One day after the 2008 Olympic mascots were unveiled in Beijing on Friday night, the related franchised products have been selling like hotcakes on the open market.

In Beijing's Chengxiang Shopping Center, frenzied people crowded in to the official Olympics products shop.

A saleswomen said some of the shelves stood empty after only one day of business.

"The products there are sold out. Among all the mascot products, the furry mascot toys are the most popular."

There are more than 100 mascots related products, including pens, toys, hats, bags and souvenirs. Most of them cost less than 10 US dollars.

On Saturday, China also launched stamps featuring the 2008 Olympic emblem and the mascots.

Meanwhile, now the Olympic emblem and mascots have been unveiled, people's attention now shifts to the proposed opening and closing ceremonies of the games.

President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2006 games, Liu Qi, says they have completed the first round of assessments on proposals for the opening ceremony. The final design will come from the current 13 design groups.

"Our design groups include the best designers of big events in China, as well as famous film directors from both home and abroad. They will help to work out the final proposal, which should display a distinct Chinese culture by using a universal language."

Liu Qi says the design group and the design framework will be finalized within the next year.

(CRI November 14, 2005)