Xi Jinping, China’s Vice President, told foreign VIPs and officials that the Beijing Olympics would be a major sporting event in this century (we sort of interpret it in this way).

Xi met separately with Iranian Vice president and head of Physical Education Organization Muhammad Aliabadi, Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew and the president of India’s ruling Congress Party, Sonia Gandhi.

The Games start on Friday. More than 80 heads of states and governments and royals will attend the opening ceremony in the National Stadium, better known as the Bird’s Nest.

Via Xinhua