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Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Pictograms Unveiled

The pictograms that will be used during the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games were announced on May 23. The pictograms will be widely used in the road signal system, in the symbols and decorations in and outside the venues of the Games, as well as in the guides for athletes and spectators. They will also be used in TV broadcasting, in promotion, in advertising and in marketing.

The pictograms of the Beijing Paralympic Games use the structure of the Chinese seal script as their basic form, while incorporating the pictographic charm of oracle-bone writing (jiaguwen) and the bronze-ware script (jinwen) with the simplification of modern graphics. The design features the particular movement and dynamism of each sport but is also easy to recognize, remember and use.

The pictograms of the Beijing Paralympic Games cover all 20 individual sports: archery, athletics, boccia, cycling, equestrian, football 5-a-side, football 7-a-side, goal-ball, judo, power-lifting, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, volleyball (sitting), wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.

The Central Academy of Fine Arts, a member of the Design Group for the Pictograms of the Beijing Olympic Games, was responsible for their design, creation and testing.

Victory Ceremony Hosts/Hostess Costume Design Scheme for Beijing Olympics Sought

From May 23 to June 25, 2007, BOCOG is soliciting bids from across the nation for designs of the victory ceremony hosts/hostess costumes for the Beijing Games.

A complete set of costumes should include a medal/flower bearer costume (for ladies), a presenter escort costume (for ladies), an athlete’s escort costume (for ladies) and a flag bearer costume (for men). The style and colour of the costumes should be in conformity with the image and look of the Beijing Games and with the ambience of the victory ceremony. The material and means of artistic expression should highlight “Chinese elements, national characteristics and features of the time.”

Procedures and submission forms are available via the BOCOG Web site at: http://en.beijing2008.cn. While opening the campaign to all members of society, BOCOG will also have recourse to specific associations to invite professional design organizations to join the campaign. The participants can send their design schemes for one or more costumes, but each costume is limited to one design scheme.

After the deadline, a preliminary evaluation committee will choose the design schemes of 50 sets for each of the four costume categories (200 sets in total) and bring them to the second round of appraisal.

The appraisal committee will pick ten sets for each category (maximum of 40 sets) from the short-listed entries and will present them to the BOCOG Executive Board, which will determine one first prize, two second prizes, and seven third prizes for winning schemes in each category.

Service Guide Now Available to Foreign Media

To assist foreign media organizations and foreign journalists in their reporting on the Beijing Games, BOCOG has compiled and published its Service Guide for Foreign Media Coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period (the Guide) on May 9.

The Guide joins the Regulations On Reporting Activities in China by Foreign Journalists During the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period, issued by the Chinese Government and BOCOG, which were designed and published to assist foreign media organizations and foreign journalists in their work in China. The Regulations took effect on January 1, 2007, and were well-received by foreign news organizations.

The Guide covers such details as visa applications, customs clearances, travelling and interviews, the employment of Chinese mainland residents, housing rentals and offices, applications for radio frequencies, temporary driving permits, taxation and insurance, all of which are of concern to accredited media organizations for the Beijing Games, including rights-holding broadcasters, the accredited written and photographic press, as well as non-accredited media covering the Beijing Games.

The Guide is expected to provide a brief, clear interpretation and explanation of issues of particular concern to the media, such as laws and policies and expected working conditions, while simultaneously providing easy-to-operate assistance information on relevant procedures.

The electronic version of The Guide is available on the official BOCOG Web site and a print version will be available soon for distribution to media organizations.