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Torch Design to Blaze New Path

Torch Design to Blaze New Path

A campaign was launched on December 6 to find a perfect design for the 2008 Beijing Olympic torch.

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) announced that the solicitation period will run until February 28, 2006.

"Our concepts of the torch design are 'glory and dream, tradition and modernity, culture and harmony,'" said Zhang Ming, deputy director of BOCOG's Culture and Ceremonies Department.

"Design proposals for the Beijing Olympic torch are supposed to artistically interpret the rich connotations of these concepts.?

According to Zhang, submissions are also expected to display the distinguishing features of the Beijing Games, namely "Chinese style, cultural splendour and contemporary spirit,?and to fully demonstrate the vitality and passion of the torchbearers.

Zhang said anyone may submit a design proposal. Applications and other related documents can be downloaded at http://www.beijing2008.com/, the official BOCOG Web site.

About 10 proposals will survive the first round of evaluations and three during the second round. The final three designs will then be presented to the BOCOG executive board for a final decision.

The final design of the torch will be announced to the public in the middle of 2006 and the designers of the top three candidates will each be awarded 50,000 yuan (US$6,165).

The complete torch relay route will be announced at the beginning of 2007.