Chinese president: Beijing Games promote Olympic spirit

  2008-08-24 04:42:35 GMT    2008-08-24 12:42:35 (Beijing Time)    Xinhua

  BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said here on Sunday that the Beijing Olympic Games have promoted the Olympic spirit of solidarity, friendship and peace.

  "The success of the Beijing Olympic Games is attributable to the concerted efforts of the Chinese people and people from the rest of the world," said Hu at a banquet for foreign leaders and international dignitaries who will attend the Games' closing ceremony on Sunday night.

  "The glory goes to the Olympic Family, to athletes who have competed hard, to volunteers from different parts of the world and to friends the world over who have been involved in the Beijing Olympic Games in various ways," Hu said in a toast at the banquet, held in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in west Beijing.

  Calling the past 16 days "a wonderful and exciting time together," the Chinese leader said that the hosting of the Beijing Olympics will give a boost to the further development of sports in China, promote more extensive exchanges and cooperation between China and the International Olympic Family, and further enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and people of all other countries.

  The Beijing Olympic Games have become "a grand event of international sports competition and cultural exchanges" witnessed and joined by people of the whole world, said Hu.