PASSION AND DREAM

　　　　　　　　○张文娟

Bidding for and hosting the Olympics successfully is perhaps the ultimate glory for a city. We, Chinese people, transformed this dream into reality on August 8, 2008, in Beijing.

During that night, across Beijing, people painted red Chinese flags on their cheeks and shouted,

“Go Beijing!”

“The historic moment we have long awaited is arriving!”

“Beijing welcomes you!”

“China is never more glorious than today. The whole world is watching us.”

“One world, One dream!”

I’m proud of my country. China is becoming richer and more powerful. The opening ceremony inspired national pride within Chinese people all over the world.

Fireworks lit up the sky over the National Stadium in Beijing during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games. The ceremony included 15,000 performers and was directed by China’s most famous director, Zhang Yimou. The stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, can hold 91,000 people. The global television audience for the ceremony was expected to surpass 4 billion viewers.

The ceremony focused on the ancient long history and the development of our country. The Chinese character “和”, which means harmony , was showed by the movable rows of Chinese characters. Thousands of actors held pictures of 2,008 smiling faces of children around the world, highlighting the Games’ theme of “One World, One Dream.” The Chinese national flag was raised during the ceremony. The former gymnast Li Ning lit the Olympic torch. Our athletes, in red and yellow suits of the national flag colors, were led by 7-foot-6 basketball star Yao Ming.

The ceremony was a great mixture of Chinese culture and technology. It’s wonderful! “The Beijing Olympic Games are truly exceptional Games,” said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge. That’s the perfect end of the seven-year wait. It must be remembered forever.

Let harmony be the guide!

Light the passion! Share the dream! （刊登在我校９月份的《育英报》）