Olympics-themed sculpture donated by CMG inaugurated in Paris

An Olympics-themed sculpture donated by China Media Group (CMG) was inaugurated on September 6, 2024 in Olympic Peace Park at Château de Catala in Paris.

Marking the opening of the Olympic Peace Park in the eastern suburbs of Paris, this sculpture symbolizes the friendship between China and France and the spirit of the Olympics and conveys a message of peace.

Named "Tong Zhou Gong Du," meaning "cross a river in the same boat," the sculpture was created by renowned Chinese sculptor Huang Jian, the International Olympic Committee's art ambassador, and was donated by CMG to the French Olympic Committee.

Shen Haixiong, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and president of CMG, sent a congratulatory letter to the event.

In the letter, Shen Haixiong said as a gift of friendship, the sculpture commemorates the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France and sends blessings to the Paris Olympics.

"We expect people from all walks of life in China and France will continue to take the Olympics as a bond, jointly promote exchanges and dialogues among different civilizations, promote mutual understanding and respect among peoples, jointly write a more glorious chapter in the Olympic Movement, and contribute new and greater strength to building a community with a shared future for mankind," Shen wrote in the letter.

Lu Shaye, China's ambassador to France, Stéphane Hatot, cultural counselor of the French National Olympic Committee, and Brigitte Marsigny, Mayor of French city Noisy-le-Grand, attended the event and delivered speeches.

Ambassador Lu Shaye said this sculpture conveys the concepts of unity, peace and friendship through the combination of sports and culture, expressing the pursuit of the Olympic spirit and the expectations for world peace by both China and France. "We expect this sculpture to become a new landmark for the city Noisy-le-Grand, demonstrating the vitality of the friendly relations between China and France," he said.

Stéphane Hatot, cultural counselor of the French National Olympic Committee, said the sculpture fully demonstrates the three core values of the Olympics: excellence, respect and friendship. "As this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and China, such a piece of art celebrates this great friendship," he said.

Brigitte Marsigny, Mayor of French city Noisy-le-Grand, said that art has the power to transcend national boundaries to touch people's hearts.

The Olympics-themed sculpture "Tong Zhou Gong Du" features a boat with symbols of both Chinese and French cultures: the Chinese dragon and the Gallic rooster. This boat, symbolizing the friendship between China and France and the Olympic spirit, implies that both sides, taking the Paris Olympics as an opportunity, jointly promote exchanges and dialogues among different civilizations and convey the voice of peace of the Paris Olympics.

The sculpture was previously exhibited at "From Beijing to Paris - the Olympic Journey of Chinese and French Artists" in May this year.