BEIJING, April 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The route and torch of the torch relay program for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will be made public in the near future.

The news came from the 81st session of the Executive Board of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) on Thursday. The meeting listened to a report on the scheme of the ceremony to announce the route and torch of the Beijing Olympic Games torch relay program. It was stressed that the relay route is the most important part of the program. A carrier of the torch relay activity, the torch symbolizes peace and friendship. BOCOG has successfully completed the formulation of the Beijing 2008 torch relay route and the design of the torch. According to the arrangement made by BOCOG and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the route and torch will be officially announced in the near future.

BOCOG intends to take the opportunity to spread the Olympic Spirit, display the concepts of the Beijing Olympics and how the Chinese people understand and seek after the Olympic Spirit, spread the theme of the "harmonious journey" of the Beijing 2008 torch relay, showcase the traditional and modern images of the cities on the relay route, and inspire the people's passion to welcome and participate in the torch relay, with an aim to increase the influence of the Beijing Games and create a favorable social environment for the Games preparatory work.

The meeting also listened to a report on the launch of the ticketing program for the Beijing Games. Guided by the concept of "carrying out the Olympic Spirit, attaching importance to the mass participation, expressing the Chinese characteristics and taking into account the interests of various parties," BOCOG has formulated the program after repeatedly studying the IOC rules and the practices of the previous Olympic Games. The program comprises the basic conditions of the venues' seats, the quota allocation, sales methods, Beijing Paralympics ticketing program and E-ticketing.

The meeting noted that the ticketing program has attracted wide interest from people at home and abroad. Based on the IOC rules and China's conditions, the sales process should be just, open and transparent.

The meeting was chaired by BOCOG President Liu Qi, who is also member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and secretary of Beijing Municipal CPC Committee.

CONTACT: Media & Communications, +86-10-6669-3159, or
xuanchuan@beijing2008.cn; General Office, +86-10-6669-9185, or
mishubu@beijing2008.cn; Olympic Torch Relay Centre, +86-10-6669-1842, or
OTR@beijing2008.cn

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