Olympic fever grips Beijing ahead of 2008 Games

swissinfo.ch

China has officially launched the countdown for next year's Summer Olympics with a dazzling song-and-dance and fireworks display in Beijing.

The head of the Swiss Olympic delegation, Werner Augsburger, was among the country representatives attending the spectacle on Tiananmen Square 12 months ahead of the opening ceremony.

More than a million people made their way to the city park as sunshine broke through the smog for the first time this week on Wednesday.

Security was tight as uninvited guests tried to get into Tiananmen Square, where troops crushed pro-democracy demonstrations in 1989.

The sprawling plaza in the heart of the Chinese capital was the centre of celebrations as countdown clocks across Beijing and other host cities hit 8.08pm – exactly 12 months before the start of the Games opening ceremony on August 8, 2008.

The timing was specially chosen. Eight is considered an auspicious number in Chinese because it rhymes with the word for “prosper”.

A glance

But the cheers and shouts could not mask fears and concerns about pollution and human rights.

Police brought reinforcements to force back the hundreds who milled around the edges hoping to catch a glimpse of the action as arc lamps pierced the light haze above and Chinese pop singers performed to the crowds.

A group of Chinese celebrities stood together on stage to sing Beijing’s new anthem – the newly released pop song “We’re Ready”, watched by Chinese leaders, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and heads of delegations from all member countries.

“I was completely surprised by the spectacle and nobody expected it,” said the designated head of the Swiss delegation at the Olympics in Beijing, Werner Augsburger.

He was one of four Swiss representatives who took part in a series of meetings this week to prepare and discuss technical and logistical issues ahead of the Games.

“The organising committee has done a fantastic job and I’m sure it will be no different in a year from now,” Augsburger told swissinfo.

Olympic fever

Signs of the forthcoming sports event are everywhere in Beijing these days. The television channels broadcast special programmes and even music clips on the games.

The marketing appears aimed at bringing the whole country together for the 2008 Olympics.

The government has put the event very high on the political agenda despite international concerns about pollution and criticism by human rights organisations.

But observers say the authorities will use the Beijing Olympics to underline China’s position as a major power in the world.

swissinfo, based on an article in French by Mathias Froidevaux

Key facts

Beijing has a population of about 15 million people.
Financial investment related to the Olympics is estimated at SFr41 billion ($34.3 billion).
31 Olympic sites are being built for the 17-day event in August 2008.
Around 10,000 athletes from more than 200 countries are to take part and more than 500,000 foreign visitors are expected in Beijing and six other host cities.
302 events are planned in 38 Olympic disciplines.