"On sports field or in life, hardship and disasters only make us stronger," said Tan Guoqiang, a primary school teacher from the epicenter Wenchuan County. Despite the grief over the loss of his wife in the quake, Tan and his colleagues worked day and night searching for signs of life in the rubble of their collapsed school buildings.

Out of faith, Zhao Yifu, 61, ran his own marathon by walking six hours from his temporary shelter to feed water to his horse, three bulls and at least two scores of pigs and sheep.

"We have already seen the courage and determination of the Chinese people in another context. The world mourned the staggering loss of life from the earthquake in Sichuan Province and marveled at the courageous response by the Chinese people," said International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge on Monday.

He said the Beijing Games would be a "historic" one and would significantly advance the Olympic goals of universality and fair play.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2008)