2005年9月27日晚，希腊大使馆雅典市市长罗拉·巴克雅尼向在雅典奥运会上获得奥运冠军的中国运动员颁发“雅典荣誉市民”证书。雅典奥运会10米气手枪冠军王义夫，雅典奥运会男子举重69公斤级冠军张国政和雅典奥运会62公斤级冠军石智勇作为中国雅典奥运冠军代表出席仪式。

Dora Bakoyannis, mayor of Athens, awarded Chinese gold medalists in the 2004 Olympic Games honorary citizens of Athens here on Tuesday.

Strongmen Zhang Guozheng, Shi Zhiyong and sharpshooter Wang Yifu, received the award on behalf of the Olympics winners.

"I am particularly proud ... the sons and daughters of China," Bakoyannis said, "have won in the filed the highest distinction of the Olympic Games." "It is also symbolic of the ever-growing ties between our two most ancient nations," she said.

China and Greece have vowed to further cooperation for the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games to be held in Beijing, including establishing a joint committee and a series of projects.

Beijing should try to cut the budget and speed up the construction work, Bakoyannis said based on her experience. "I give the best wishes to the success of the Beijing Olympic Games," she said.