13th World Olympic Collectors Fair opens

Updated：2007-06-24

(BEIJING, June 24) -- The 13th World Olympic Collectors Fair opened on Sunday with a high-profile ceremony at the Beijing Desheng International Cultural Center.

Liu Qi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and President of the Beijing Olympic Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG); Juan Antonio Samaranch, IOC Honorary President and Chairman of the Olympic Philately, Numismatics and Memorabilia Commission; Liu Peng, Minister of the State General Administration of Sports (GAS), President of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) and BOCOG Executive President, attended the Opening Ceremony.

During his address, Mr. Liu Qi extended his best wishes for a successful Collectors Fair. He said that culture is one of the three pillars of the Olympic Games; integrating culture and sports will promote the development of the Olympic Games as well as the interaction of the world's cultures.

As an important component of the Olympic Games, Olympic collector's items are, over the course of time, a true record of the Olympic Games. They narrate a living tale of humanity's struggle for improvement - a moving account of people pushing themselves beyond their limits and reflect the pursuit of the Olympic ideals of peace and progress, Liu Qi said.

Liu Qi said the commencement of the 13th World Olympic Collectors Fair not only serves as a lyrical overture to the Fifth Olympic Cultural Festival but also further enriches the concept of "People's Olympics."

It is expected that through this year's Fair, the public will gain a better understanding about the Olympics' past, present, and future. The Fair serves to rouse more enthusiasm among Beijingers young and old to welcome and participate in the Olympic Games, thereby creating a positive social environment for the success of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Co-sponsored by the International Olympic Committee, BOCOG, the Chinese Olympic Committee and the China Post, the fair is the largest of its kind, covering 12,000 square meters with 12 exhibition rooms and more than 300 exhibition booths. International participants come from more than 30 countries and regions including America, UK, France, Russia, Italy, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Slovenia, etc.

During this fair, a special exhibition titled "The Olympics and China," is set up. A large number of collections are on display reflecting the country's active role in the Olympic Movement over the last century.

Among the numerous precious pieces on exhibit at the Fair include: Chen Yan's gold medal in the long jump from 1913, the first gold medal ever won by China at an international sports competition; and the ping pong paddle presented by Meng Tagu, president of the International Table Tennis Association to Qiu Zhonghui, the first female world table tennis champion.

Also present at the ceremony were Feng Jianzhong, GAS Vice-Minister; Li Shixiang, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee; Liu Jingmin, Vice Mayor of Beijing and BOCOG Executive Vice-President; Jiang Xiaoyu, BOCOG Executive Vice-President; He Zhenliang, COC Honorary President, IOC member, and Chairman of the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Education; Wu Jingguo, IOC member and Carlos Blasco Villa, Spanish Ambassador to China.