BEIJING, Nov. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The first group of selected songs for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will be officially introduced to the public by the end of the year, organizers told a press conference on Wednesday.

    An evaluation committee, composed of musicians and experts, has picked out eight songs from 305 valid entries received since the solicitation was launched on April 15.

    "These songs, upon the approval of the BOCOG Executive Board, will make their debut in an evening show toward the end of the year," said Sun Weijia, deputy director of BOCOG's Media and Communication Department.

    According to Sun, 36 of all the entries are done by professional composers and lyrics writers. 67 are from Beijing, five from foreign countries and one from Chinese Hong Kong.

    The BOCOG will continue to invite entries on an annual basis till the end of 2007. With the Games still four years to go, around 10 songs will be chosen each year.

    The theme song for the 2008 Games will eventually emerge from the yearly winners. Enditem