High points reward !!!!!!!!

The strong Chinese love into the "water cubic"

-Record of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan compatriots voluntarily donated to build the National Swimming Center

Date: 2003-12-26

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On December 24, the National Swimming Center officially began construction. Three years later, a novel and chic Olympic building - "water cube", will be her ice crystal-like bright posture and the Bird's Nest National Stadium relative contrast, together with the picturesque landscape of the Olympic Park. Unlike the other new venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, this sports facility, with a total investment of 100 million dollars, will be built by voluntary donations from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots. It will be a vehicle for compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to contribute to the first Olympic Games for the Chinese nation, to express their national sentiments and to realize the Olympic dream.

July 13, 2001, Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games was successful. When the good news came out, all the people of the world were overjoyed and rushed to tell each other, and the Chinese overseas were even passing the good news through different ways to share the incomparable happiness. An old man of Chinese descent who has lived abroad for more than half a century said excitedly that Beijing's successful bid for the Olympic Games is a further sign of the world's respect for the Chinese nation and a manifestation of its economic strength. Our motherland is strong, and we Chinese abroad feel proud. He said, in his memory, nearly a century, Beijing's successful bid for the Olympic Games is one of the major events that can make the Chinese all over the world to celebrate.

Donating money*** to build the Olympic venues is a strong*** same desire of overseas Chinese in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The first cash donor was a friend of the overseas Chinese media who attended the press conference on the construction of the Beijing Olympic venues by overseas Chinese compatriots from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Shortly after the success of the bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing entered an intense preparatory work. In the face of demands from the general public to contribute to the Olympics, the Beijing municipal government said it was not encouraging donations from the public as Beijing was confident and fully capable of hosting one of the best Olympics in its history. But here and there, calls from compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and from overseas Chinese continue to reach Beijing through different channels and are getting stronger.

They said the modern Olympic Games have a history of more than 100 years, and it is the first time that China has caught up with such an opportunity, and they said they wanted to make a small contribution to the Chinese nation's first-ever Olympic event. In late July last year, in order to meet the majority of overseas compatriots of this sincere strong desire, after repeated consideration, the Beijing Municipal Government decided to prepare for the construction of the Olympic venues in the selection of a, for the majority of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots to provide donations * * * build the Olympic venues, for the Olympic Games to contribute to the opportunity to the venue was finally designated for the National Swimming Center.

In order to do a better job of donating funds to the work of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots, the Beijing Municipal People's Government set up an office, the Beijing Municipal Committee of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Compatriots*** Building Beijing Olympic Stadiums (referred to as the *** Building Committee), as a specialized agency to manage this work; the office is located in the Office of Overseas Chinese Affairs of the Beijing Municipal People's Government. After repeated consultations with various parties, the ****Building Committee formulated the relevant regulations and methods and gradually introduced them to the society. on July 15, 2003, the Beijing Municipal Office of Overseas Chinese Affairs took the second anniversary of the successful bid for the Olympic Games as an opportunity to specially invite 56 Chinese-language media in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas to come to Beijing for interviews, and organized a press conference on the construction of Beijing's Olympic venues by ****Building Committee of Overseas Chinese in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese. As soon as the journalists heard that this was the event, they were particularly excited and arrived at the venue early. When the Beijing Municipal Office of Overseas Chinese Affairs Director, *** Building Committee Executive Deputy Director Qiao Wei introduced the situation, invited reporters to ask questions. Which know, contrary to the norm, no one asked questions, responded to a long period of warm applause. A senior reporter believes that such a situation is extremely rare in many years of interviews. This at least shows that the media on this matter is welcomed. The first person to stand up and ask a question was Duan Hongjun, publisher of the World Tribune from Taiwan, who said, "Forget everything else, can we donate 100,000 dollars first? I want to be first in line." Right after the press conference that day, a Japanese Chinese media reporter named Ouyang Lekeng found Qiao Wei. He gave Qiao Wei the only $1,000 he had on him for his father's medical treatment. The money became the first cash donation.

Mr. Henry Fok donated HK$200 million, and students at Chinese schools built by overseas Chinese in the United States gave $20 or $50 from their pocket money. The amount of money varies and is just a numerical concept, but their wish is the same - to contribute to the hosting of the Olympic Games in their hometown.

December 24, is Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots donated funds *** built the National Swimming Center to start the day. The Beijing Municipal Government invited more than 60 representatives of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas compatriots to attend the groundbreaking ceremony. Reporters interviewed them during these days. Among them, the amount of donations ranged from tens of dollars to tens of millions of dollars, but the sincere patriotic zeal they showed was touching.

The one just mentioned, Mr. Ouyang Lekeng, believes that this voluntary donation is like honoring one's parents, which is not the same as donating money to help one's friends. It is understood that Mr. Ouyang's parents are seriously ill in the hospital, the usual expenses are very large.

The National Association of Chinese Language Schools (NACLS) is an influential Chinese language education organization in the United States, which connects tens of thousands of Chinese families in nearly 300 Chinese language schools in the United States. The association's secretary-general, Ms. Chuang Jisan, said that in every Chinese school, students post the news they learn about China on the school's news bulletin board every day, and the day after Beijing's successful bid to host the 2008 Olympics, there were especially many posts in the bulletin board, and up until now, content about the Beijing Olympics has been seen often. Everyone felt especially proud. One of her friends told her that telling her colleagues in the United States about Beijing's successful Olympic bid was the proudest thing she had felt in her years in the United States.

After the association learned of Beijing's decision to accept voluntary donations from overseas Chinese for the construction of the venues, it held a special kick-off ceremony, which was followed by an outpouring of donations. Although most of the students donated only a few tens of dollars, it was all the pocket money they had saved up. The students all said that they wanted to show their love and support for their country with their limited abilities. Ms. Chuang Jisan added that many Chinese families donate money every day now, and it has become almost a major task for the association to accept donations.

Qiao Wei told reporters that a Filipino Chinese businessman must donate, but also to his just a few years old daughter to donate a copy of this money out of her year-end money. He said, in 2008, I want to take my daughter to Beijing, tell her, this Olympic Games also have a contribution to you. Later, when she has a child of her own, she will proudly tell her child that your mother made a contribution to China's first Olympic Games. This gentleman lamented that donating to the Olympics is not only a contribution to the Olympics, but it also gives us an opportunity to tell our future generations not to forget our bloodline and our Chinese roots. Interestingly, this gentleman only spoke Minnanese and needed his secretary Ms. Lin (Chinese) to do the Mandarin translation when talking to Qiao Wei. However, before the boss finished his talk, Ms. Lin approached Qiao Wei. Ms. Lin said, "I have to do everything after my boss's instructions, but this has to be done in front of my boss. She took out 1,400 U.S. dollars and said this is a donation from my family of 14 and we want to contribute to the Beijing Olympics.

Mr. Fok, who has made outstanding contributions to the development of sports in China, donated funds to build a swimming pool, a martial arts hall and a sports museum for the Beijing Asian Games back in 1990. It has always been his wish to host the Olympic Games in China, and in 1993, when Beijing made its first bid to host the Olympic Games, Mr. Fok made a wish that he would donate money and effort to build the Olympic venues in Beijing once the bid was successful. 2001, upon learning the good news of the success of Beijing's bid for the Olympic Games, Mr. Fok was thrilled to have the opportunity to make his own contribution to the Olympic Games hosted by his motherland. This time he decided to donate HK$200 million. His eldest son, Timothy Fok, said that the Beijing Municipal Government's decision to use the National Aquatics Center as a venue for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese to donate funds for the construction of the National Aquatics Center is not because the Beijing Municipal Government is short of money, and that the Government's decision was made solely for the purpose of respecting, conforming to and meeting the good wishes of the vast number of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese for realizing the goal of the "Centennial Olympics and the realization of China's dream". The decision was made solely to respect, comply with and satisfy the wishes of the majority of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese to realize the "Centennial Olympic Games, China's dream come true", and to create opportunities for everyone to participate in the Olympic Games.

Huang Zhiyuan, Chairman and President of the Cotai Group, said that overseas Chinese are like daughters who have married far away from home and have special feelings for their "mother's home". We are encouraged by the success of the Olympic bid, and every overseas Chinese is willing to add bricks and mortar to the Beijing Olympic Games.

Mr. Cai Ma You from Malaysia donated 500,000 U.S. dollars. He said he learned from the city's Overseas Chinese Affairs Office that he could contribute to the construction of the Olympic Games, so he decided to donate. If he had missed the opportunity, he would have regretted it forever.

The reporter learned from the city's Overseas Chinese Affairs Office that so far, more than 2,000 Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas compatriots have voluntarily pledged more than 70 million U.S. dollars, and has received more than 200 people from more than 20 countries and regions donated more than 12 million U.S. dollars. Those who donate more than US$100 from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots will leave the name of the donor on the floor tiles around the Olympic venues. This is not only a form of commendation, but also a way of telling the world that Beijing's hosting of one of the best Olympic Games in its history also unites the hearts and strengths of Chinese people around the world.

In order to show respect to the donors, the *** construction committee has formulated an incentive and management scheme for overseas Chinese in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and China to donate money for the construction of the Olympic venues: when the donation reaches 100 U.S. dollars, the person's name will be announced in the designated media and on a special Web site that has already been set up (www.bjgj-2008.gov.cn) unless the person has asked to keep it confidential. The name of the donor will also be engraved on a tile in a designated area. When a donation of $10,000 is made, a special wall will be set up to commemorate the donation, in addition to the name on the tiles. Whether it is an individual or an association, donors of more than 100,000 U.S. dollars, in addition to enjoying the above incentives, will be the guest of honor, invited by the Beijing Municipal People's Government to attend the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games. At the same time on the donation of 500,000 U.S. dollars, 1 million U.S. dollars and above, have made some arrangements. The person in charge of the relevant aspects to the reporter revealed that the name of the memorial tiles, will be arranged in the beautiful natural landscape, but also full of traditional Chinese culture next to the Olympic venues. To do so, and not just to commend for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games have made contributions to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots, but also to tell the world, Beijing was able to do a history of the best Olympic Games, also cohesion of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots strong Chinese feelings.

(Dec. 26, Beijing Daily, Wu Dong)