When Beijing won the race to host the 2008 Olympic Games it caused a great sense of excitement and jubilation in China’s capital. Beijing won out over Toronto, Paris, Osaka and Istanbul to become the first city in China to host an Olympic Games.

When the announcement was made by outgoing Olympic president Juan Antonio Samaranch, it was greeted with wild scenes of jubilation from the Chinese delegation in Moscow, and with fireworks in Beijing itself. More than 200,000 people packed into Tiananmen Square to celebrate the news – the largest spontaneous demonstrations since the democracy movement of 1989. From officially staged firework displays to spontaneous cheering and hooting of car horns from the massive crowds who brought the streets of Beijing to a near standstill, there was no doubting the genuine delight in China at the International Olympic Committee’s decision. “Smiles everywhere, joy ignites,” read the headline in the Beijing Morning Post. Even top political leaders, including President Jiang Zemin, joined the crowds, grinning broadly and hugging ecstatic revellers.

“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,” said the President.

China’s nationalist rival Taiwan welcomed the Olympic decision, with many believing that it could reduce the military and political tensions between the two countries.

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