Following their display in Chicago and Washington of the United
States, the landscape sculptures of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games are now on display
in Suva, the capital of Fiji.
The opening
ceremony
Over 100 people attended the exhibition's opening ceremony on
December 7, 2007, including the mayor of Suva; the Chinese
ambassador to Fiji; the president of the Fiji Association of Sports
and National Olympic Committee; and a representative of BOCOG
(Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad).
Fiji's Foreign Minister and Papua New Guinea's ambassador to Fiji
also attended the ceremony.
The exhibition is being held at the invitation of the Fiji
Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee. A total of
110 exhibits are on display and were chosen from the works of
sculptors from 25 countries and over 20 provinces and
municipalities of China.
The organizers held the most prestigious welcome ceremony led by
local tribal heads. Mighty guards were positioned along both sides
of the Suva Citizen Center. Local Chinese groups also held
traditional Chinese art performances.
Traditional welcome
ceremony held by local Fijians
Fiji is a transport hub in the South Pacific region. China and
Fiji have had good relations. Premier Wen Jiabao paid an official
visit to the country last April, bringing vitality into the
bilateral relationship.
In his welcoming speech, Rata Peni Volavola, mayor of Suva,
said, "As a small country, we are very pleased to share the
exhibition of the Olympic sculptures. I hope that the exhibition
will inspire the athletes and even the entire population of
Fuji."
A Fiji guard besides an
Olympic sculpture
(BOCOG December 12, 2007)
