Brazil's biggest city celebrates 100-day countdown to Beijing Olympics

　

    BRASILIA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- "100 days until Beijing 2008" will read the regressive countdown in Liberty Plaza, together with other mass activities in Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city.

    The display will be revealed on the May 1 along with the House of Beijing, a large area in which the Beijing Games will be broadcast to the public.

    The ceremony will be comprised of activities such as the dance of the dragon, the dance of the lion, a show of Chinese tambourines, a parade full of traditional Chinese dress, along with the presence of the official mascots of the Beijing Games.

    Additionally, there will be work shops in Chinese calligraphy, origami, Chinese gastronomy and acupuncture.

    The event is organized by the mayor of Sao Paulo, the largest city in South America. The Chinese embassy is also giving the city a hand in the set up and authenticity of the event.

    In addition, the Chinese Association of Brazil will be supervising the event to make sure things go off without a hitch. Some of the authorities confirmed for Thursday's event are the Minister of Sport, Orlando Silva, the ambassador of China in Brazil, Chen Duqing, and Sun Rongmao of the General Consulate of China in Sao Paulo, along with Brazilian congressmen and Olympic athletes.

    The event will make for an even stronger bond of friendship between China and Brazil. The position of those responsible for the event is contrary to the actions that have spread throughout the globe in relation to a boycott of the Games and the rejection of mixing politics with sports. Last month, the Special Secretary of Human Rights of Brazil, Paulo Vanucchi, claimed that, "the sporting event should be seen as a mean of confraternity and even as a means to suspend wars."

    Carlos Arthur Nuzman, the president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, highlighted that the idea of a boycott is a complete lack of respect to the athletes who have prepared, sweat and sacrificed their time for years to compete in the Games.

    According to the director of the Department of Culture and Sport in the city of Sao Paulo, Daniel Guth, they expect between 6,000 to 8,000 people to participate in the celebration of the beginning of the countdown of the Olympic Games this Thursday.

    During an interview with Xinhua, Guth explained that the House of Beijing is a pioneer initiative and "the first act of its kind", that will strengthen the links between the two countries in all aspects, from cultural to business.

    "We want to bring a little of China to Brazil," said Guth, who considers the initiative quite important in the fact that it will help to resolve many misguided stereotypes that exist in Brazil about the Chinese culture.

    He also restated the number of Chinese who live in Sao Paulo, more than 150,000. The number is steadily growing, therefore, the interest in knowing more about China is too growing day by day.

    The House of China will take advantage of the Games and create a huge complex to transmit the sporting and cultural event, combining both sports lovers with those aficionado with the richness of the Chinese culture.

    Additionally, other advertising companies are looking forward to the event in the attempt to promote Chinese brands as well as introduce other brands into the Chinese market. The House of China will be open to the public 24 hours a day.

    The Chinese Cultural Space will also provide the public of Sao Paulo with the chance to learn more about the philosophy, traditions and peculiarities of China with a culinary demonstration, a plastic arts display, music, fashion, dance, different religions throughout China, astrology, classes of tai-chi chuan as well as Mandarin.

    The public schools of the city will be taking their classes to the exposition to learn more about this ancient culture, taking advantage of the workshops, demonstrations and martial arts battles among others.

    The House of Beijing will also hold the Beijing Area where fans can watch live transmissions of the Games throughout the competition. Inclusive to the House of Beijing will be the Commercial and Business Area, hosting debates on doping, organization of large events, politics, economics, sports marketing and other issues related to the Games.