A welcome reception for the Olympics

The event: A kick off reception for the 2008 Summer Olympics called "Seeking Our Olympic Dreams" - A historical tie between Beijing and Los Angeles.

The details: Thursday at Universal Studios' Baker Street lot

The guest list: 1984 gold medal winner Xu Haifeng and Liu Hongliang, the son of China's first Olympian, Liu Changchun

The talk: "Los Angeles and California have a great Chinese heritage, both in the state and in the Olympics," said Los Angeles city councilman Tom LaBonge. "There was a foundation established during those games that continues today. When we are talking about the Olympics, we are actually talking about friendship." (E. McCarthy)