BEIJING - A spunky Western footballer tensely takes his aim. Next to him is a Chinese emperor from more than 1,000 years ago studying a prototype ball with the measured precision of a scientist.
Several journalists walk into the Main Press Center (MPC) of the Beijing Olympic Games, Beijing, July 26, 2008. [Xinhua] |
The two huge paintings stand in sharp contrast on the first floor of the Main Press Center (MPC) of the Beijing Olympic Games, combining sports with culture, and bringing a Chinese flavor to the international rally.
Next to a muscular modern weightlifter is an ancient Chinese crown prince lifting an elephant. And a wall-sized poster of a mural from the Potala Palace in Lhasa depicts Chinese swimming in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
China elements have dotted the 63,000-square-meter MPC in northern Beijing, giving smacks of traditional Chinese culture in paintings, murals and calligraphic works on walls and screens, hand-made kites on the ceilings and corridors named after major Chinese cities, including the co-host cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang, Qinhuangdao and Qingdao.
Smiling volunteers
Roy Wu said he found the place "big and impressive". The technical specialist from the Associated Press has been working at the AP newsroom in the MPC for two weeks.
Wu is particularly impressed with the smiling crowd of volunteers who are "always ready to help". "There're so many of them, all friendly and so eager to help," he said. "Even though they don't know everything, they'd always find a colleague who can help."
The smiling faces of the volunteers are undoubtedly a highlight in the international workplace.
Most of the volunteers are college students. All speak at least one foreign language. They take turns working days and nights to greet journalists at the main entrance, answer questions, help arrange interviews, book hotels and transportation, serve food and drinks and hand out papers, from press releases, shuttle bus arrangements and posters to future games results.
"It's a great opportunity for me. So many journalists from international big-name media organizations are here," said Yang Jing, a sophomore from Communication University of China where she's being trained to be a reporter.
Yang works at the "Windows on Beijing Games", a cozy showroom displaying photos of Beijing's landmarks and a collection of multilingual books on Beijing and China, including "Riverside Talks -- A friendly dialogue between an Atheist and a Christian", co-authored by Argentine scholar Luis Palau and China's scientist-turned official Zhao Qizheng.
