Beijing unveiled the slogan for the 2008 Olympics as far back as 2005. "One World, One Dream" was finally selected from more than 210,000 entries from around the world.

Beijing's original bid to host the 2008 games had a different slogan "New Beijing, Great Olympics". The organisers felt the new slogan shifted¹ the focus nicely from the city of Beijing itself to the spirit of the Olympics – unity², friendship amongst³ nations and progress.

It was also felt that the "One World, One Dream" slogan captured⁴ the traditional Chinese values of peace and harmony.

The Olympics hasn't always had a slogan attached to each host country. In fact it wasn't until 1988 at the Seoul Olympics in South Korea that the first slogan appeared. "Harmony and Progress" was chosen and it seems to have been a popular theme over the years.

In 1992, the Barcelona Olympics adopted the slogan "Friends Forever", reflecting the idea of friendship between the participating nations.

The Atlanta Olympics in 1996 claimed their Olympics was "The Celebration of a Century", celebrating the fact that the first modern Olympic games was held one hundred years, a century, before that in 1896.

As that first Olympics took place in Athens in Greece, it seemed only fitting⁵ that the 2004 Olympics in Greece had the slogan "Welcome Home". The Olympics had returned to its birthplace.

It is thought the Olympics started to adopt slogans to help their communication campaigns and to make each Olympics unique in its aims.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge praised the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games, saying the idea behind the games is to promote peace and understanding through sport. He believes the "One World, One Dream" slogan reflects that idea perfectly⁶.