重温萨马兰奇宣布北京申办奥运成功历史时刻

On Friday there was some serious partying on the streets of Beijing. Fireworks lit up the sky, while thousands of people in Millennium Square in the western part of the Chinese capital sang and waved flags. Traditional lion dancers joined a group of ballerinas on stage, and green lasers swept the sky.

But it wasn't the New Year. Beijing was celebrating its award of the 2008 Olympics on July 13, winning the games for the world's most populous country for the first time.

The International Olympic Committee picked China over rival bids from Toronto; Paris; Istanbul, Turkey; and Osaka, Japan. Beijing won on the second round of a secret ballot by receiving 56 votes, three more than a majority.

“Comrades! We express our deep thanks to all our friends around the world and to the IOC for helping to make Beijing successful in its Olympic bid,” President Jiang Zemin shouted to the crowd after he and other members of the Cabinet and Communist Party politburo appeared briefly on stage in Beijing.

Toronto got 22 votes, Paris 18, and Istanbul nine in the final round. Osaka was eliminated in the first round of voting, with six votes, when Beijing led with 44.

“I want to express the gratitude of the International Olympic Committee to all five candidate cities for their excellent work,” IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch said just before announcing the winner.

Then came the words the Chinese capital had waited seven years to hear:

“The games of the 29th Olympiad in 2008 are awarded to the city of Beijing.”

In the trade center hall where the vote took place, Beijing supporters screamed and pulled out Chinese flags. A banner appeared with the slogan, “Eternal Beijing, Olympic Games, a century dream come true.”