THE 29TH OLYMPIC GAMES KICK OFF

ARMENPRESS
Aug 8, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS; The 29th Summer Olympic Games kicked
off today in the capital of China Beijing with the participation of
athletes from more than 200 countries. The author of the opening
performance, which took place in the National Stadium of Beijing,
is the well-known Korean film director Chzhan Imou. The Chinese have
prepared a rich program of the opening of the games during which old
and new culture of China was presented. The motto of the Beijing
Olympics is – "One World One Dream." Chinese president Hu Jintao
and President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge
opened the Olympic Games.

Armenia this time was not among the first rows of marchers as it
always was but was the 74th among 205 countries according to the
Chinese alphabet. The bearer of the Armenian flag was distinguished
Armenian athlete Albert Azarian. Armenia will be represented by 25
athletes in seven sports types – free and Greek-Rome style wrestling,
weightlifting, boxing, judo, light athletics etc. A number of Armenians
are included in the teams of different countries of the world.

The biggest delegation in the games has China which is represented
in the games by 639 athletes, it is followed by USA – 596, then comes
Russia 467, Germany 439, Australia 433, Japan 351.

The games will kick off tomorrow, August 9.