How are people in China looking forward to the event? How will they follow the competitions – which team will they cheer on – and what's their personal motto for the games? Five employees from Allianz China Life share their impressions:

"I am proud of being Chinese. All my colleagues are talking about the Olympic Games, and we are very much looking forward to them. My friends and family are all hoping our Chinese team can win some medals in the Olympics! I will watch the Games on TV. I particularly like the diving, because of its technique and beauty. We were all very sad about the earthquake disaster in Sichuan. I do not live in the area, but if I did, I'd try to take strength from the Olympic spirit – to be faster, higher and stronger. I wish that for Sichuan too, when it rebuilds and resumes its activities.

For the Olympic Games, my personal message is: Expect both good sport and good spirit from the Olympic Games in China!"

"The atmosphere of the Olympics is all around us – I think the Chinese Olympics have raised many expectations here. I feel proud that we are holding the Olympic Games. We have suffered from the earthquake, but everyone is still trying to actively welcome the Olympics. It is such a great opportunity to be the hosts for the Games. I will use a very simple method to support them: I will do all I can to provide a good welcome to the event! I love basketball best – because it depends on teamwork.

I'd say, it's the Olympics of Beijing, but also the Olympics of the world."

"I am very happy and proud. This has made up for the disappointment when we lost the bid to host the 2000 Games. I often see the Olympic advertisements, and I will also be watching the Games on TV at home. We should all share in that excitement and support the Olympics. That is my largest wish besides rebuilding the homeland in Sichuan. I love football and basketball especially, and will follow all the news and matches.

My message is: The Games will be a China moment, an Olympic moment, an Allianz moment – the most impressive moment of 2008!"

"It's our honor to hold the 2008 Olympic Games. The atmosphere is getting hotter and hotter. My friends and family are all willing to volunteer for the Olympics. We all so deeply regret our compatriots' death in the earthquake. This definitely has an influence on how we feel. But we also believe that all this misfortune will pass, and that warmness will be around us once more. The Olympics belong to the world, and we are proud of them. We will take an active part in the Olympic Games. I particularly like diving. I cannot go to Beijing, but I will focus on the Olympics and Beijing anyway, and on our Chinese athletes.

My message is: Welcome to China, welcome to Beijing, welcome to Allianz!"

"I am proud of holding the Olympic Games in China and kept hoping they would come soon! There is a lot of news in the media about the Olympics. My friends and I are willing to show a new China to the world. And the Olympic Games can certainly do the Chinese economy well. My favourite Olympic sport is the 110 meters hurdles, because I hope our athlete Liu Xiang will win the event. This gold medal will be meaningful to China.

How would I describe the Beijing Olympics? One world, one dream! One team, one goal!"

As with all content published on this site, these statements are subject to our Forward Looking Statement disclaimer, provided on the right.