With the dream of uniting the world around the Rings in 2008, the Beijing Olympic Games has a new slogan -- One World, One Dream.
The slogan, presented at a grand ceremony on Sunday at the Workers' Gymnasium in the Chinese capital, replaces "New Beijing, Great Olympics", which was used during the city's bid for the 2008 Games.
"One World, One Dream" was selected from more than 210,000 entries received from around the world.
"There was no one winner. The slogan embodies the wisdom of hundreds of thousands of people," said Liu Qi, President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG).
The BOCOG launched a global search for a slogan for the 2008 Games in January this year. "One World, One Dream" was eventually picked after a rigorous selection and revision process that involved experts in fields such as the Olympics, sociology, sports, culture and language.
The BOCOG had hoped the focus of the new slogan would shift from the city itself to the Olympic Spirit of unity, friendship and progress, and traditional Chinese values of peace and harmony.
Liu said "One World, One Dream" perfectly meets their requirements.
"It conveys the noble ideal of people in Beijing as well as in China to share their civilization and create a bright future hand in hand with people from the rest of the world," he said.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge sent a letter of congratulations to the BOCOG. "The Olympic Games are unique in their ability to attract the world's attention, using sport to promote peace and understanding. The IOC is delighted that BOCOG's slogan for the 2008 Olympic Games has captured that Olympic spirit," Rogge said.
George Hirthler, who has served as lead writer and communications strategist for seven international Olympic bid campaigns-- Atlanta 1996, Istanbul 2000, Stockholm 2004, Klagenfurt 2006, Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and for 18 months until December 2004, New York City 2012 -- said the slogan suggests something profound and leaves room for broad interpretation.
"While the phrase is simple, it is also profound. While it is personal, it is also universal. The repetition of one makes it easy to remember," Hirthler said.
China's IOC member He Zhenliang also spoke highly of the slogan.
"The theme clearly conveys the solidarity of humanity and the shared global experience that unites the world in the Olympic Games," He said.
Games organizers nowadays use Olympic themed slogans as a platform to launch their communications campaigns.
Slogans from past Games, such as "Share the Spirit" of the 2000 Sydney Games, and "Light the Fire Within" of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, have caught people's imagination and inspired millions around the world. "Welcome Home" also became a highlight during last summer's Athens Games and was a source of boundless pride for Greeks.
According to the BOCOG, the themed slogan, paired with the seal-like logo, will be used extensively to emphasize the Beijing 2008 identity.
Factbox: Slogans from previous Games
Seoul 1988 -- Harmony and Progress
Barcelona 1992 -- Friends Forever
Atlanta 1996 -- The Celebration of the Century
Sydney 2000 -- Share the Spirit
Salt Lake City Winter Olympics 2002 -- Light the Fire Within
Athens 2004 -- Welcome Home
(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2005)
