Beijing Olympic organizers are to start the search for the proposals that will pave way for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

The solicitation for the two proposals starts on March 1, 2005 and ends on July 31, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) announces today at a press conference held in the Beijing Olympic Media Center.

BOCOG is looking for proposals that could turn into wonders the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympic Games in Beijing or the ones that contain inspirations or indications for the two ceremonies.

A BOCOG selection panel expects proposals that tell the distinguishing features of the Beijing Games and/or proposals that, upon further improvements, may guide and inspire the creativity of the designing team of the ceremonies.

The ceremonies proposed should help to spread the Olympic Spirit, create a jubilant atmosphere for the Games and a home-coming feeling for all the participants. The proposals should visualize the concepts of "Green Olympics," "High-Tech Olympics" and "People's Olympics," and interpret the rich connotations of "harmony" and "peace" that the idea of "People's Olympics" tries to convey to the whole world. BOCOG also requires the proposals to be filled with originality and creativity and be able to presented with frontier high-tech methods.

Any interested individual, legal person or institution who wants to make the contribution is welcome, but non-Chinese nationals or organizations are required to form consortiums with Chinese citizens or organizations to participate.

Candidates may download the request form for proposals and other related documents from the official website of BOCOG -- www.beijing2008.com. All submissions should be delivered to BOCOG's Culture and Ceremonies Department (wenhua@beijing-olympic.org.cn) at No 24, Dongsishitiao, Beijing 100007, P. R. China no later than 16:00 (Beijing time) on July 31, 2005.

All candidates are required to sign the legal documents for transfer of intellectual property rights and documents for confidentiality.

The proposals for the ceremonies are expected to be finalized no later than May, 2007.

The opening and closing ceremonies are the most eye-catching parts of any Olympic Games and are seen as one of the criteria for an successful Olympic Games.

The ocean-themed opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and the one inspired by the ancient Greek mythology of the 2004 Athens Games struck high marks around the globe and the world is anxiously waiting to see what Beijing, a center of ancient oriental civilization, will present during the 2008 Games.

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Game is scheduled on August 8, 2008 and the closing ceremony on August 24.

(BOCOG March 1, 2005)