BEIJING—One day before the Beijing Olympics opening, Jackie Chan released an official Olympic album and became the only male singer authorized to do so.
The “Official Album for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games - Jackie Chan’s Version” is one of the two solo albums with authorization granted by the Beijing Olympics organizing committee, reported Sina.com.cn. The Web site broadcasted the launch ceremony at the Olympic Park on Thursday.
The other record to be released soon is by songstress Tan Jing, according to Yu Binghan, who produced both albums.
Chan’s album includes 10 songs he sang for the “Official Album for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games,” a star-studded compilation released on April 30. Tracks include “We Are Ready” and “Welcome to Beijing.” “The album is an extension of the official compilation,” Yu Binghan told Sina. “We chose Jackie because he is the best-known Chinese celebrity, and also because he has done a lot for the Olympics.”
Chan received his Olympic volunteer certificate from the organizing committee on August 3 at the inauguration ceremony for China Story, a project promoting Chinese culture and for which he and Tan Jing will together sing the theme song. He is also set to promote Chinese culture to foreign broadcasters during the games, Sina reported.
Chan wore sports clothes to his album’s launch ceremony, and said the garments were one of the 101 sets that he has had custom made for Olympic occasions. Each set is printed with Olympic rings and features different Chinese characters. The one he wore Thursday reads “Peace” and “Friendship.”
He said that he would put the costumes up for auction after the Olympics and donate the proceeds to charity. Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan has become the top volunteer star serving the Beijing Olympic Games, according to the website of the Games organizers.
Chan was presented with the volunteer certificate by the Games organizers on Sunday at the launching ceremony of the China Story, a project aiming to promote Chinese culture during the Olympics.
The actor will partner with mainland songstress Tan Jing to sing the theme song for the project, which is sponsored by the Beijing Olympics organizers, BOCOG.
Organizers have built temporary exhibition rooms at the National Stadium to showcase Chinese folk art works and intangible cultural heritages collected from across the country for the Olympics. Jackie Chan said he will solicit his friends to fund the permanent operation of the exhibition after the Games, in a bid to promote Chinese traditions.

Source: Daily Mail News

"Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital," his publicist, Danica Smith, said in a statement from Los Angeles.

The comedian suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs, but had said the condition went into remission in 2005. He recently was hospitalized and treated for pneumonia, which his publicist said was not related to the disease.

Recently, Mac's brand of comedy caught him flack when he was heckled during a surprise appearance at a July fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate and fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama.

Toward the end of a 10-minute standup routine, Mac joked about menopause, sexual infidelity and promiscuity, and used occasional crude language. The performance earned him a rebuke from Obama's campaign.

But despite controversy or difficulties, in his words, Mac was always a performer.

"Wherever I am, I have to play," he said in 2002. "I have to put on a good show."

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