The 2003 Athens and Beijing Olympic Movement and Culture Photography Exhibition was held in Beijing on Sunday to mark the Olympic Year for Culture and Education.

At the opening ceremony of the exhibition, sponsored by Greece Embassy to China and Jintai museum, He Zhenliang, president of the Commission for Culture and Olympic Education of International Olympic Committee, said Beijing had injected three symbols, namely, Green Olympics, Hi-tech Olympics and People's Olympics, into the 2008 Olympiad.

The Beijing municipal government and the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG) have earmarked billions of US dollars into construction of the sport stadiums, transportation, environment, communication, accommodation and technology, He said.

"As a city with a long history, Beijing attaches great importance to People's Olympics. I've been informed that the Beijing city government will organize lots of events, such as, exhibitions, performances, concerts related to Olympic games this year." he added.

When asked about the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Charalambos Rocanas, Greek ambassador to China, expressed his confidence in the ability of his country to host a brilliant game.

"After some initial glitches and delays, the organization of the 2004 Games is smoothly on track. About 85 percent of all the sports facilities are ready, and the rest will be in place well before the opening of the games on August 13, 2004," the ambassador said.

The year of 2003 marks the Olympic year for culture and education. Since Beijing got the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games, the Chinese government at all levels have made great efforts in preparing for the Games.

The international Olympic Committee (IOC) had lavished praises on Beijing's preparations on December 4, 2002 when its coordination commission visited Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2003)