Norwegian King Harald V and Queen Sonja Haraldsen will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on August 8, reports reaching Stockholm from Oslo said Wednesday.

Oil and Energy Minister Terje Riis-Johansen will travel with the royals, Norway's Aftenposten newspaper said, adding the minister will host some meetings on energy in Beijing.

Crown Prince Haakon Magnus will attend the latter half of the games, while Minister of Culture Trond Giske will attend the closing ceremony on August 24, said Aftenposten.

"I plan to meet with people from the publishing branch, and others who work with the press," Giske told Aftenposten.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2008)