于2008年北京奧運會舉辦前夕出版的一期《文明》雜志刊登了國際奧委會終生名譽主席胡安?安東尼奧?薩馬蘭奇為《奧林匹克與中國》（“新北京?新奧運”珍藏特刊）畫冊撰寫的序言，名為《期盼北京2008》（Expecting Beijing 2008）。

以下是薩馬蘭奇序言的原文：

Expecting BeiJing 2008

《期盼北京2008》

　　 —— honorary president for life of the international olympic committee juan antonio samaranch

— 國際奧委會終生名譽主席 薩馬蘭奇

For the first time, the olympic games will be held in china in 2008. for the first time, the entire world will share a unique celebration thanks to the knowledge and experience of what china has achieved in thousands of years of its history and culture.

2008年，奧運會將首次在中國舉行。全世界也將首次在獨特的奧運盛典上分享中國數(shù)千年的悠久歷史文化。

I would like to salute the initiative of the well-known "civilization magazine", which, through its "olympic series", makes an important contribution to the promotion of the olympic ideals and the history of the olympic games among the chinese people.

著名的文明雜志社推出了“奧運系列刊物”（新北京·新奧運珍藏特刊），為在中國民眾中推廣奧林匹克理念，宣傳奧林匹克歷史做出了巨大的貢獻(xiàn)。在這里我要向他們的這一創(chuàng)意致敬。

China is a country of culture and plays a significant role in the world of sport. china has always spread the olympic ideal, which is based on solidarity, friendship and peace, within its territory.

中國是個文化大國，在世界體育事業(yè)中也發(fā)揮著重要的作用。中國一直致力于在國內(nèi)傳播奧林匹克“團(tuán)結(jié)、友誼、和平”的理想。

I have always been, and will remain forever a friend of your great country. our friendship started when I was the spanish ambassador in moscow at the end of the 1970s. during my 21 years as IOC president, I visited china more than 20 times. the chinese people are friendly and warm-hearted. I feel their warmth and find myself in an ocean of friendship whenever I set foot on chinese soil.

我一直而且會永遠(yuǎn)是這個偉大國家的朋友。我和中國的友誼開始于20世紀(jì)70年代，我在莫斯科當(dāng)西班牙大使的時候。在我擔(dān)任國際奧委會主席的21年中，曾經(jīng) 20多次訪問中國。中國人民非常熱情友好。每次踏上這片土地，他們的熱情都讓我感到仿佛置身于友誼的海洋中。

I will always remember the moment when I presented the first olympic gold medal at the los angeles games in 1984, because it was awarded to a chinese athlete, xu haifeng and it was also the first olympic gold medal to be won by a chinese person in the olympic history. since then, chinese athletes have achieved some remarkable performances throughout the world. these athletes, who have faced many challenges, become examples for future generations in china and beyond. they motivate young girls and boys, encouraging them to practise sport, and above all inspiring dreams of participating in the olympic games.

我始終記得，在1984年洛杉磯奧運會上給中國運動員許海峰頒發(fā)該屆奧運會第一塊金牌的情形。這也是中國歷史上首次贏得奧運會金牌。從那以后，中國運動員在世界各地都取得了輝煌的成績。他們曾經(jīng)面臨眾多的挑戰(zhàn)，為中國和全世界的下一代運動員做出了榜樣。他們鼓勵青少年積極參加體育活動，最重要的是激發(fā)他們參加奧運會的夢想。

During these last decades, the changes in have been china are incredible and spectacular. china is becoming one of the most important countries in the world. beijing’s candidacy was already a revelation.

過去幾十年中，中國發(fā)生了驚人的變化。

it is a bustling city which has demonstrated surprising development and is showing an imagination and new technology that startles whoever studies its current evolution.

北京成為奧運會主辦城市這一事實說明中國正成為世界上最重要的國家之一。北京是個熱鬧非凡的大都市，城市的發(fā)展令世人驚訝。如果仔細(xì)研究一下北京現(xiàn)代的變化，人人都會對她表現(xiàn)出的豐富的想象力和新技術(shù)感到吃驚。

I am convinced that the beijing games will be successful if china is really willing to organise very successful games and if it really knows very well that these games can be a turning point for the country.

如果中國真想組織一次成功的奧運會并充分意識到奧運會將成為這個國家的轉(zhuǎn)折點，那么我堅信北京奧運會將會是一屆非常成功的奧運會。

As we look forward to the games of the xxix olympiad in beijing in 2008, I am certain that the chinese people and athletes will add to the excellence and excitement of the games.

讓我們期盼著2008年第29屆北京奧運會，我深信中國人民和運動員一定會為這場盛會增色添彩！