Bush: plans to attend Beijing Olympics remain unchanged

LONDON, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush said on Thursday that he would attend the 2008 Beijing Olympics as scheduled.

"I'm going to the Olympics. I view the Olympics as a sporting event," Bush told the BBC in an interview aired on the day.

As for Hollywood movie director Steven Spielberg's withdrawal from Beijing Olympics as an artistic adviser over alleged concerns over the violence in Sudan's Darfur region, Bush said he had no reason to use the Olympics as a way to highlight such issues.

"I have a little different platform than Steven Spielberg, so I get to talk to President Hu Jintao," the president said.

Spielberg Wednesday announced his decision to quit the upcoming Olympics as an artistic adviser, citing concerns over the violence in Darfur, which he linked to the Chinese government.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular press conference Thursday that China has exerted positive efforts to resolve the Darfur issue, and that linking the issue to the Olympic Games will not help and is against the Olympic Spirit that separates sports from politics.

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Chinese, British singers sing "Same Song"

Chinese-American singer Kris Phillips, known in China as Fei Xiang, performs at China Central Television's "Same Song" concert in London on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008.


BEIJING, Feb. 13 -- China Central Television's popular "Same Song" concert series reached Europe for the first time on Tuesday night.

With its long-standing format of star singers performing one by one, the "Same Song" show in London featured such veterans as Fei Xiang, George Lam, Zhu Zheqin and Ah Niu. The night's theme highlighted the Beijing Olympics this summer, and several British artists joined in the spirit to show off their voices.

The "Same Song" series has become a brand of China Central Television, which rallies star performers to tour around China. It has hit North America several times, and has been well received by audiences, especially overseas Chinese.


Singer Guo Feng leads Chinese students in London in a chorus at China Central Television's "Same Song" concert tour on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008.


Indie musician Zhu Zheqin performs at China Central Television's "Same Song" concert in London on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008.


Hong Kong singer George Lam performs at China Central Television's "Same Song" concert in London on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. (Source: CRIENGLISH.com/cnsphoto)



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Olympic exhibitions in Hongkong

Visitors look at torches displayed at an exhibition on the history of Olympic Games in Hong Kong February 14, 2008. Hong Kong will hold the equestrian event of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in coming August. [Agencies]

Visitors view a wooden bicycle make in 1800 at an exhibition on the history of Olympic Games in Hong Kong February 14, 2008. Hong Kong will hold the equestrian event of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in coming August. [Xinhua]

A visitor looks at a display object at an exhibition, on the history of the Olympic Games, in Hong Kong February 14, 2008. Hong Kong will hold the equestrian event of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in coming August. [Agencies]

Visitors pose with Fuwa, the mascot for the Beijing Olympics, at an exhibition on the history of Olympic Games in Hong Kong February 14, 2008. Hong Kong will hold the equestrian event of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in coming August. [Xinhua]
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Olympic Museum focuses on China

A visitor passes by the poster.

The poster of the exhibition.

A model of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest.


A big balloon hanging on the museum's ceiling carries five Chinese characters which read east, west, south, north and center.



A visitor is touring a hall with the theme of "Architecture, Urbanization, and Environment".

The hall of "Sports and Societ". [IOC]

Smiling faces of the workers of the Olympic projects. [IOC]

BEIJING -- An eight-month exhibition on the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is being held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, where the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is located.

On February 6, the eve of the lunar New Year, a grand opening ceremony was held, with the ribbon cut by Hain Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Beijing Olympic Games; Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland Zhu Bangzao; and Lausanne Mayor Daniel Brelaz. The mascots of the Beijing Olympics and a dragon and lion dance performance featured the ceremony.

The exhibition will be a chance to discover both modern China with the Olympic Games acting as a catalyst, and traditional China, the IOC said.

Speaking about the development of sports in China, the IOC said China invented and adopted a wide variety of sports and games (qigong, martial arts, archery, polo and football); that in the 1970s, it played a major role in the Sino-American relations. People can find out about sport and those who practice it in modern China, and the history of Olympic sports in China.

The visitors can discover Town Planning & Architecture and Environment at the other area. Town Planning & Architecture reveal the Forbidden City, the inner city and the outer city, with models of the Olympic venues and an explanation of how the Games are a part of the planning of the city and combine futuristic development with ancestral symbolism.

A film specially created by the Beijing City Planning Exhibition Hall traces the urban history of Beijing, from the Forbidden City to the Olympic venues.

During their visit, the audiences would stop to watch a film, discover an object or text and listen to or look at exclusive audio and photographic documents.

Art performances, symposiums, knowledge contests and other cultural activities will also be held to offer the visitors of different ages with different cultural backgrounds from different circles an opportunity to interact.

Parallel to the exhibition, a vast program of educational and cultural events will take place in five main phases, from February 6 to October 16 in 2008.

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Jackie Chan films video to promote Beijing Olympcis

Hong Kong action movie star Jackie Chan poses with a horse in this photo taken on Feb.11, 2008, seen in his official blog, as he films a promotional video for the Beijing 2008 Olympic equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong action movie star Jackie Chan poses with a horse in this photo taken on Feb.11, 2008, seen in his official blog, as he films a promotional video for the Beijing 2008 Olympic equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong.


Hong Kong action movie star Jackie Chan smiles to a horse in this photo taken on Feb.11, 2008, seen in his official blog, as he films a promotional video for the Beijing 2008 Olympic equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong.

HONG KONG - Jackie Chan traded his fighting fists for riding boots and a saddle to promote the Beijing Olympics' equestrian event, which will be held in his hometown Hong Kong.

In the 30-second video, Chan urges audiences to visit Hong Kong to watch the event and introduces various local tourist sites, Mayee Tang, a spokeswoman for the Hong Kong Tourism Board, which is producing the video, said Wednesday.

Chan recorded the dialogue in both English and Mandarin Chinese, and the video was to be aired in Chinese mainland and foreign markets, Tang said.

Photos posted on Chan's official Web site show the action star sitting on a horse, resplendent in a black helmet, black suit jacket, white tie and black boots.

Chan's video, shot Monday, highlights efforts to promote one of the Olympics' more low-profile events.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club, which controls horse racing in the former British colony, has spent about US$100 million (euro69 million) on upgrading existing venues and building new ones for the Olympic equestrian competition, which will take place August 9-August 20.

In other promotional efforts for the Beijing Olympics, Chan also recorded the event's official one-year countdown song, "We Are Ready."

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Speedo unveils new swimsuit for Olympics

American Olympic medalists Amanda Beard, left, Natalie Coughlin, right, and Michael Phelps pose with in new, high technology Speedo LZR Racer swimsuits they will wear during the Beijing Summer Olympics this summer during a news conference introducing the suits in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008.

Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Michael Phelps of Ann Arbor, Michigan, adjusts his swimsuit as he answers reporters' questions while wearing a Speedo LZR racer swimsuit following a news conference introducing the high technology suit in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008.

Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Michael Phelps poses in a Speedo LZR racer swimsuit following a news conference introducing the high technology suit in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008
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Vancouver marks two-year countdown to 2010 Olympics

The countdown clock for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games is seen in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia February 12, 2008. The clock is set to count down to the moment the opening ceremonies begin.

The countdown clock for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games is seen in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia February 12, 2008. The clock is set to count down to the moment the opening ceremonies begin.

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Olympic subway line scheduled for trial in June

Updated: 2008-02-16

BEIJING - A new subway line, which runs through the complex of stadiums, gymnasiums and parks for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, is to begin trial operation on June 1, a local rail traffic official said here on Saturday.

The Olympic Green station of Olympic branch line.

Construction of the subway tunnel and stations has been completed, the official said.

The 4.4-km-long line starts from Beitucheng, near the northern fourth ring road, and travels underground through the gymnasium of swimming, the venue for the Olympiad opening ceremony, the Olympic Park and the Forest Park. It has four stops.

Beijing currently has 95 km of mass transit railway lines in operation, of which 54.15 kilometers were build underground.

The city will increase the number of subway lines to nine with a total length of 200 km by 2008, and bring them to 19 totaling 561.5 km by 2020, according to Beijing's city planning authorities.

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Athletes allowed to blog from Beijing Olympics

The International Olympics Committee today gave its official approval for athletes to blog while at the Beijing games in August, providing that they do not publish media of the event or Olympic properties. Reuters reports that the IOC recognizes blogging as a form of personal expression, and not that of a journalistic nature. An additional stipulation states that any postings must adhere to the Olympic spirit, being "dignified and in good taste." The IOC is also concerned that China's record for human rights and censoring of online content will somehow create an issue for athletes.

Athletes that participated in the 2004 Athens and 2006 Turin Olympic games have run Blogs, but were not officially recognized by the IOC, and were the subject of some debate.
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Kaka hopes to play at Beijing Olympics

Kaka of Brazil raises the FIFA World Player 2007 award during the FIFA World Player of the Year awards ceremony in Zurich Dec. 17, 2007.

ROME, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- World player of the year Kaka said Thursday he hopes to play for Brazil in Beijing Olympic Games in August.

AC Milan's striker Kaka has won almost every club and individual honor there is in football except one title, that of Olympic champion.

Indeed, it is the only title Brazil have yet to win despite being crowned world champions a record five times.

Speaking at a World Food Program 'Fill the Cup' campaign, Kaka admitted he would like to be selected as one of the three players over 23 years of age permitted in each squad in China.

"I would like to (play) but I will leave it up to the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) and Milan to decide," he said.


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