View source for Dancing Beijing

{{Short description|Official emblem of the 2008 Summer Olympics}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Chinese|pic=2008 Summer Olympics logo.svg|picsize=200px|order=st|t=舞動的北京|s=舞动的北京|p=Wǔdòng de Beíjīng|j=mou5 dung6 dik1 bak1 ging1}}
'''Dancing Beijing''' is the name of the official emblem of the [[2008 Summer Olympics]], which took place in [[Beijing]] in the [[People's Republic of China]].  It was unveiled on 3 August 2003 in a ceremony attended by 2,008 people at [[Beijing]]'s [[Temple of Heaven]].<ref name="abc">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/08/04/916380.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216005305/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2003/08/04/916380.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 December 2012 |title=ABC news Australia |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=4 August 2003 }}</ref>

==Description==
The emblem draws on various elements of [[Culture of China|Chinese culture]], depicting a traditional red [[Seal (Chinese)|Chinese seal]] above the words "Beijing 2008" and the [[Olympic symbols|Olympic rings]]. The seal is inscribed with a stylised [[Chinese calligraphy|calligraphic]] rendition of the Chinese character [[wikt:京|京]] (''jīng'', meaning 'capital', from the name of the host city) in the form of a dancing figure.<ref name="abc" /> The curves are also claimed to suggest the body of a wriggling [[Chinese dragon]]. The open arms of the figure symbolise the invitation of [[China]] to the world to share in its culture. The figure also resembles that of a runner crossing the finish line.  Red, the dominant colour of the emblem, is an important colour in Chinese society, often signifying prosperity.

==Design==
The logo was created by [[Guo Chunning]] ({{lang|zh|郭春宁}}),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://2008.qq.com/a/20071205/000120.htm |title=2008.qq.com |publisher=2008.qq.com |access-date=12 July 2008 |archive-date=15 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715134655/http://2008.qq.com/a/20071205/000120.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> the vice-president of the "Beijing Armstrong International Corporate Identity" (AICI). There was only one seal among the 1,985 entries contributed by designers from China and overseas.  Other entries included dozens of [[Great Wall of China|Great Walls]], [[giant panda|panda]]s and [[Chinese dragons|dragons]].<ref name="hban">[http://english.hanban.edu.cn/english/culture/71944.htm English hanban.edu.cn] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801091143/http://english.hanban.edu.cn/english/culture/71944.htm |date=1 August 2013 }}</ref> Other designers include Zhang Wu ({{lang|zh|张武}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/kaifeng/news/n214479803.shtml |title=torchrelay Kaifeng |publisher=Torchrelay.beijing2008.cn |date=26 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080729072645/http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/kaifeng/news/n214479803.shtml |archivedate=29 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=United Nations Volunteers |url=http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/news-views/news/doc/unique-heart-represents-volunteers.html |title=worldvolunteerweb.org |publisher=worldvolunteerweb.org |date=29 September 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906211426/http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/news-views/news/doc/unique-heart-represents-volunteers.html |archivedate=6 September 2008}}</ref>

==Unveiling ceremony==
[[President of the International Olympic Committee|International Olympic Committee President]] [[Jacques Rogge]] delivered an address at the unveiling ceremony on 3 August 2003 saying, "Your new emblem immediately conveys the awesome beauty and power of China which are embodied in your heritage and your people."  Rogge continued, "In this emblem, I saw the promise and potential of a New Beijing and a Great Olympics. This is a milestone in the history of your Olympic quest. As this new emblem becomes known around the world and, as it takes its place at the centre of your Games, we are confident that it will achieve the stature of one of the best and most meaningful symbols in Olympic history."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://np.china-embassy.org/eng/News/t167222.htm |title=Np.China-embassy.org |publisher=Np.China-embassy.org |date=26 October 2004 }}</ref> The ceremony was delayed by several months because of the [[2002–2004 SARS outbreak|SARS outbreak]] in 2003.<ref name="abc" />

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

[[Category:2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Logos]]