Hand gestures to reflect solidarity
(HANGZHOU, May 17) — On Saturday evening, a gathering was held involving the 208 torchbearers and 52 bodyguards for the Hangzhou leg of the Olympic torch relay. At the meeting, the torchbearers discussed the idea of using hand gestures and body language to express support for the victims of the recent earthquake that hit southwest China. A guide was created here, involving three gestures that can be used to symbolize solidarity and love.
Dear torchbearers:
On May 12, a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province, the most serious earthquake to occur in the country since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The earthquake has also affected other areas, including Chongqing Muncipality, Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, Hubei Province, Yunnan Province, and Guizhou Province. Over 20,000 people have lost their lives, and many townships and villages were turned into ruins in one night.
The disaster has moved the hearts of everyone in the country, including those of the 21,880 torchbearers. We have donated money and given blood, but we can do even more … we call on each and every torchbearer to use his or her body language to reflect concern and support for the victims of the disaster. In doing our jobs to fulfill the 2008 Beijing Olympic torch relay, we should express to all fans watching the relay and in front of worldwide media outlets our affection for those families hurt by the disaster. While we are relaying the torch, let us also relay love all over the world.
When we are relaying the torch, we shall use simple hand gestures, simple body language, to tell the world: we support the victims of the disaster, we support China! We are not only relaying the Olympic torch, we are also relaying the love felt by all Chinese for the victims for the disaster.
Torchbearers, let’s come together to use our gestures, our body language, to relay love and the sacred flame.
We hope the victims of the earthquake will soon overcome this disaster, we wish our homeland will rebuild soon!
May all that have perished in the earthquake rest in peace.