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

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, 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.

People 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 to the new emblem.

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

(China Daily 08/04/2003 page1)