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the flame of the Universiade and encourage the youth of the new
century.
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Liu Qi, mayor of Beijing and president of the Organizing Committee
of the 21st Universiade, inscribed this good wish for the torch-lighting
ceremony to be staged on January 1, 2001.
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"Since next year is exceedingly important for Beijing's bid
for the 2008 Olympics, we must spare no efforts in getting prepared
for the Universiade," Sun Kanglin, secretary-general of the
Organizing Committee of the 21st Universiade, said Liu.
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"That is also why Mayor Liu paid so much attention to all our
arrangements, including the torch-lighting ceremony."
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To draw international attention and help Beijing with its Olympic
bid, the Organizing Committee of the 21st Universiade decided to
hold a torch relay called the "New Century, New Long March"
as a prelude to the opening ceremony.
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At dawn on January 1, 2001, a torch-lighting ceremony, to be carried
out simultaneously in Peking University and Massey University in
New Zealand, will mark the start of the "New Century, New Long
March" torch relay.
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Gymnast Li Ning will serve as the torch holder in the local ceremony
at China's most famous university.
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At the same time, six outstanding college students, led by former
national paddler Liu Wei, will fire the torch at the overseas ceremony
at Massey University, as the first shafts of sunlight brighten the
first morning of the New Year.
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Highlighting the principle of "Youth, Friendship and Peace,"
the local torch relay will mainly involve students from Peking University.
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The torch-lighting delegation of the 21st Universiade is scheduled
to fly to New Zealand tomorrow, and will return on January 2 with
the sacred fire.
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Raising its curtain in Beijing on August 22, 2001, the 21st Universiade
will be the first Universiade to be held in the new millennium,
and the first international multi-sports festival ever hosted by
China.
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Both national sports authorities and the Beijing municipal government
have attached great importance to the event.
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The newly built Universiade Village, located at Beijing University
of Aeronautics and Astronautics, is designed to accommodate 7,000
to 8,000 athletes and officials.
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Other venues, such as Beijing Worker's Stadium and the Yingdong
Swimming Pool, have undergone large scale renovations.
??Beijing-2008 12/27/2000??
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