Foreign Ministry^{1 holds open day for Games}

11月25日，120名參加外交部第二次公眾開放日的各界來賓圍攏在一張乒乓球臺旁，饒有興致地觀看一場難得一見的乒乓球比賽。外交部長楊潔篪和前奧運冠軍鄧亞萍揮拍切磋乒乓球藝，精湛的表演取得在場公眾陣陣喝彩。
2004年奧運會主辦國希臘和2012年奧運會主辦國英國的駐華大使也受邀參加了此次活動。

Chinese ping-pong queen Deng Yaping

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and British ambassador to China William Ehrman tested their skills with Chinese ping-pong queen Deng Yaping at the ministry's building yesterday.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi teams up with Chinese ping-pong queen Deng Yaping for a game at the foreign ministry's building in Beijing November 25, 2007. It was the ministry's second public open day this year, themed Chinese diplomacy^{2, Beijing Olympics. Around 120 visitors from around the world, including British Ambassador William Ehrman and Greek Ambassador Michael Cambanis, turned up for the event.}

Though they were beaten, as expected, the 120 participants applauded them at the ministry's second open day, Chinese Diplomacy, Beijing Olympics. Yang and Ehrman played the game to appeal for greater sportsmanship and less politics.

Greek ambassador Michael Cambanis, too, was supposed to play but couldn't because he wasn't feeling well. Ambassadors of past and future Olympic host nations had been especially invited to the event. We should avoid mixing politics with sports, Cambanis said. For example, when we held the Athens Games we faced a similar pollution problem .

Even compared to the skepticism against Athens' organization capability^{3, the pressure on Beijing is immense, Cambanis said. But I still think the 2008 Olympics will be the best.}

Ehrman corroborated^{4 Cambanis, saying London will learn many a thing from Beijing's experience to prepare for a better Games in 2012.}

While diplomats^{5 want to exclude politics from sport, some reminded China to focus on the Games as a whole instead of just counting the medals. Former world speed-skating champion Ye Qiaobo said: Winning medals should not be the only goal of Chinese athletes at the Games. To host the Olympics in itself is very honorable.}

Vocabulary:

British ambassador to China: 英國駐華大使

team up: 合作、協作、配合