Speech by Jacques Rogge at the Closing Ceremony

罗格宣布北京奥运会闭幕 称其”真正的无与伦比”

Date: 2008-08-24

IOC president delivers a speech. (ChineseHour.com)

——— WATCH Jacques Rogge’s video here ———

Dear Chinese Friends,

Tonight, we come to the end of 16 glorious days which we will cherish forever.

Thank you to the people of China, all the wonderful volunteers and BOCOG!

Through these Games, the world learned more about China, and China learned more about the world. Athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees came to these dazzling venues and awed us with their talent.

New stars were born. Stars from past Games amazed us again. We shared their joys and their tears, and we marvelled at their ability. We will long remember the achievements we witnessed here.

As we celebrate the success of these Games, let us all together wish the best for the talented athletes who will soon participate in the Paralympic Games. They also inspire us.

To the athletes tonight: You were true role models. You have shown us the unifying power of sport. The Olympic spirit lives in the warm embrace of competitive rivals from nations in conflict. Keep that spirit alive when you return home.

These were truly exceptional Games!

And now, in accordance with tradition, I declare the Games of the XXIX Olympiad closed, and I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in London to celebrate the Games of the XXX Olympiad.

Thank you!

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亲爱的中国朋友们，今晚，我们即将走到16天光辉历程的终点。这些日子，将在我们的心中永远珍藏，感谢中国人民，感谢所有出色的志愿者，感谢北京奥组委。

　　通过本届奥运会，世界更多地了解了中国，中国更多地了解了世界，来自204个国家和地区奥委会的运动健儿们在光彩夺目的场馆里同场竞技，用他们的精湛记忆博得了我们的赞叹。

　　新的奥运明星诞生了，往日的奥运明星又一次带来惊喜，我们分享他们的欢笑和泪水，我们钦佩他们的才能与风采，我们将长久铭记再次见证的辉煌成就。

　　在庆祝奥运会圆满成功之际，让我们一起祝福才华横溢的残奥会运动健儿们，希望他们在即将到来的残奥会上取得优秀的成绩。他们也令我们倍感鼓舞，今晚在场的每位运动员们，你们是真正的楷模，你们充分展示了体育的凝聚力。

　　来自冲突国家竞技对手的热情拥抱之中闪耀着奥林匹克精神的光辉。希望你们回国后让这种精神生生不息，时代永存。

　　这是一届真正的无与伦比的奥运会，现在，遵照惯例，我宣布第29届奥林匹克运动会闭幕，并号召全世界青年四年后在伦敦举办的第30届奥林匹克运动会上相聚，谢谢大家！

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ChineseHour.com is your first place to learn Chinese online from native Chinese teachers at the comfort of your home or workplace.

—- Learn Chinese for Greetings —-
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Nihao! 你好! (Hello. How do you do?)
ni - you; hao - good

Nihao ma? 你好吗? (How are you?)

Hen hao. 很好。(Very good.)

Xiexie. 谢谢。(Thank you.)

four tones in Chinese.
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Any problems in this Chinese video lesson, please turn to our teachers online. ChineseHour.com is your first place to learn Chinese online from native Chinese teachers at the comfort of your home or workplace.p>

—-Learn to cheer in Chinese: Jia you! 加油! —-

Let’s learn to cheer in Chinese (Video):

Beijing! Jiayou!

Zhongguo (China)! Jiayou!

Aoyun (Olympics)! Jiayou!

Yao Ming! Jiayou!

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JIA YOU:
(1) add oil, refuel at the refuelling station for your cars;
(2) cheers; to make an extra effort;

I was at the Olympics and during the opening ceremony, I watched from outside the stadium. One person would shout something like “zhong guo!” or “ao yun!” and everyone would respond with “jia you”. Ask teachers from www.ChineseHour.com for details.

One Russian guy thought it was funny how people where cheering, so he decided to lead the cheer. He stared with “zhong guo!” but then started shouting “Russia!” and the Chinese still responded with “jia you!

So funny how they were so pumped up that they didn’t know what “Russia” means.

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Watch a TV commercial publicized by Sinopec which blends smartly the two meanings of “JIA YOU” in the advert:

中国石化奥运会广告-加油篇 (视频)

http://www.adtopic.net/Viewad.asp?ID=9104

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—-Read more about “Jiao you!”—-

老外眼中最牛”中国元素”竟是两个汉字 (张放)

JIA YOU: The most typical element in Chinese language in foreigners’ eyes

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Michael Phelps learns to speak Chinese

Michael Phelps (US) who won his eighth gold medal of the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 4×100m medley on Sunday, breaking the record for most in a single Games.

Phelps got everything ready before he started his Olympic visit to Beijing. He spent some time on Chinese learning over computer. He can speak Chinese a little bit for simple conversations. That’s enough. If he can spare more time on mandarin Chinese, probably he can win a ninth gold medal for Chinese learning in the near future, I bet.

Age: 23 (date of birth: June 30, 1985)

Place of birth: Baltimore, United States

2008 Olympic results:

Eight gold medals (400m individual medley, 4×100m freestyle relay, 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 4×200 freestyle relay, 200m individual medley, 100m butterfly, 4×100 medley relay)

Career achievements:

Seven gold medals at 2007 World Championships (200m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley, 4×100 freestyle relay and 4×200 freestyle relay)

Five gold medals at 2005 World Championships (200m freestyle, 200m individual medley, 4×100 freestyle relay, 4×200 freestyle relay, 4×100 medley relay)

Four gold medals at 2003 World Championships (200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley, 4×100 medley relay)

One gold medal at 2001 World Championships (200m butterfly)

Previous Olympic results:

Six gold medals at 2004 Olympics (100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley, 4×200 freestyle relay, 4×100 medley relay)

Two bronze medals at 2004 Olympics (200m freestyle, 4×100 freestyle relay)

Phelps is the most successful Olympian of all time with a career tally of 14 golds, five more than anyone else.

He broke fellow American Mark Spitz’s 1972 record of seven wins at a single Games after coming close to matching his mark at Athens four years ago when he collected six golds.

He has an unusual physique with a long torso and comparatively short legs, providing minimal resistance in the water.

His sister Whitney was a member of the US World Championship team in 2005.

ChineseHour.com is your first place to learn Chinese online with native Chinese teachers any hour of the day at your comfort of home or workplaces.

Athletic Events for Beijing Olympic Games

奥运会田径项目

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Athletics is, in many ways, the embodiment of the Olympic motto, “Citius, Altius, Fortius”, meaning faster, higher, stronger. Athletics (or track and field) is about running faster, jumping higher and throwing further than your competitors. Teachers from ChineseHour.com makes a list for you here to learn to speak Chinese online.

• 10000m Men 男子一万米

• 10000m Women 女子一万米

• 100m hurdles Women 女子100米栏

• 100m Men 男子100米

• 100m Women 女子100米

• 110m hurdles Men 男子110米栏

• 1500m Men 男子1500米

• 1500m Women 女子1500米

• 200m Men 男子200米

• 200m Women 女子200米

• 20km race walk Women 女子20公里竞走

• 20km walk Men 男子20公里竞走

• 3000m steeplechase Men 男子3000米障碍

• 3000m steeplechase Women 女子3000米障碍

• 400m hurdles Men 男子400米栏

• 400m hurdles Women 女子400米栏

• 400m Men 男子400米

• 400m Women 女子400米

• 4×100m relay Men 男子4*100接力

• 4×100m relay Women 女子4*100接力

• 4×400m relay Men 男子4*400接力

• 4×400m relay Women 女子4*400接力

• 5000m Men 男子5000米

• 5000m Women 女子5000米

• 50km walk Men 男子50公里竞走

• 800m Men 男子800米

• 800m Women 女子800米

• decathlon Men 男子十项全能

• discus throw Men 男子铁饼

• discus throw Women 女子铁饼

• hammer throw Men 男子链球

• hammer throw Women 女子链球

• heptathlon Women 女子七项全能

• high jump Men 男子跳高

• high jump Women 女子跳高

• javelin throw Men 男子标枪

• javelin throw Women 女子标枪

• long jump Men 男子跳远

• long jump Women 女子跳远

• marathon Men 男子马拉松

• marathon Women 女子马拉松

• pole vault Men 男子撑杆跳

• pole vault Women 女子撑杆跳

• shot put Men 男子铅球

• shot put Women 女子铅球

• triple jump Men 男子三级跳远

• triple jump Women 女子三级跳远

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