Angola: Head of State at Opening of Beijing Olympic Games

Source from:  Angola Press Agency (Luanda) 6 August 2008 08/07/2008

Angolan Head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos left the country this Wednesday for the People's Republic of China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, set for August 08. At "4 de Fevereiro" International Airport, President José Eduardo dos Santos received farewell greetings from the speaker of the National Assembly, Roberto de Almeida, prime minister, Fernando da Piedade, and from other government officials and members of the Chinese diplomatic body in Angola. The Statesman is being accompanied by the First Lady Ana Paula dos Santos, by the ministers of Foreign Affairs, João Bernardo de Miranda, of Sports, Marcos Barrica and senior staff of his office. Angola will be represented in the Olympic Games in beach volleyball, ladies handball, men's basketball, canoeing, swimming and athletics, with a total of 32 athletes. During his stay in the Chinese territory, President Dos Santos is expected to meet with his colleagues who are also in Beijing. Apart from being a sports event, the Olympic Games of China, shall also be a forum in which politicians, sportsmen, cultural entities and others will debate problems that are currently affecting the world, such as HIV/AIDS, poverty, combat to tobaccoism and to drugs, among other issues. Enditem