Olympic officials in China unveiled the official emblem of the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing on Sunday, in a ceremony that included lasers, giant balloons, bursts of confetti and was attended by film star Jackie Chan.
The emblem, which was chosen from over 2,000 entries, is the Chinese character for the name of Beijing, but drawn to look like a running athlete. Along with Olympic rings, it appears on a red background with the phrase, Beijing 2008, written in an eastern style brush stroke underneath.
The hour-long event was held at the Temple of Heaven, a centuries-old Beijing landmark. The unveiling was also was attended by 2008 invited guests. Hundreds of dancers in crimson robes carrying red and gold lanterns kicked off Sunday's event, which was magnified for guests on two huge video screens.
The communist government has promoted the games as a matter of national pride and evidence of China's modernization, heavily publicizing every step in the preparations. The unveiling had been scheduled for May 25, but had to be delayed because of the SARS epidemic.