2000年初，为北京申办2008年奥运会创造良好的语言环境和国际交往氛围，由市政府组织，在全市广泛开展了市民讲外语的一系列活动，极大地调动起广大市民学外语、讲外语的热情，在国内外产生了很大的影响，为成功申办2008年奥运会发挥了积极的作用。随着我国加入世界贸易组织和北京申奥的成功，市民讲外语活动进一步得到市委、市政府的高度重视，2002年正式成立了北京市民讲外语活动组委会，并将其列为市委、市政府今后的一项重要工作。到2005年年底，北京市的外语人口已经超过410万人，占常住人口的比例接近30%。

　　申奥成功的喜悦之情和全面实现“新北京，新奥运”战略构想的美好期盼，一直激励和鼓舞着北京市民。几年来，随着北京奥运会的筹备工作紧锣密鼓地推进，市民讲外语的热潮也不断掀起。

　　北京是一座有着丰富的外语教育教学资源的城市，充分整合和利用好这些资源，提高全民外语水平，推动城市的国际化是北京市民讲外语工作的重要目标。这项活动已被列入《人文奥运行动规划》和北京市政府的《折子工程》。在北京市民讲外语活动组委会的组织下，专家们和各类外语教学机构以及新闻媒体积极参与，建言献策，市民讲外语活动取得了丰硕成果。

　　几年来，外语游园会吸引了成千上万的北京市民。从商务英语大赛，行业英语大赛的精彩表现，到中国人唱外国歌大赛上的美妙歌声，再到居民小区中热闹非凡的英语角，农村乡镇里热情高涨的学习班。所有来到这里并深入其中的人，都会为这座城市的人民学习外语的认真与努力而感动。

　　在北京深入贯彻落实以人为本科学发展观，充分把握奥运机遇，推动经济更快更好发展，努力构建社会主义和谐社会的今天，秉持“普及性、实用性、群众性和趣味性”相结合的原则，不断创新形式，丰富内容，北京市民讲外语活动一定会取得更大的成果，为2008年的北京奥运会营造一个良好的语言环境，为北京建设国际化现代都市作出新的贡献。

　　The Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages Programme (BSFLP) was launched in 2002. By the end of 2005, more than 4.1 million Beijing residents, 30 percent of the permanent residents in Beijing, were able to speak at least one foreign language. Beijing, a historical city, is effectively striving to raise its residents’ foreign language levels in the process of marching towards modernization。

　　The excitement aroused from winning the right to host the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games and the “New Beijing, Great Olympics” vision are driving and encouraging Beijing’s residents. During the past three years, along with progress in preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games, the enthusiasm of Beijing residents for studying and speaking foreign languages has continually increased。

　　Beijing is a city with abundant resources for foreign language teaching and learning. Using these resources to improve the foreign language skills of residents citywide and to speed Beijing’s internationalization with full integration is a key target of the BSFLP, as listed in the Beijing Olympic Action Plan and the Must-do Projects of the Beijing Municipal Government. Under the organization of the Organizing Committee of the BSFLP and with the active participation of experts, various foreign language teaching organizations and the media, the Organizing Committee of BSFLP is succeeding in its mission。

　　During the past few years, the Foreign Languages Festival has attracted thousands of Beijing residents. Whoever gets to know those foreign language learners will be moved by their serious attitude and the efforts they have been making, which are fully displayed in their excellent performances in the “Business English TV Contests” and the “Beijing English TV contest for professionals”， the wonderful singing at the “Foreign Song TV Contest for Chinese Singers”， the lively English Corners in the communities and the study panels with enthusiastic learners in the countryside。

　　Beijing is thoroughly carrying out a “human scientific development point of view”； this is a great opportunity. Fully taking advantage of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, promoting the better and more rapid development of the economy, striving for a harmonious society, sticking to the principle of integrating popularization, practicability, mass participation and interests and based on continuous forms and various content, the Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages Programme has already and will definitely continue to make great achievements, create a good language environment for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and contribute to the construction of Beijing’s internationalization。