Fuente: © Beijing 2008
http://en.beijing-2008.org/

BEIJING 2008:Cultural festival aims at bringing the world together ahead of Games

/noticias.info/ The 6th Beijing 2008 Olympic Cultural Festival will liven up several Chinese cities, including Beijing and Qingdao, between June 23 and September 16. All of Beijing will be celebrating during the festival, a glorious build-up to the Games and a wonderful stage for the display of artistic gifts from both domestic and international talents.

Through varied activities, this festival will showcase the unique culture of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, highlighting the successful blending of tradition and modernity and displaying the independent strength of the athletic character. International artistic groups have been invited to Beijing to take part in the activities, adding to the worldly atmosphere and the festive spirit of the Olympic Games.

As an important cultural platform for this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games, the festival fully incorporates the slogans "One World One Dream" and "Transcendence, Equality, Integration." As a glowing example of the harmony between culture and sports, athletes and fans, competitions and friendly activities, Chinese specialties and international conventions, the celebration is people-oriented and will allow both domestic and international artists to display their skills. Theater acts, exhibitions, group cultural and sports activities, movies, conference discussions, open air concerts, activities for persons with disabilities and youth, etc. are all part of the plans.

According to IOC regulations, as co-host cities for the Olympic Games, Qingdao, Hong Kong, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Qinhuangdao must host Olympic cultural festivals. Different activities will be held in those cities as part of this session.

On the evening of June 23, a grand presentation will be held at Beijing's Century Theatre to kick off the almost three-month long festival, complete with artists from Greece, the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games.

The opening will be followed by cultural shows including groups from all over the world, with 1,747 acts alone being performed at the Century Theatre. Symphonies, pop music concerts, vocal concerts, ballet performances, modern dance performances, folk dance performances, operas, dramas, acrobatic shows, and orchestral performances are just among a few of the kinds of entertainment that will be available during the festival.

365 exhibitions from both domestic and international sources will be on display as well, presenting handicrafts, calligraphy, photographs, posters, moving art, clothing, valuable collections, etc. for all to see.

Eighteen of Beijing's districts and counties will host 872 planned activities, including a large-scale program to put on view China's traditional lanterns. This is in keeping with the design of the Cultural Festival Symbol, which shows a man and a lantern engaged in joyful dance. Lanterns are part of every traditional Chinese celebration. As a symbol of togetherness, lanterns represent the soul of traditional Chinese culture.

The fourth session of the Beijing International Sports Film Week will be going on during the festival. Over 40 films with origins in more than 10 countries will be put on the big screen here in Beijing. In addition, numerous Chinese-based movies will have their debut at the film festival, including Olympic-related movie titles.

The opening ceremony for the Beijing International Sports Film Week will involve simultaneous presentations at movie theaters throughout the capital

The core concept of the Paralympics will continually be promoted; BOCOG has teamed up with several of the cities major organizations for people with disabilities in order to allow these special persons to demonstrate their artistic talents and courageous spirits.

The 6th Beijing 2008 Olympic Cultural Festival is the largest, most comprehensive activity used to promote culture and Olympic ideals before the opening ceremony of the Games begins. An important part of the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, the festival will allow guests to experience the unique culture of the host country of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, as well as enjoy the rare chance of absorbing such a variety and quality of artistic performances, all while soaking in the brilliant atmosphere brought about by the splendor of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. notas_de_prensa_archivo