Foreign Ministry holds open day for Games

11月25日，120名参加外交部第二次公众开放日的各界来宾围拢在一张乒乓球台旁，饶有兴致地观看一场难得一见的乒乓球比赛。外交部长杨洁篪和前奥运冠军邓亚萍挥拍切磋乒乓球艺，精湛的“表演”赢得在场公众阵阵喝彩。2004年奥运会主办国希腊和2012年奥运会主办国英国的驻华大使也受邀参加了此次活动。

Chinese ping-pong queen Deng Yaping

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and British ambassador to China William Ehrman tested their skills with Chinese ping-pong queen Deng Yaping at the ministry's building yesterday.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi teams up with Chinese ping-pong queen Deng Yaping for a game at the foreign ministry's building in Beijing November 25, 2007. It was the ministry's second public open day this year, themed "Chinese diplomacy, Beijing Olympics". Around 120 visitors from around the world, including British Ambassador William Ehrman and Greek Ambassador Michael Cambanis, turned up for the event.

Though they were beaten, as expected, the 120 participants applauded them at the ministry's second open day, "Chinese Diplomacy, Beijing Olympics". Yang and Ehrman played the game to appeal for greater sportsmanship and less politics.

Greek ambassador Michael Cambanis, too, was supposed to play but couldn't because he wasn't feeling well. Ambassadors of past and future Olympic host nations had been especially invited to the event. "We should avoid mixing politics with sports," Cambanis said. For example, when we held the Athens Games we faced a similar pollution problem (like Beijing)."

Even compared to the skepticism against Athens' organization capability, the pressure on Beijing is immense, Cambanis said. "But I still think the 2008 Olympics will be the best."

Ehrman corroborated Cambanis, saying London will learn many a thing from Beijing's experience to prepare for a better Games in 2012.

While diplomats want to exclude politics from sport, some reminded China to focus on the Games as a whole instead of just counting the medals. Former world speed-skating champion Ye Qiaobo said: "Winning medals should not be the only goal of Chinese athletes at the Games. To host the Olympics in itself is very honorable."

Vocabulary:

British ambassador to China: 英国驻华大使

team up: 合作、协作、配合