BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- About 2,300 magicians from 65 countries and regions will attend the 24th FISM World Championships of Magic, to be held here from July 26 to 31, according to the event's host China Acrobats Association (CAA) Friday.

    The championship is the first of its kind to be held in a developing country since its founding 61 years ago.

    The magic arts committee of China Acrobats Association joined FISM in 2000 and won the bid to host this year's event in 2006 during competition with Granada and Vienna.

    In addition to the competition of the Grand Prix award and other categories such as close-up card, parlor magic and stage illusions, this year's event also includes an exhibition of magic equipment, magic lectures and salons and various performances, said Gao Wei, an official in charge of the information office under the CAA magic arts committee.

    According to Gao, a follow-up magic show titled "Supreme Magic" will be held here from August 1 to 8.

    "We will select ten former champions to perform in this stage magic show," said Gao, adding that renowned French magician Omar Pasha and Jorgos from Germany were confirmed to perform.

    The FISM was founded in 1948 and consists of over 82 clubs and federations which represent more than 50,000 magicians from 44 countries, according to its official website.

    Magic became a hot topic in China since Taiwan magician Liu Qian gave a stunning performance at the CCTV annual Spring Festival Gala in January, in which he put a finger ring in an intact egg.

    Many local TV channels put on magic shows or magician contests in the following months, which reported high audience rating.