The Church of England has published a new prayer to mark the opening of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing on Friday.

The prayer has been written especially for the 2008 Beijing Olympics by the Rev Peter Moger, the Church of England's National Worship Development Officer, and is suitable for personal use or as a prayer of intercession in a church service.

As well as focusing on the well-being of everyone involved in the Olympics, the prayer asks for a striving for excellence, and a spirit of humility and fair play.

Christians around the world are praying for members of unofficial house churches during the Olympics, as persecution watchdogs including Open Doors and Release International warn of a government crackdown on unregistered churches in the communist country.

"Release is inviting Christians to stand with the persecuted Church in China. We want people to intercede for freedom of worship and Christian revival in this vast communist nation - to see the Kingdom of God extended in China," said the head of Release, Andy Dipper.


The Church of England's Prayer for the Olympics:

Everlasting God, giver of joy and source of abundant life,
we pray for all who are involved in the Beijing Olympic Games,
and especially those who represent Great Britain:
for their safe-keeping and well-being;
and as we celebrate the skill and resolve of those who compete
we pray that, throughout the Games, there would be
a striving for excellence,
a spirit of humility and fair play,
and a respect for others,
and that all who wait on you may find their strength renewed
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.