Dancing Beijing facts for kids
Dancing Beijing is the special symbol chosen for the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, China. It was first shown to the public in August 2003 during a big event in Beijing, attended by 2,008 people. This symbol was designed to represent the spirit of the Games and China's culture.
What the Symbol Means
The "Dancing Beijing" symbol is full of meaning from Chinese culture. It shows a bright red Chinese seal placed above the words "Beijing 2008" and the famous Olympic rings.
The red seal has a special drawing inside it. This drawing is a calligraphic (artistic handwriting) version of the Chinese character "京" (pronounced jīng). This character means 'capital', which refers to Beijing, the host city. The way it's drawn makes it look like a person dancing happily.
The curves in the symbol also look like the body of a dragon moving. Dragons are very important in Chinese stories. The figure's open arms show that China was inviting the whole world to come and share its rich culture. The symbol also looks like a runner in action.
The color red is very important in Chinese society. It often means good luck, happiness, and celebration. Using red in the symbol highlights these positive feelings for the Olympic Games.
How the Symbol Was Designed
The "Dancing Beijing" logo was created by a designer named Guo Chunning. There was a big competition to choose the best symbol for the Games. Designers from China and other countries sent in 1,985 different ideas.
Among all these entries, Guo Chunning's design was chosen as the winner. Other ideas included many pictures of the Great Wall of China, pandas, and dragons. Another designer who submitted ideas was Chang Wu (張武).
