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August 8, 2008 will see the grand opening of the XXIX Olympic Games in Beijing, when athletes from over 200 countries and regions will gather in the capital.

With a 3,000-year history, and serving as Chinas capital for about eight centuries, Beijing boasts a number of historical sites and a rich cultural heritage. Over the last 800 years, it has been the political and cultural center of China, and it is now emerging as one of the worlds most bustling metropolises.

The city has been organizing all of its resources to extend venues, improve transportation and the environment, and train volunteers, and it has changed beyond recognition. “These public facilities are built for the Olympics,” said Mr. Mario Vazquez Rana, president of the Association ofNational Olympic Committees, when he visited the Olympic Branch Line of the Beijing subway in April. “But these Olympic legacies will serve residents after the Games are over.”

The Beijing Olympic Games are drawing near, and Beijingers, who have prepared for so long, are eager to embrace athletes and tourists from around the world.