Chen

The following is a message to the nation from Chen Jinghua, ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Jamaica, on the occasion of the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing.

Today marks the opening of the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing, China. On this auspicious occasion, I would like to invite all the Jamaican friends to share with us the exciting moment in China's history.

In 1908, three questions in relation to the Olympic Games were put forward in a magazine in China: When will China send one athlete to the Olympic Games? When will China send a team of athletes to the Olympic Games? And when will China host an Olympic Games? Thanks to the continuous efforts of the Chinese people and the valuable support from the people across the world, Beijing was finally given the chance seven years ago of hosting the Olympic Games in 2008. It has taken China a whole century to make the dream come true.

A hundred years ago, Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the International Olympic Committee, introduced the idea of culture to the Olympic Games. Since then, the Olympic Games has embraced more and more cultural elements and created universal values of peace, unity, friendship, progress and harmony. It is with this spirit that China has put forward 'One World, One Dream' as a profound manifestation of the core concepts of the Beijing Olympic Games. 'Harmony of Man with Nature' and 'Peace Enjoys Priority' are the philosophies and ideals of the Chinese people.

Grand occasion

We see the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as a grand occasion to amplify and promote the modern Olympic philosophy, to display the ancient Chinese culture, Beijing's historical and cultural heritages and Beijing today, and to expand cultural exchanges and deepen understanding among the people of the world with a view to promoting harmonious development of mankind. It is our firm belief that, with the care and support of the people all over the world, China has the resolve, confidence and ability to present to the world a best-ever Olympic Games.

I believe that Jamaican people have a special reason to feel proud of themselves when talking about Olympic Games. It is only fitting for me here to express my best wishes to the Jamaican athletes for their best performances in Beijing.