pins of Beijing Olympics prolong Design contest

The organizing committee said the decision is to give more time to more participants.

Supported by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company, the design bid is the first of its kind to open to all residents of Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and the first in the history of the Olympic Games to open to all residents of a host country.

Since it was launched on May 18, more than 1,000 entries have been received from across the country. The participants are invited to illustrate such topics as Chinese culture and the Olympic Games; Olympic sports; Coca-Cola Olympic torch relay; Coca-Cola Green Olympics or design at one's will.

The short-listed entries will be published at the contest's official website (http://pin.2008.sohu.com) on July 24, and the final results will be announced on August 8, 2007, the one-year countdown to the opening of the Beijing Olympics, based on the scores accumulated through online voting and panel members' remarks. The winners will be awarded a certificate and prize money. Online voters will have an opportunity to receive a copy of the contest poster bearing the signature of IOC Honorary President for Life Juan Antonio Samaranch.