Aug 8 - Twenty-four GDUFS volunteers joined 1400 other volunteers from both China and abroad in the 90-year old Tsinghua Auditorium early this evening to celebrate the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The Tsinghua University Chorus performed a marvelous concert before the TV broadcast of the Olympic opening ceremony. Guests of honor included CPC vice-secretary of Tsinghua University Mr. Hu Heping, vice-president of Tsinghua University Mr. Zhang Fengchang, and vice-secretary of Guangdong Committee of the China Communist Youth League Bai Tao.
Government leaders sang alongside volunteers in celebration of the Olympics
Leaders of Tsinghua University and the Guangdong Province Youth League put aside their rank and stood alongside the young volunteers to passionately sing Beijing Welcomes You. All the Guangdong volunteers applauded enthusiastically when Mr. Hu announced six Tsinghua students and teachers were representing China in the Games.
When the Zhang Yimou-directed opening ceremony officially began, the entire audience rose to cheer, some even bursting into tears at the sight of the rising national flag of the People's Republic of China. The 20,000 performers in Beijing National Stadium regaled the audience, and viewers around the world, with martial arts performances and artistic storytelling using song and dance. With an ever-changing backdrop and with accompaniment of amazingly complex displays of fireworks, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games were launched with a bang.
Apart from those who had the opportunity to experience the gala in person, we volunteers were probably the most excited viewers; the venue was only three kilometers away and the explosions of the fireworks could be heard clearly.
One GDUFS volunteer pointed out, with emotion, that the various performances in the ceremony brought to the world's attention the spectacular history of China, and testified in awe-inspiring fashion to the Chinese people's confidence in their nation's future.
The Olympic volunteers from GDUFS
The GDUFS team of volunteers, consisting of 24 members, all of whom were dispatched to the National Aquatics Center (nicknamed the Water Cube), is larger than any other university team from Guangdong Province.
The magnificent interior scene of "Water Cube"
Let the world witness our determination and effort! Let the world witness the success of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games!
Photos provided by Yang Shuchao
