BEIJING, July 14 -- With the Olympic spirit strong in Beijing, enthusiasm for the event is growing. From venue construction to volunteer programs, preparation for the Games is now in full swing.

    It's been four years since Beijing was awarded the right to host the 2008 Games. And a series of cultural activities have been held, to promote the Olympic spirit among the populace.

    Meanwhile, the development of the National Stadium has seen steady progress since its conception at the end of 2003. The venue will endeavor to be environmentally friendly by managing construction dust.

    The venues already being built include the Beijing National Indoor Stadium, National Aquatic Center, National Stadium, Beijing Shooting Range and Wukesong Sports and Culture Center, and Laoshan Velodrome.

    Efforts will continue to be made to try to save costs and fine-tune the designs of the venues. The projects will take into consideration the combination of function, environmental friendliness and artistic design.

    The best use of the venues after the Games will also be taken into consideration, which will help ensure they meet competition requirements and also put strong emphasis on energy-saving and environmental friendliness. Construction of the venues is expected to be completed one year prior to the Games.

    The logo for the 2008 Beijing Olympics was unveiled at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing in August 2003. It consists of a running person in the shape of the Chinese character "jing"... which stands for "Beijing".

    The unveiling of the logo was an important milestone in the preparations for the event. It displays Chinese people's aspirations for Olympic spirit and their longing for the 2008 Games.

    In the process of preparing for the event, Beijing has put forward the "Beijing Olympic Games: Green Olympics" concept. The main buildings, temporary facilities, sites and affiliated services are all required to use green materials.

    The slogan for the 2008 Games, "One world, one dream", has also been revealed. It embodies 5-thousand years of Chinese civilization, as well as the spirit of sportsmanship. The slogan is designed to project an exciting image of Beijing and China as a whole.

    (Source: CCTV.com)