BOCOG Executive Vice-President Jiang Xiaoyu speaks at the press conference.

    (November 3, 2005, Beijing) The official Olympic mascots will be unveiled at an evening show to mark the 1000-day countdown to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

    The announcement was made by the Beijing Olympic organizers at a press conference held at the Beijing Olympic Media Center today.

    The gala show, to be put on in the evening of November 11, consists of two parts. The first part, themed "The Olympics are Coming towards Us," is dedicated to the 1000-day countdown to the 2008 Games, which falls on November 12. This session features splendid and joyful artistic performances, expressing Chinese people's enthusiastic expectations for the Olympic Games that China will host for the first time on its soil.

    The second session, more eye-catching, novel and exciting, and under the theme of "Welcome to Beijing," is the unveiling of the mascots for the Beijing 2008 Games.

    "On the occasion of the 1000-day countdown to the Beijing Olympic Games, we will launch our mascots and organize a series of commemorative events to remind the public that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is coming very soon," said Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice-president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), at the press conference.

    "Through these events, we will create a warmer and more exciting atmosphere, attract more people's attention to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and inspire them to more actively support Beijing's Olympic preparations," Jiang noted.

    Top officials from the Chinese Central Government and Beijing Municipality will participate in the events. An audience of at least 4,000 people, including officials from the International Olympic Committee, dignitaries and celebrities from all walks of life as well as the diplomatic community, will witness the launching of the mascots. A total of 100 children from China's western regions, as special guests of BOCOG, will also participate in the launching ceremony.

    The events will be televised nationally by China Central Television and Beijing TV Station, the country's two heavyweight broadcasters. The evening gala will also be shown live on BOCOG official website.

    Starting on November 12, a series of cultural and sports events will be held across the capital to mark the 1000-day countdown. Highlights include an event held at the China Millennium Monument, where Beijing's youngsters will present 2,008 wishing stars to participating officials and guests.

    On the afternoon of November 12, the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries will invite Beijing-based diplomats, businessmen, correspondents and foreign students to take part in a long-distance walk and run around the Kunming Lake in the scenic Summer Palace.

    "The First," a Beijing-based newspaper dedicated to sports and the Olympic Movement, will launch its "learn 1,000 English Sentences in 1,000 Days" campaign in collaboration with an agency under the Beijing Municipal Government to promote Beijing residents' enthusiasm to learn foreign languages, especially English. From November 12 till the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games on August 8, 2008, the newspaper will carry one frequently-used English sentence every day on its front page.

    Open-air cultural and sports events will be held in Beijing's 18 districts and counties. They mainly feature activities for mass participations.

    Beijing's co-host cities such as Qingdao (for sailing events) and Hong Kong (for equestrian events) as well as Sichuan and Qinghai provinces will also hold cerebrations to mark the 1,000-day countdown.

    Olympic organizers also announced at the press conference that similar events marking the 500-day, one-year and 100-day countdown to the Beijing Games will be held to create the best atmosphere for the world's largest sports event in 2008.

The press conference