Framed by the picturesque Laoshan Mountain range and wind-swept
by a cool sea breeze, several candidate families vying for the
status of "Olympic Family" began an environmental journey on
Saturday in Qingdao, Shandong Province at the request of the
Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad
(BOCOG).
The five selected families taking part in this activity hail
from Zhejiang, Henan and Shandong itself.
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"We hope to spread the message of the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the Olympic spirit to
more people around the world," said Yin Xiangmei, the mother of the
"cycling the world" family.
In 2002, this family began cycling round the world to promote
the Olympics. Having traveled over 100,000 kilometers in five
years, they covered most of China as well as Thailand, Laos,
Vietnam and other southeastern Asian countries.
She told China.org.cn, "Next, my daughter and I aim to travel to
the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and so on. Thus, we hope to let
the world know more about China."
As a retired worker from Qingdao and with a daughter studying in
college, the next step may be a difficult one, particularly since
Yin tragically lost her husband to illness last year.
The daughter Wang Yun added: "My family lost a member and a firm
supporter and it was very hard but we will not give up. We miss
him. We will go on. We will fully undertake my father's will.
Never, never give up – this is also part of the spirit of the
Olympics!"
Father Lin Shaomao with his kin operating under the "Love our
Olympics, love our families" theme thought it wise to have his
five-year-old daughter to this activity.
"Environmental protection is everyone's duty. Children are the
future and they should be aware of this at a young age. Although my
little daughter is only five years old, I want her to appreciate
the importance of environmental protection," he said.
After putting a cigarette into the black garbage bag, his
daughter Lin Jiayi cheerfully exclaimed: "Mommy, I picked up
30!"
"I hope my friends in kindergarten will help me protect our
environment! And I want foreign children to help us too. I love the
Olympics! I love our environment!" she said.
On April 9, the official website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games started the "Olympic Families Tour Beijing" campaign, which
will make it possible for ten families, five from China and five
from other countries, to tour Beijing and the co-host cities ahead
of the Olympic Games.
Since the launch of the campaign, a total of 1,972 families from
70 countries and regions have registered online to take part.
On the initiative of BOCOG's Media and Communications
Department, the selection will take place on the Web with the ten
winning families beginning their tour of Beijing and other
co-hosting cities in August 2007, one year ahead of the
Olympics.
The campaign will serve as a living embodiment of the Olympic
theme slogan "One World One Dream". Families with a keen interest
in the Beijing Olympics from around the world will be able to meet
other in a spirit of friendship and understanding.
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Wang Ke in Qingdao, May 28,
2007)
