Porcelain plates emblazoned with the portraits of the eight presidents of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) made their debut on Friday in Longkou, a coastal city in eastern China's Shandong Province.

The local Yantai Daily reported that all these porcelain plates were made by Bao Xiaolong, a renowned Chinese craftsman. The idea of sculpting the presidents' visages on plates came to Bao after Beijing won its bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.

After collecting related information, Bao began this artistic creation in August. These vivid portraits of IOC presidents depict Demetrius Vikelas, Pierre de Coubertin, Henride Baillet Latour, Sigfired Edstrom, Arery Brundage, Mihael Morris Killanin, Juan Antonio Samaranch and Jacques Rogge.

The master also plans to make other handicrafts carved into Olympic logos and mascots to celebrate the 2008 Olympic Games. All of his work will be displayed in an exhibition of artistic works in Beijing for the games.

Afterward, they will be donated to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

Renowned Chinese craftsman Bao Xiaolong shows porcelain plates with the portraits of the eight presidents of the International Olympic Committee on Friday, November 23, 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2007)