The official Olympic emblem for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games was unveiled yesterday at a grand ceremony held in the Temple of Heaven, a landmark scenic spot in Beijing.

Officials and performers celebrate the unveiling of the emblem for the 2008 Olympic Games at a grand ceremony held in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing yesterday. [newsphoto.com.cn]

The emblem, called "Dancing Beijing,'' is in the style of a Chinese seal with the traditional Chinese character "Jing'' rendered in a human-like form. It is one of the most eagerly anticipated Olympic-related designs to be created for China's first ever Olympic Games.

It was designed by Beijing Armstrong Visual Identity Corp and was selected from 1,985 designs contributed by designers from China and overseas.

"The emblem of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is a precious treasure which the people of China are dedicating to the Olympic Movement,'' said Liu Qi, the president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

"The emblem offers a unique integration of Oriental spirit and history and modern Olympic philosophy,'' he added.

The unveiling took place at a huge gathering of more than 2,000 people, including government officials, entertainment celebrities and sports stars.

Peoples started to cheer as Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan and China's four-time table tennis Olympic gold medal winner Deng Yaping walked in carrying a box containing a seal carved with the new Olympic emblem.

The crowd buzzed with excitement as Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the co-ordination commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the Beijing Games, unveiled the seal.

IOC President Jacques Rogge, who sent a video message to celebrate the moment, gave high praise of the new emblem.

"In this emblem, I see the promise and potential of a New Beijing and a Great Olympics,'' said Rogge.

"This is a milestone in the history of your Olympic quest.''

"I congratulate you on this emblem, one which should be a symbol of great pride for every one of you,'' he added.

Many others had praise for the emblem as well.

"I think it is delicate and beautiful,'' said Sui Feifei, a member of China's national women's basketball team.

"As an athlete, I see many sporting elements in it, because its human-like shape reminds me of an athlete in performance,'' she said.

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