Games! Yeeeah

It's hard for Beijing to say goodbye to 29th Olympics.The closing ceremony for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games finally comes. The President of the International Olympics Committee Jacques Rogge has described the Beijing Games as "truly exceptional".

Beijing has handed the Olympic flag to London, triggering the start of a four-year countdown to the 2012 Games.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson accepted the flag during a magnificent three-hour closing ceremony inside China's national 'Bird's Nest' stadium.

The celebrations included huge firework and dancing displays, and appearances from David Beckham and Leona Lewis.


Many think the Beijing Games have been the best ever. Now the world's watching to see if the UK can match them.



During the closing ceremony, the UK gave everyone a taste of what to expect in 2012.

A red London double decker bus entered the Bird's Nest Stadium, followed by Beijing medal winners Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton on bikes.

As the roof of the bus turned into a stage, David Beckham emerged to kick a football into the crowds and Leona Lewis performed with ageing rocker Jimmy Page.


UK celebrations

Back in the UK, the closing celebrations were shown on 30 giant screens across the home nations to get everyone in the mood for the 2012 Games.

Thousands of people in London also got the chance to go to a free concert in front of Buckingham Palace to celebrate the start of the city's Olympic reign.

The NY Times's Olympic blog has an interesting post about the difficulty of translating the Chinese cheers heard at Beijing venues into other languages. As the post explains, a literal translation of a popular cheer to English means something about gasoline.

One of the most perplexing language issues at the Olympic games is how to translate the all-purpose Chinese cheer, “加油! ” (jiayou!), into English (or any other language).

加 means to “add.” 油 means “oil” or “fuel.” (And technically gas stations are often called 加油站, or jiayou stops). But it’s almost never chanted in the context of a gas station. Instead, you’ll hear it often chanted at these Olympic games when the audience wants the competitors to dig deep and put in an extra effort. Here is a YouTube video explaining how to chant 加油 to go with the official Olympic civilized chant hand gestures).

But around the Web you can find a variety of struggles as the Chinese try to translate this all-purpose cheer into English. (On some chat boards it even makes it into the category of most frequently asked translations.)
Finally,the good translation "Zhongguo Jiayou" is "Go China!".

Beijing Huan Ying Ni-Welcome to Beijing

"Welcome to Beijing "

Another morning is coming, and brings in the fresh air

Our friendship will never change, just like the fragrance of green tea

My door is always open for you, and I'm here for you with open arms

You'd know me better when you hugged me, and you will love it here

Be my guest no matter you are from home and abroad

You are here as promised, friends we welcome you

I grow green plant at home to show you all the legends in the past

I want to plant in the soil to make you good memories

Friends and strangers, you are all my guests, and please be at home

No matter how many times we meet, there are still a lot to talk about

Welcome to Beijing, we will show you a brand new place

The charm of Beijing is full of life

Welcome come to Beijing, let's breath together in the sunshine

We want to make new record on this yellow soil

I always keep my doors open, to welcome the world

The old ages is smiling like youth, to welcome that day

We are all friends, please make yourself at home

With all the smiles, I am here waiting for you

Welcome to Beijing, May my music touch you

Let's working hard and try to go beyond ourselves

Welcome to Beijing, it's great to be able to have dream

Just be brave and there will be a miracle.