Noisy-le-Grand, France - September 06, 2024

Storyline:
An inauguration ceremony for a commemorative sculpture donated by China Media Group (CMG) to the French National Olympic and Sports Committee and the launch ceremony of the Olympic Peace Park were held in French city of Noisy-le-Grand on Friday.

CMG President Shen Haixiong sent a congratulatory message to the event. China's ambassador to France, the Chief Cultural Officer of the French National Olympic Committee and the Mayor of Noisy-le-Grand attended the ceremony and delivered speeches.

Shen Haixiong said in his congratulatory message that this friendship gift vividly pictures China and France standing together through thick and thin and moving forward hand in hand, and interprets the lofty ideal of "peace, friendship and progress" of the Olympic movement. He expressed the hope that people from all walks of life in China and France continue to use the Olympics as a bond, work together to promote exchanges and dialogs between civilizations, and contribute new and greater strength to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Lu Shaye, Chinese Ambassador to France, said in his speech that culture and sports are important elements and bonds of people-to-people exchanges. The sculpture conveys the message of unity, peace and friendship by blending sports with culture, and portrays China and France's pursuit of the Olympic spirit and expectation to world peace.

Stephane Hatot, administrator of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee in charge of Olympic culture, said that this sculpture fully demonstrates the three core values of the Olympics: excellence, respect and friendship. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between France and China. Such an artistic piece could exactly serve as a representative of celebrating this great friendship, showing that both France and China are advocates and promoters of the Olympic spirit, he said.

Brigitte Marsigny, mayor of Noisy-le-Grand, said in her speech that this magnificent sculpture is a bridge between different cultures, symbolizing the common expectations of people from different countries for world peace. As the mayor of Noisy-le-Grand, she is honored to welcome this sculpture to be permanently settled in Villa Cathala.

The sculpture Tong Zhou Gong Du, literally "ferrying in the same boat," echoes the Olympic spirit. It depicts an Olympic goddess wearing an olive wreath on her head and holding a dove of peace in her right hand, and Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics, holding the Ode to Sport in his left hand.

In the center of the sculpture are the five Olympic rings jointly held up by the two figures, and the base of the sculpture is a boat decorated with a Chinese dragon and a Gallic rooster.

Created by Huang Jian, International Olympic Committee's Olympic art ambassador and renowned sculptor, this sculpture integrates cultural symbols of both China and France, standing for the vibrant friendship between the two countries and the spirit of the Olympics. It is placed in the garden of Villa Cathala, one of the city's landmarks.

Shotlist:
Noisy-le-Grand, Ile-de-France, France - Sept 6, 2024:
1. Guests unveiling sculpture Tong Zhou Gong Du, or "ferrying in the same boat";
2. Sculpture;
3. Various of Huang Jian, creator of sculpture, Olympic art ambassador of International Olympic Committee, speaking;
4. Lu Shaye, Chinese Ambassador to France and Monaco, speaking;
5. Brigitte Marsigny, mayor of Noisy-le-Grand, speaking;
6. Various of guests signing on poster;
7. Guests holding banner, posing for group photo;
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Brigitte Marsigny, mayor of Noisy-le-Grand (ending with shot 9):
"It's a beautiful city and we are very proud, as part of the French-Chinese friendship, to have this cultural work with us. I find them superb and then I think that it will please the residents of the city a lot."
9. Various of sculpture, details;
10. Aerial shot of sculpture.

[Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]