French president: Beijing Olympics to achieve success of world renown

 
　　The upcoming Beijing Olympics is a great sports gala and will achieve a huge success of world renown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday.

　　In a written interview with Chinese journalists before his visit to Beijing for the Olympic opening ceremony, Sarkozy said he was very glad to be invited to Beijing for the Games by the French Olympic Committee.

　　This is the first time for a French president to attend an overseas Summer Olympic Games while holding the rotating European Union (EU) presidency, he said.

　　Sarkozy said China's hosting of the Games shows that China is a strong country with a splendid civilization and diligent people, and is capable of making a decisive contribution to the construction of a peaceful and developing world.

　　Citing the tremendous efforts China has made in preparing for the Games over the past seven years, Sarkozy believes all people around the world are going to be moved by the Chinese people's strong willpower and hospitality demonstrated during the preparations.

　　The Games will enhance ties between people of different countries, and thus serves as an important step in the process of globalization, he added.

　　With the hope to deliver France's message of passion and friendship, Sarkozy described the bilateral friendship as historic, unfailing and immovable, and it will not change under any circumstance.

　　The president said his visit to Beijing would prove that maintaining friendly ties with China is one of France's basic foreign policies, which is in keeping with the expectations of both peoples and a necessary factor in building a just, safe and harmonious world order.

　　The Olympic Games, a sports event itself, also offers a golden opportunity for people to communicate, Sarkozy said.

　　He said he was delighted to have the opportunity to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing to discuss several important issues and future cooperation, especially the 2008 Asia-Europe summit, to be held in China in October, and the EU-China summit, to be held in France this December.

　　Recalling his trip to China last November, Sarkozy said he was deeply touched by the great efforts the Chinese people made during their preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games.

　　All persons have told me that the Beijing Olympic village will be the most beautiful and comfortable one, and I cannot not wait any longer to watch the opening ceremony directed by the outstanding director Zhang Yimou, who is also famous in France, he said, adding that he appreciates Zhang very much.

　　Deeply impressed by China's efforts to ensure the Games' success, the French president said China has tried its best to prepare for the Olympics.

　　If the organizational work for the Games could be compared to a sports event, I believe that everyone would agree on awarding China the gold medal.

　　Referring to his personal enthusiasm for sports, Sarkozy said he is especially fond of judo, which he practiced when he was young.

　　He said French athletes will compete in 22 disciplines of 28 major sports at the Beijing Games, which is to kick off on Friday.

法国总统尼古拉·萨科齐在前往中国参加奥运会开幕式前接受了中国驻法记者的联合采访，他表示很高兴应法国奥委会邀请赴北京参加这一盛事，这也是法兰西共和国总统首次以欧盟轮值主席的身份到国外参加夏季奥运会开幕式。他相信，“本届奥运会将是一次大型的体育盛会，并将取得世人瞩目的成功”。

 
　　萨科齐表示，北京举办奥运会再次以庄严的方式证明：２１世纪的中国已成为一个现代化强国、世界大国，是当今世界的巨人之一，它同时也表明，中国重新跻身于最为强盛的国家之列。“显而易见，拥有灿烂文明和勤劳人民的中国，将有能力为一个和平与发展的世界的崛起做出决定性的贡献”，萨科齐说。

　　萨科齐还对７年来中国人民为筹备奥运做出的巨大努力表示了敬意，他表示相信，世界各国人民都会被这种万众一心的坚强意志、特别是中国人民的好客所感动。本届奥运会也将加强世界人民之间的联系，从而成为全球化进程中的重要一步。

　　萨科齐还希望借此机会向蒸蒸日上的中国传递热情、友好的信息。他说，“法中两国人民之间的友谊源远流长、经久不衰，无可动摇。此次我前往北京就是要再次证明：法中友好是法国外交政策的基本方针，它符合两国人民的深切期望，是构建更为公正、安全、和谐的国际秩序所不可或缺的因素。”

　　在谈到对即将举行的北京奥运会的期待时，萨科齐说，奥运会首先是一场体育盛会，全世界各国最优秀的运动员秉承着竞争、超越自我的精神以及人文、融合、博爱的信念同场竞技，他对这些价值观深为推崇，并认为这是奥运会的精髓所在。

　　萨科齐还表示，奥运会同时也是对话、交流的良机，他很高兴在北京再次会晤胡锦涛主席和温家宝总理，届时，他们将就一些重要问题和未来的合作计划，尤其是将于今年１０月在中国举办的亚欧峰会和１２月在法国召开的欧中领导人会晤，展开讨论。

　　萨科齐回忆了去年１１月访华时的所见所闻，他表示，当时自己被中国人民万众一心、为８月８日进行准备的巨大努力所深深打动。他说，“所有人都告诉我北京奥运村是奥运史上最美、最舒适的奥运村，现在我已经迫不及待地想要观看张艺谋导演编排的奥运开幕式表演”。他还说，张艺谋是一位杰出的导演，在法国享有盛誉，广受好评，还获得过法国荣誉军团勋章，他对张艺谋深表欣赏。

　　法国总统认为，北京奥运会的筹备工作展现了当今中国的形象——雄心勃勃，充满生机和活力、现代化而且意志坚定。他对中国汇聚各方精英确保奥运成功举办所做出的努力印象深刻。他说，“中国已经为筹备奥运尽了最大努力，如果把奥运会的组织工作比喻成一项体育运动的话，我相信所有人都会和我一样，赞同把金牌发给中国。”

　　在谈到自己对体育的爱好和对法国队的期待时，萨科齐说，“我非常喜欢观看奥运田径比赛。我酷爱柔道，因为年轻时也曾练过这项运动。１９７２年我曾前往慕尼黑奥运会观看法国柔道运动员让－保罗·戈什的比赛，他在当年获得了铜牌”。萨科齐认为，体育是人生的一所学校，体现了他始终崇尚的一种理念：即团队精神、互助、尊重他人、遵守规则和超越自我。

　　萨科齐还介绍说，法国运动员此次将参加２８个奥运大项中的２２个项目的角逐，他坚信他们会有精彩的表现。他还将特别关注法国游泳、击剑、柔道、皮划艇世界冠军们的比赛，同时希望其他法国运动员也能登上北京奥运会的领奖台。最后，他预祝所有的中国运动员好运，并相信他们会取得与中国人民对奥运筹备的巨大投入相称的优异成绩。