Recently, Yi Fentian Agriculture and Sci-tech Co. displayed in Beijing the specially designed gourds, shaped like footballs, basketballs, volleyballs and chess pieces created by the firm over a period of six years. These products will be presented to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), as a blessing on the forthcoming Olympic Games.

Gourds, according to Chinese tradition, symbolize good wishes and are thus always favored by the Chinese people. Various patterns can be carved on their surfaces, according to the sculptor's ideas. The gourds in the exhibition were cultivated through industrial art during the period of growing. Their designated shapes were devised beforehand through modern agricultural sci-tech methods, such as the transformation of genes and controlled growing conditions. Carving was therefore unnecessary. These gourds integrate modern agricultural sci-tech with traditional folk culture and can easily be preserved for great lengths of time, making for highly valued art.

Farmer entrepreneur Cha Taishan, legal representative of the company, drew inspiration from the Olympic idea of "Green Olympics, Scientific and Technological Olympics and Cultural Olympics," after the date when Beijing won the right to host the Olympic Games in 2001. He was determined to plant crops that would embody both the characteristics of traditional Chinese culture and the spirit of the modern Olympics.

Cha spent six years on this initiative through repeated experiment and meticulous research.

In April 2008, Cha and his colleagues bestowed their gifts -- the football, basketball and volleyball gourds -- to Beijing, as special presents offered to the 2008 Games. Cha's special gifts were highly praised by the State departments concerned and the BOCOG. In addition, some organizations, including the State General Administration of Sports, the China International Chamber of Commerce and the China Handicraft Article Association, also expressed their heartfelt thanks to Cha and his company.

The BOCOG gave the company an honorary certificate. It also invited Cha to attend a symposium on International Intelligence Sport Meeting to be held in Jiangsu Province in the near future. The sport meeting, initiated by Juan Antonio Samaranch, former president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will be held after 2008 Olympic Games and the Paralympic World Games, in Beijing. At the time, Cha will present a chess gourd to the organizing committee of the sport meeting.

Zhang Xiaokai, known as the person to first collect materials about the Beijing Olympics, said he hoped to take the seeds of this particular variety of gourd to Greece, and plant them in the vicinity of the ruins of Olympia. By doing so, he said, he wished to extend the Chinese people's greetings to world sports, and make China's sport culture blossom forever in that sacred land.

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