A media group in Beijing launched a daily newspaper Tuesday to cover local preparations for the 2008 Olympics.

After months of preparation and a trial edition on Dec. 17, the full-color broadsheet called the Jing Bao hit the streets with an estimated nationwide Monday-through-Friday circulation of 320,000. "Jing" is part of the word for competition in Chinese, and "bao" means newspaper.

Page two of the trial edition was all about the Beijing Olympics, which is a source of national pride. The paper also covers local news and weather and carries a lifestyle section. It has 24 pages now and plans to increase the count to 32 next month.

Owned by the Beijing Daily group, the paper has a staff of more than 100.

The paper originally wanted to use the word "Olympics" in its name, but the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games forbid the use on trademark grounds.

(China Daily via agencies December 29, 2004)