In Paris, many Chinese living in France and Chinese students watched live broadcast of the celebrations in Beijing marking the beginning of the 100-day countdown and gave best wishes to the Beijing Olympic Games.

In the U.S. city of Chicago, some Chinese students celebrated the countdown on campus, putting on display the official mascots of the Beijing Games and pictures highlighting Beijing's scenic and Olympic sites at the University of Illinois.

(Xinhua News Agency May 1, 2008)