The 2008 Olympic-themed
Chinese float "One World, One Dream" takes part in the 119th annual
Rose Parade in Pasadena, California January 1, 2008. [Photo:
www.bjd.com.cn]
The Beijing Olympic Float joined the renowned Pasadena
Tournament of Rose Parade in Los Angeles on Tuesday, giving the
show a spectacular flavor.
Millions of spectators from around the world cheered as the
Beijing Olympic Float passed.
The Rose Parade featured magnificent floral floats, high-
stepping equestrians and spirited marching bands, displaying the
tradition and pageantry for which it is renowned.
The Beijing Olympic Float, organized by the Roundtable of
Southern California Chinese-American Organizations and sponsored by
Pasadena-based Avery Dennison Corp., was one of the highlights of
the 119th Rose Parade.
This was the first time that the Chinese people from the
Mainland and overseas Chinese have joined their hands in
participating in the grand gala in its 119-year history.
The float represented the good wills of overseas Chinese to the
upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, organizers said.
The theme of this year's New Year's Day parade is "Passport to
the World's Celebrations." It featured 46 floats, 21 marching bands
and 18 equestrian units.
The Beijing Olympic Float themed "One World, One Dream" was a
generous gift from the Beijing Olympic Games to the American people
and the Parade, according to the organizers.
The float featured the upcoming Olympics' five official mascots
rotating on a base and decorated with a combination of flowers,
including carnations and daisy petals.
Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard said the Beijing Olympics Float
"celebrates a great international tradition of competition,
discipline and commitment to strong human values."
"The tournament views the float as I do, as a celebration of the
Olympic Games," Bogaard said.
"The Tournament of Roses, which now has a history extending over
119 years, is a nonpolitical organization," he said. "It celebrates
a great competition consistent with the theme of the Rose Parade
this year, which is the World's Great Celebrations."
"My sense is that the spirit of the day will be to celebrate the
strength and the positive achievements of people," Bogaard
said.
Richardson Rowe, a tourist from New York, said the Beijing
Olympic Float gave a new meaning to the Rose Parade on the new year
eve. "The beautifully-decorated float impressed me a great deal. It
serves as a vivid introduction to the Beijing Olympic Games," he
said.
This year's Rose Parade was broadcast on the American
Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the National Broadcasting Company
(NBC), Univision, HGTV, Travel Channel, Discovery HD as well as
several local television stations in the Los Angeles area. The
Parade was also seen in more than 150 international
territories.
(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2008)
