The excellent works were selected from the 386 entries determined after careful evaluation by a panel of 17 domestic and foreign experts from the U.K., Russia, Italy, Germany, Austria, U.S.A, and South Korea.

   The design contest, one of the significant public benefit cultural activities associated with the 29th Olympic Games, had drawn worldwide attention since its launch on August 8, 2005.

   The 2433 suits of designs came from 82 countries and regions, including 722 from countries in Europe, America, Asia, and Africa and 1711 from China’s mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao before the conclusion of the contest on March 1, 2006.

   Most of the works are created for the contest occasion. With rich content and distinctive styles, they reflect the Olympic Spirit and concepts in general.

   The sculptors of the selected works will be given one month to perfect and modify their designs, and the organizers will make three sets of replica in the next two months for their tour of Beijing and other two cities.

   The first-round exhibition is to start on June 23 simultaneously in the cities where the general public will have a chance to enjoy the exponents and cast votes for their favorites.

   The gold, silver, and bronze winning works will be unveiled at the end of 2007 as a result of the voting and experts’ judgment.