there will be several medals returning home with them.

A message to all the Malaysian athletes -

Do your utmost, compete, strive to win, but no matter what the final results are, if you have each done your very best no one can expect any more. Good luck to you all.

The Beijing 2008 2008 logo is, I think, a very good one, but I was saddened and sickened to see the images below, which some 'creative' person has concocted to show how they perceive the logo was derived.

I am posting this here, not because I agree with the sick perception, but, in the interest of freedom of expression.






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Putting that aside:


May the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games begin well and continue to a successful conclusion, may it be filled with peace, harmony, good sportsmanship, sincerity, honour, equality for all and the spirit of true competition.

May today, 08.08.08, be the beginning of a new era in China, a catalyst for change which will benefit each and every citizen of China.



Quod bonum, felix faustumque sit!

- May it be good, fortunate and prosperous!



Quot homines, tot sententiae

- Many persons, so as many opinions

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