Artists eye champions

A group of artists is using their talents to spread news of 2008 Chinese Olympic gold medalists.

Up until now, the Internet, television and news photographs have played a major role in disseminating the Olympic news.

But a group of Chinese artists, who are closely following the Games, are churning out their own unique renditions of the newly emerging top winners.

As part of the ongoing Beijing Olympic Culture Festival, the art project was launched on August 8 by the organizing committee of the 29th Olympic Games and has attracted over 150 participating artists from Beijing.

With the television set on - the artists in their studios are simultaneously depicting the Chinese gold-winners through art - using sculpture, cartoon drawings and oil or ink painting.

The Olympic champion portraits, fresh from the art studios, will be premiered through Chinese media.

Upon the closure of the Games, a grand art exhibition will be staged in Beijing to showcase the pieces, according to a key organizer of the art drive.