Tonight at the Prince Jun Wang Fu Palace site of the World Olympians Reunion Center (ORC) the Samsung Marriage of Excellence cultural event featured international artists including Sheila E., Taylor DAYNE, Oliver JONES, Li TONG, Chen LIN and the Canadian International School of Beijing Children's Choir. This cultural event will be televised by CCTV at a future date.

United States Congresswoman Diane WATSON started a tradition during the 2000 Sydney XXVI Olympiad whereby a gift to the City hosting the Games was presented. This tradition is embodied in the form of an Olympic painting celebrating the friendship between the people of the United States of America and the host city.

In 2004, during the Athens Olympic Games, the painting known as "Celebration of Peace Through Sports" to the Mayor of Athens thus continuing the tradition during the Games.

Tonight the ATLANTA DITC presented to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) and the City of Beijing a painting "A Bridge of Friendship from Atlanta to Beijing" specifically created by US Olympic Artist Steve R. Allen. The symbol of peace, sport and friendship was officially donated by the ATLANTA DITC to Mr. Zhou ZHENGBO from the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

HE Sam SULLIVAN Mayor of the City of Vancouver also attended the event. A similar gift will be made during Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games (February 12-28, 2010) to the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).