Beijing Olympic Organizers have concluded a four-month designing contest for mascots of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games.

They have received more than 600 entries of mascot designs from around the world, and will choose the top designs for both sporting events.

The organizing committee will officially unveil the mascots for the Beijing Olympics in June next year.

The Olympic mascot is the main visual image of the games used for marketing and to promote the theme of the games.

The committee has developed strict criteria for the mascot saying it must have Chinese characteristics, embody the Olympic spirit and appeal to people from all over the world.

(CRI December 3, 2004)