You love sports.

You are looking forward to Olympia. You want to share the excitement with your team and your favourite athletes. You have scheduled this year’s holiday plans according to the event calendar of the XXIX Olympic Games in Beijing. You would love nothing more than watch the individual competitions in China from very close up.

And now this happens!

In the run-up to such a major sporting event, the attention of the whole world is of course keenly focussed on the country hosting the Olympic Games. This may have very positive ramifications for this country’s citizens, for its economy, culture and society. But with the XXIX Olympic Games, everything seems to be different than before.

People all over the world demonstrate for human rights, exile Tibetans demand the recognition of their country, torch relays are turned into a farce by the accompanying demonstrations, any disruption of the desired harmony provokes disastrous reactions from the Chinese government. Everything seems to come apart at the seams.

Just a few days before the XXIX Olympic Games are about to start, people no longer believe in the actual sense of Olympia. In pleasant anticipation, in fair competition, in triumphs, medals and world records. In short: Olympia is no longer Olympia. We helplessly watch and are still not able to do anything about it.

We believe in Olympia!

We are of the opinion that it is important to show the Chinese government that it is moving into worldwide isolation. But it is also our opinion that sport should not be misused as a political tool. Athletes want fair competitions. People all over the world want to cheer for their idols.

The world needs Olympia and China needs time!

During the next few years, the Chinese Government needs the gentle pressure of an outstretched hand. We cannot enforce peace with the crowbar. Nor with violence, nor by letting the flame go out.

You are the flame!

We have deliberated for a long time about how we can contribute to harmonic, peaceful Olympic Games. We want to reach people all over the world. We want to show - by means of a worldwide, peaceful virtual torch relay - that we are looking forward to Olympia. Now it is your turn to carry the torch.

“You are the Flame!”