Beijing 2008 is looking for photos of children with smiles on their faces. According to the Beijing 2008 website the organizing committee announced Wednesday that Between Sept. 5, 2007 and April 30, 2008 BOCOG will be taking submissions from around the world of photographic images featuring children’s smiling faces for potential use in the artistic performances of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Beijing 2008 is not disclosing the exact creative use of the photos to preserve the element of surprise and to “support the best presentation of creative ideas in the ceremonies”. But details regarding the actual use of the photos may be revealed when appropriate during the production process of the ceremonies.
Local media reports that Beijing’s No. 5 subway line will become operational around September 20 when there will be one train every four minutes. Service frequency on all lines is to increase next June when there will be a train every two and a half minutes and by the start of the 2008 Games every two minutes.
A state-backed church official says a temporary church will be set up in the Olympic Village. Liu Bainian, vice president of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and a Chinese political adviser said, “all will be arranged in accordance with the practices adopted by other Olympic host cities”. Also Olympic organizers report that a religious service centre will be set up in the Olympic Village with professional religious personnel providing services to meet the needs of the athletes with various religious convictions. Sixty volunteers from the five major religions in China – Buddhism, Taoism, Island, Protestantism and Catholicism – recently attended a three-day training session organized by the Beijing municipal administration of religious affairs for providing religious services during the Games.
