A batch of rare souvenir badges to mark the coming of the Olympic flag to Beijing will be auctioned this Sunday.

Beijing will take over the Olympic flag from Athens at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Games, China Radio International reported Thursday.

To mark this historic moment, the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee has designed these badges and entrusted various enterprises to complete their manufacture.

The series of badges will include 2008 gold coins, 3992 silvers and 6000 bronzes. All of the souvenir badges will be on sale in Beijing's Olympic Franchise stores.

(CRI August 26, 2004)