Liu Jingmin, Executive Vice-President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG) made the remarks during a meeting with the work group of the IOC's Coordination Commission.

"Preparations for the 2008 Olympics are progressing smoothly," said Liu.

"We are going to unveil the mascot in the near future," he added.

Beijing launched a worldwide campaign last year to seek the mascot for the 2008 Olympics.  Images that have been suggested include "Monkey King", the widely beloved figure in China's noted classic work Journey to the West, and panda and Tibetan antelope, two of the country's mostly treasured animals.

Liu also expressed BOCOG's gratitude to the IOC for its decision to move the  equestrian events for the 2008 Olympics from Beijing to Hong Kong, saying the change will ensure that the Games leave a lasting legacy for China.

BOCOG had proposed in April to relocate the Olympic equestrian events due to concerns of equine diseases and difficulties in establishing a disease-free zone in the Chinese capital.  After months of study and negotiation, the IOC finally gave the green-light to BOCOG's proposal last month in Singapore.

Hein Verbruggen, Chairman of the IOC's Coordination Commission for the 2008 Olympics, spoke highly of BOCOG's work and pledged more support for the BOCOG.

"With less than three years to go, we are already looking beyond physical infrastructure and operational aspects to the ways people here and around the world will be touched by the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games", said Verbruggen.

"The work we are doing now should ensure these will be remembered as great Games, leaving a positive sporting, economic and social legacy," he added.

Also on the agenda of the one-day meeting were talks in various fields including venue construction, test events, games operation.

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2005)