The Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games has invited students from quake-devastated regions to the Chinese capital. BOCOG officials wanted these students to experience the Olympic spirit at first hand.

The Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games has invited students from quake-devastated regions to the Chinese capital. (Photo: CCTV.com)  

These 20 students are from Wenchuan and Beichuan. Upon their arrival, BOCOG staff and a Beijing Olympic Mascot greeted them.

Jiang Zhenyu hails from Beichuan. Three years ago, he was in Beijing, serving as an Olympic Ambassador from western China and attending the one-thousand-day countdown ceremony. Today all the construction sites have become fully functional competition venues.

When asked why he likes the Bird's Nest the best, he says it represents the spirit of the Chinese people.

Jiang Zhenyu, Beichuan student, said, "I like the stadium's steel framework. Steel provides the support for the whole building, just like the persevering spirit of the Chinese supports all the disaster-affected people."

Olympic champions also told the visiting students about their own stories of overcoming great odds and difficulties. They encouraged the students to be brave. The students also toured Tsinghua University, where they were taught to make sculpture by artists. (Photo: CCTV.com)

The students also toured Tsinghua University, where they were taught to make sculpture by artists. One of the sculptures has a pair of wings and is named "the Wing of Future."

Wang Peibo, Sculpture Dept. director of Art School of Tsinghua University, said, "The sculpture represents the kindling of the Flame of Life, and the spreading of the Wings of Ideal."

Ren Xianqi, a Taiwan movie star, also worked alongside the students. He made a fist. He says it represents power. He made it because so many Chinese people were affected by the quake, and their persevering power has deeply moved him.

(CCTV June 2, 2008)