This week the world gathers in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic games. This is the extraordinary moment China has been dreaming of for 100 years. People have been longing for this moment because it symbolises a turning point in China's relationship with the outside world.

I've realized the extraordinary power of sports to heal unite and inspire. I believe the Olympics will serve as the ultimate platform to provide positive changes and I hope to inspire all of Japan through my strong showing there.

Finishing second in the Olympics gets you silver. Finishing second in politics gets you oblivion.

Olympics for me is love peace united.

I woke up on the plane this morning and was turning on my phone and I had to put my pin number in. That's when I realized that since the age of 10 I've been using 2012 as my pin number. But now that I've won gold in the 2012 Olympics I've achieved that goal and for the first time in 14 years I'll have to change my pin.

I am very proud of my mom and consider her the most courageous woman I know. With perseverance sacrifice and hard work she raised a family of Olympic athletes and gave us the tools and the spirit to succeed. That is something that my brothers and I will always be thankful for.

No matter what like I couldn't - I could break a world record get an Olympic gold medal and my mom would be like you could have done better. But you looked pretty. That's what she says all the time.

The 2012 London Olympic Games fostered a generation of hope. I witnessed women participating for the very first time representing every nation.

Jim Thorpe is someone I've always loved. He was an Olympic athlete you know and a football player from back in the day. I'd love to play him. And then there's a guy called Iceman who was a top hit man for the mob. I would love to play him. Actually it's sort of in the works so I hope it goes through.

I graduated a the top of my class in the '84 Olympic Games I won a gold medal.

May joy and good fellowship reign and in this manner may the Olympic Torch pursue its way through ages increasing friendly understanding among nations for the good of a humanity always more enthusiastic more courageous and more pure.

I love wushu a lot and I would love to see it included in future Olympic Games.

It sounds funny but the 2008 Olympics were something that just kind of happened and I was lucky they came at a point when I was uninjured and well prepared. As a gymnast you can't ask for much more.

I mean it's funny playing music how of course you want it to do well you want them to like it but it's not competitive like an election it's the Olympics it's not a Formula 1 race. The Billboard charts are just to show you what people like.

Throughout its history the international Olympic Committee has struggled to spread its ideal of fraternity friendship peace and universal understanding.

I have run two Olympic 'A' standard times over the past 12 months and with the time I ran at the African Championships last week I know my speed and fitness are constantly improving so that I will peak in time for the Olympics.

The spirit of the Olympic movement is great for young people because it teaches them about the training and discipline required to compete. Even if they don't make the teams they can rededicate their lives to the art of sport discipline and physical fitness.