The solemn flag-raising ceremony of the Chinese delegation to the 2004 Athens Olympics turned into a party with singing, dancing, music and a surprise visit from former International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch.
Around 200 athletes, coaches and officials, headed by Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) President Yuan Weimin, attended the ceremony at the Athens Olympic Village.
The ceremony started with a traditional Greek dance accompanied by bagpipes.
Ioannis Manos, manager of the village, then announced the raising of the flag and delivered a welcoming speech.
"It's so thrilling to see the flag of my nation raised here because it means another Olympic campaign has started," said Le Maosheng, Chinese weightlifting world champion. "I feel filled with power and I think that I am now ready for the Games."
"I felt the greatest honor to attend this ceremony because China is a big country and Beijing will be the next Olympic city," said Iraklis Grous, a Greek volunteer who raised the Chinese flag. "I am a little bit scared because I know how important it is," said the 20-year-old, who returned to Athens from the United States, where he studies.
China is sending a 633-member delegation, including 407 athletes, the biggest in the nation's history and one of the largest at the Games. Its goal is to bring home at least 20 gold medals and maintain its third-place position on the medals table.
"Everything is fine with the delegation and we have had a good reception here," said COC Vice President He Huixian. "There will many challenges ahead, but we are confident that we will meet our goal."
The sudden appearance of Samaranch just before the flag was raised caused a stir, and the delegation enthusiastically applauded the past IOC president.
Samaranch said that he believes China will be very successful in Athens, and that a brilliant showing this summer will ensure even greater success on home soil during the 2008 Beijing Games.
Samaranch expressed confidence that China would take home a large haul of medals.
He also praised Athens, saying that all was going well so far and that if the momentum was maintained it would be a very successful Games.
The Olympics will start on August 13. A record 11,000 athletes and 5,500 team officials from 202 national Olympic committees are participating, along with more than 45,000 volunteers and 21,500 media representatives.
(China Daily August 10, 2004)
