Date:30/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/30/stories/2008013058060300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Display on preparations for Olympics

Special Correspondent

‘It depicts the enthusiasm of China to hold the event in a grand manner’

BANGALORE: A three-day photography exhibition on the preparations for the forthcoming Beijing Olympics commenced here on Tuesday as part of the promotional exercise for the mega sporting event.

Inaugurating the exhibition, which is being jointly organised by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and India-China Friendship Association (ICFA), Union Minister of State for Planning M. V. Rajasekharan said the exhibition depicted the enthusiasm of China to hold the Olympics in a grand manner.

‘Shaping destiny’

Hailing the efforts being made by India and China to strengthen the ties between them, he said both the countries would shape the destiny of the world in the coming days. China is strong in hardware technology, while India is solid in the software field. We will emerge as world leaders in computer technology if both of us join hands,” he said and noted that both the countries could play a significant role in educational field.

Chinese Ambassador in India Zhan Yan described India as a “great neighbour and a friendly nation.”

Theme

Pointing out that the theme of the Beijing Olympics to be held in August 2008 is: “One world, one dream,” he said: “It is the hope of the government and people of China that Beijing Olympics would contribute to the promotion of understanding and friendship among the countries and their people, and to the building of a harmonious world of durable peace and common development through sports competition.” In this sense, he said, the Beijing Olympic Games was not just confined to China, but also related to the rest of Asia and the entire world.

‘Time to co-operate’

Pointing out that India had already commenced the preparations to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games, he said it was time China and India learnt from each other and co-operated for the common objective.

ICFA Karnataka unit President V. Bhaskaran said the association was planning to send two separate teams of sportspersons and journalists to witness the Beijing Olympics.

The former Speaker of the Assembly Krishna and ICFA president Kagodu Thimmappa also spoke on the occasion.