Special report:   2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING, Jan. 17 -- Presenting images of phoenixes and lanterns, Beijing Games officials Wednesday painted a fuller picture of how the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay (BOTR) will look, including costumes for torchbearers and design tips to get Chinese cities in a festive spirit.

    If world-record hurdler Liu Xiang and NBA All-Star Yao Ming have their torchbearer applications endorsed as expected, they will run their 200m stretches in white, red, yellow-orange and matte silver uniforms bearing the image of a phoenix on the upper left side.

    Escort runners will mainly be dressed in blue, and staff in blue and white, as organizers unveiled a color-coded key of who's who during the torch's 130-day odyssey.

    Starting on March 25 at the birthplace of the modern Olympics, the torch will be passed from hand to hand by nearly 22,000 bearers covering an unprecedented distance of 137,000 km. Its journey will take it to the highest point on earth, the summit of Mt Qomolangma (Everest), as well as 113 cities and regions in China and 19 other countries.

    BOTR spokesman Qu Yingpu said the International Olympic Committee imposes strict guidelines on how the torchbearers' uniforms should look, with only minor deviations permitted. As well a white background, enough space must be left to include the Olympic rings and Beijing Games emblem, which will both be printed on the back, and a composite sponsor logo. No other commercial symbols are allowed.

    Keen to showcase its breakneck economic development as well as its former glory, the Olympic host is reaching back to its 5,000-year history to make sure the torch relay goes down as one to be remembered for the ages.

    The lantern used to house an emergency back-up flame lit from the original in Olympia resembles the kind used in ancient Chinese palaces, while the torch stand borrows architectural styles from both the Han (206BC-AD220) and Tang (AD618-907) dynasties.

    The Lenovo-designed torch was unveiled in April as resembling a paper scroll embossed with red-colored "Lucky Clouds" on an aluminum base. Paper-making ranks as one of China's four great inventions along with gunpowder, the compass and printing techniques. The torch is designed to burn for 15 minutes and can withstand relatively strong gales (65kph) and downpours.

    The cauldron that is used to symbolize the end of the relay visually represents the Chinese concept of a "round heaven and square earth" - the same principle that was applied when designing the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, the two centerpieces of the Games.

    Even the aircraft that have been chartered to ferry the flame to five continents will be dressed up in the Beijing Olympic colors of red and yellow to conform to the imagery of a "Flying Phoenix". The convoy of 13 automobiles and six motorcycles will look more like a snaking stream of fire.

    Chinese cities will have a choice of arresting banners, outdoor advertisements and other TV-friendly backdrops. Huge banners bearing the words "journey of harmony" will be draped across bridges and other public spaces.

(Source: China Daily)