Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) will hold a large-scale international Youth Camp during the Beijing Olympics in August，said a senior BOCOG official here on Monday.

    "It is a great reunion for all the youth around the world. Representatives from 204 countries and regions from the Olympic family will participate in the Youth Camp," said Zhao Dongming, director of BOCOG Culture and Ceremonies Department at a press conference held at the Main Press Center.

    Beijing 101 Middle School, which is very close to Yuanmingyuan (old Summer Palace), will provide accommodation and meals for the festival, Zhao said.     

    "This Youth Camp takes 'Youth creates the future' as its theme and slogan, and offers activities with the themes of experiencing the Olympics, sharing the rich history and learning about China.," he said.

    Some of the representatives will be invited to the opening ceremony and other important events. They will also be invited to have a tour in the Olympic Village and other scenic spots.

    In order to expose the Chinese culture to them, BOCOG have provided facilities and opportunities for the exchanges, with the aim of helping them to understand the life in Beijing and China.

    This year, the Ministry of Culture, Beijing municipal government and the BOCOG have jointly developed the cultural program for 2008, and scheduled the Olympic Cultural Festival from June 23 to Sept. 17, according to Zhao Dongming.

    "This cultural festival will last nearly three months throughout the Olympics and Paralympics of 2008. It will be a marvelous Olympic cultural event with the longest time, the most abundant contents, the largest number of performance participating teams and the most complete artistic variety," he said.