The true success of the Olympic Games lies in the hearts of the people, beyond all the technical details and infrastructure, Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis has said.
In a recent interview with Xinhua, Kaklamanis said the more people show their love for the Beijing Olympic Games, the more successful the event will be.
Kaklamanis, who is scheduled to visit China on Aug. 6-10, will attend the opening ceremony of the Games.
He said the Organizing Committee of the Beijing Olympic Games has done a good job in its preparation work and promotion of the values and ideals which the Olympic Games represents, such as tolerance, equality, fair play and, above all, peace.
"In the end, visitors and television viewers remember not only the triumph of the Games, but also the hospitality, love and friendship conveyed through the peaceful coexistence of so many different people in one place for this very important purpose. That is, all of those elements which make up the magical moments -- both big and small -- of the Olympic Games," said Kaklamanis.
"In 2004, we implemented and shared our vision of the Olympic Games on a 'human scale.' The Olympic Games was rebaptized in the Olympic ideals and inspired anew by the values of peace, cooperation and culture," he said.
He believed that the key message which Athens conveyed to the world is that the Olympic ideals invalidate any threat of the clash of civilization and instead stress a convincing argument for the unification of different cultures.
"We must not forget that, as individual and collective activities, the Olympic Games and sports are fundamental cultural phenomena. And as a genuine cultural indicator, sport is, above all, an educational process," the mayor said.
When talking about the negative reports about the Olympic Games, Kaklamanis said that no Olympic host city has escaped criticism from certain individuals.
He said constructive criticism can potentially work in support of the host city while ill-willed criticism is of little use.
"I believe that the best you can do is to make your greatest efforts, not to convince but to impress them," said Kaklamanis.
Athens has held the Olympic Games and Beijing will do it in succession at the beginning of this century, Kaklamanis said, as cradles of civilization, both Athens and Beijing set an ideal example of cooperation.
He said the Athens' municipal radio station has signed an agreement with China Radio International that would allow the broadcasting of news and other information in the Chinese language in Athens.
"I consider this cooperation very important as it promotes cultural exchanges and facilitates the life of Chinese people in Athens," said Kaklamanis.
Kaklamanis has not been in China before and is looking forward to his visit to Beijing, especially at this special moment.
"I am particularly happy that I will visit Beijing on an occasion which is of vast significance to both cities," he said.
Kaklamanis said he hoped the Olympic torch will take on a second function.
"It will not only enlighten the sports and cultural event, but also serve as an eternal beacon which guides humankind to move along the path of peace and cooperation once and for all," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2008)