2008 Summer Olympic Games Slogan - “One World, One Dream”

by Sharron Pankhurst

—Prayer Journal
August 8 through 24

It’s me again God. I thank you that you hear us when we pray. I know you are always working in the world to bring your love to humankind. Today, I pray for everyone involved with the 2008 Olympics to become aware of your Presence, myself included.

Security is always an issue. I pray your peace is present over the City of Beijing. Please provide safe travel for the Olympians and their families. With all the hustle bustle, please watch over the spectators coming into Beijing and safely guide them to their hotels and to the games. Give the Olympic Committee and organizers wisdom to carry through with their plans and be able to work through the variables attached to such a large event. I would like to request that:

Friday, August 8
OPENING CEREMONIES
The Opening Ceremonies is a big event today—I pray for the security at this event and during the rest of the Games.

Saturday, August 9
I pray for the Hospitality groups as they take care of the miscellaneous problems of the people attending the Games.

Sunday, August 10
I pray for the Vendors as they supply the needs of so many people. May they represent the honor of the Games. Provide them with protection during the Games.

Monday, August 11
I pray for the news media, reporters, cameramen and women—give them wisdom as they work through the communication issues and problems.

Tuesday, August 12
I ask for safety and wisdom for the 100,000 volunteers and the 1,250 “Beijing Beauties” and Select 560 Escorts for Olympic VIPs and medal winners. Protect them as the provide the services they have contracted to do.

Wednesday, August 13
I pray that all the church-led outreach groups will successfully follow through with servicing each area of responsibility.

Thursday, August 14
I pray for the Christians attending the Games—please make them aware of your Presence, give them patience, and help them not to misrepresent you to others during the Games.

Friday, August 15
I ask that you provide physical safety for the Olympians as they perform in their respective events. Also, for those Olympians who came alone without their loved ones—please provide others to come alongside them as they experience loneliness or become homesick.

Saturday, August 16
I pray for the Christian Olympians at the Games. Help them feel your peace and to perform for you and you alone. Give them wisdom and protection as you guide them to make lasting friendships with their competitors in your Name.

Sunday, August 17
For those Olympians who have their families with them—please provide good family dynamics. May they—win or lose—celebrate that their Olympian was good enough to qualify in their event.

Monday, August 18
Volunteers are probably feeling tired from serving and worn out from the excitement of so many people. Please refresh them to continue providing services to the individual, not just the crowd.

Tuesday, August 19
I pray for the health of the Olympians and their families. Guide the footsteps of the children and the elderly visiting a new and foreign country.

Monday, August 20
There are a lot of spouses, children, parents, and friends that have been left at home while their Olympian travels to Beijing. Protect them and provide them with friends and family as they watch their loved ones perform on TV.

Tuesday, August 21
A lot of travel will happen during the Olympics. I ask for safety in car, bus, train and all land travel. Please give the pilots and planes safe travel in the air as they move so many people through the skies.

Wednesday, August 22
Thank you for your Presence at the Games. I ask for continued safety for the Olympians and all attendees.

Thursday, August 23
I pray above all else, that your will is done here at the 2008 Summer Olympics, as it is done in Heaven.

Friday, August 24
CLOSING CEREMONIES
I ask for safe travel home for the Olympians, Spectators, Volunteers, Media and everyone attending the Games.

My final prayer is that as the lives of the citizens of Beijing and surrounding communities return to normal, I pray that the interactions they have had with Christians will have a lasting impact for you. I thank you for answering my prayers during the Olympics and praise you for what you do behind the scenes and how you are always working to pull humankind into your Family.

FACTS ABOUT THE OLYMPICS

List of Athletic Disciplines:

…ARCHERY…BADMINTON…BASEBALL…BASKETBALL…BEACH VOLLEY BALL…BMX…BOXING…DIVING…EQUESTRIAN…FENCING…FIELD HOCKEY…FLATWATER CANOE AND KAYAK…GYMNASTICS—ARTISTIC, RHYTHMIC, TRAMPOLINE...HAND BALL…INDOOR VOLLEY BALL…JUDO…MOUNTAIN BIKING…PENTATHLON…ROAD CYCLING…ROWING…SAILING…SHOOTING…SLALOM CANOE AND KAYAK...SOCCER…SOFTBALL…SWIMMING…SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING…TABLE TENNIS...TAEKWONDO…TENNIS…TRACK AND FIELD…TRACK CYCLING…TRIATHLON…VOLLEYBALL…WATER POLO…WEIGHTLIFTING…WRESTLING

--2008 Summer Olympics will be held August 8—24. Use The “China National Tourist Office” as a good source for information: 800.670.2228. NOTE: “CoSport” is an official seller of tickets to Olympics events: 977.457.4647 or www.cosport.com or en.beijing2008.cn

--2008 Olympics will provide 28 athletic disciplines and 302 events.

--2008 Olympics will have 10,500 Olympians competing.

--2008 Olympic Torch will be carried through 6 continents, 21 countries, and will take 130 days to complete its journey to ignite the 2008 Olympics.

--205 countries have National Olympic Committees (they organize competitors and make final selections for which athlete will attend the Olympics and represent that country).

TRAVEL TO CHINA

When mapping a trip to China, remember this country is not necessarily the best trip for travelers on their own. China is better seen with the help of a reliable travel agent/planner (i.e., the government changes the lay of the land quickly making guidebooks unreliable—see Jinghui Niu’s article in JUL/AUG map, “Leaving Beijing to Discover China”).

If you still want to stay independent, use an agent/planner and create a travel team. You’ll need a car to enjoy the important places you want to see and to reach more remote destinations. Let the agent/planner book you with a driver with a private car (make sure to request an English-speaking guide for each destination you choose to visit).

--A travel agent/planner in China needs to be the best you can afford. Go to www.cntraveler.com/iconictrips. Great article in Condé Nast Traveler March 2008 magazine, “Iconic Itineraries, Sixth in a Series—12 perfect days in Classic China” by Wendy Perrin. She recommends dependable travel agent/planners. This article is worth your time—there is travel information throughout the entire article.