BEIJING 2008:THE MEANING OF THE BID

      Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

     1)Bidding for the Olympic Games is, in a way, an image-creating 2)undertaking. The first and 3)foremost thing is to let people fall in love with the city at first sight, attracting them by its unique image. What image does Beijing intend to create for itself once it has the opportunity to 4)host the 2008 Olympics? It is known to all that the Beijing 5)Municipal Government has already set the theme for the future games: New Beijing, Great Olympics. For me, the 2008 Olympics will be a great green Olympics 6)illuminated with two more special colors -yellow and red.

     First, yellow is a meaningful color. The Yellow River is China’s mother river and the 7)cradle of Chinese civilization. We are of the yellow race and 8)descendants of the Yellow Emperor. This color has a special origin and great significance for the Chinese people. Beijing is the capital ofNew China and previously 1 the capital for nine dynasties in Chinese history. So, yellow will naturally add splendor 2 to the 2008 Games.

     Secondly 3, the 2008 Olympics will be a red 9)pageant 4.

    Red is another traditionally cherished color for the whole country. We adore red. On big occasions, we like to decorate our homes in red. It is the color of double happiness, representing joyous 5 moments, auspiciousness 6, enthusiasm and prosperity. Red is one of the most suitable colors to describe the future of Beijing. Beijing, together with the whole country, is becoming more and more prosperous in the process of modernization 7. Should the 2008 Olympics be held in Beijing, the whole city will be a sea of red: the red torch, red flags, red flowers, and the radiant faces of millions of joyful 8 people.

     Above all, the 2008 Olympics will be a green Olympics.

     Adding the green ingredient is essential in creating an appealing image, as we can’t deny the fact that Beijing, at the moment, is not as green a city as what we like it to be. Striving for an environmentally appealing city has become a central task for all the citizens of Beijing. Big efforts have been made in pollution control,10)replanting and beautification of the city. According to a project entitled “The Green Olympic Action Plan,” between 1998 and 2007, Beijing will have invested 100 billion RMB in preserving and protecting the environment. Some 12.5 million trees and over 1 million acres of grass will be planted along the Fourth Ring Road. By then, the city’s green area will make up 40% of its total. The city will also 11)dredge its 12)reservoirs used as a water supply to Beijing residents, controlling industrial pollution and moving out the 200 factories presently located within the city  proper.

     Certainly, all of this is no easy task. But I am sure that all of us have confidence that we will realize these “green” goals. For now we have the full support and participation 9 of the environmentally conscious citizens. Each citizen is showing great concern for every one of the steps the city government takes. As the saying goes, “United, we stand,” and a green Beijing will be achieved.

   When our aspiration 10 becomes reality, it will be a unique Olympics. “New Beijing, Great Olympics” will be weaved of these three superb colors: yellow, red and green.

Let us welcome it and look forward to it! Thank you!

北京2008：申奥意义之我见

新北京，三色新奥运

   女士们、先生们，下午好。

　 申办奥运会从某种角度上说是一个要塑造形象的工程。首先要做的和最重要的事情就是让人们对这个城市一见钟情，以城市自己独特的形象吸引他们。一旦北京成为二零零八年奥运会的主办国，她会为自己塑造一个什么样的形象呢？众所周知，北京市市政府已经为这届未来的运动会设立了主题：新北京，新奥运。对我来说，二零零八年奥运会将会是一届绿色的奥林匹克运动会盛事，与之交相辉映更有另外两种特别的颜色--黄色和红色。

　 首先，黄色是一种意味深长的颜色。黄河是中国的母亲河，是中国文化的发源地。我们是黄种人，是炎黄子孙。这种颜色对中国人民来说有着特殊的根源和重要的意义。北京是新中国的首都，也是从前中国历史上九个王朝的首都。所以，黄色自然会为二零零八年的奥林匹克运动会增添光彩。

　 其次，二零零八年的奥林匹克运动会将是一次红色的盛会。

　 红色是中国人民珍爱的另一种传统颜色。我们喜欢红色，在一些大节日里，我们喜爱用红色来装饰我们的家。红是双喜临门的颜色，象征着快乐的时刻、吉祥、热情和繁荣。红色是一种用来描述未来北京的最适合的颜色之一。北京和祖国一起在现代化的进程中正变得越来越繁荣富强。如果二零零八年的奥林匹克运动会在北京举行，那整个城市将会成为一片红色的海洋：红火炬、红旗、红花，还有亿万欢乐人民洋溢着红光的脸。

　 最重要的是，二零零八年的奥林匹克运动会将会是一届绿色的运动会。

　 要塑造一个吸引人的形象，加入绿色的一环是十分必要的，因为我们不能否认北京目前并非一个让我们满意的绿色城市的事实。努力成为一个环境喜人的城市已经成为北京市民的中心任务。这个城市在控制污染、植树种花和美化方面都作了相当大的努力。根据一个名为“绿色奥运行动计划”的方案，在一九九八和二零零七年之间，北京会在保存和保护环境方面投入一千亿元人民币。四环路沿线将会种上一千二百五十万棵树和一百万亩绿草。到那时候，这个城市的绿化面积将占总面积的40%。这个城市还将建水库给北京居民供水，控制工业污染和把两百家目前在规划区域范围内的工厂进行迁移。

　 当然，这可不是一个简单的任务。但我坚信我们有信心实现这些绿色目标，因为我们有具备环保意识的市民的全力支持和参与。每个市民都在热切关注市政府采取的每一个措施。俗话说得好，“团结力量大”，绿色的北京一定能实现。

　 当我们的期望变成现实，那将是一届独特的奥运会。“新北京，新奥运”将会由黄、红、绿这三种绚丽的颜色共同编织而成。

　  让我们期望并欢迎它的到来！谢谢！

　　　1) bid for 寻求，期望达到 

2) undertaking  n. 事业，承诺  

3) foremost  a. 最初的，最重要的

4) host  v. 主办   

5) municipal  a. 市政的，市立的 

6) illuminate  v. 照亮，使灿烂

7) cradle  n. 摇篮，发源地   

8) descendant  n. 子孙，后代

9) pageant n. 盛事，庆典注释：

10) replant  v. 再植，改种  

11) dredge  v. 挖掘   

12) reservoir n. 水库