Chinese and foreign artists have been invited to participate in a cultural event, "Olympic Fine Arts 2008," which was launched in Beijing on Thursday.

The event, organized by the Chinese Olympic Committee and with the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will invite famous artists from more than 80 countries and regions to exhibit their works. Chinese artists will be invited to create works specifically for a related contest and exhibition, according to the organizing committee.

Using 12 main traffic networks in Beijing and advertising posters and light boxes along the roads, the Olympic Fine Arts 2008 event will create an "Urban Art Corridor" displaying nearly 1,000 works. Distributing them in this manner is intended to make it more convenient for citizens to enjoy the pieces. People can also vote for their favorite works through their mobile phones and on the internet.

He Zhenliang, Chairman of the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Education, said the event would play a significant role in presenting Chinese culture, arts, custom and development.

"It's the first time that the IOC has given its patronage to such an event, which is a good platform for east-west cultural communication," he said.

The IOC held the first Olympic sports and art contest in Sydney for the 2000 games. The second contest was in Athens in 2004, intended to promote the development of sports culture.

The "Olympic Fine Arts 2008" event, which will last for nearly a year, was designed to extend the spirit of the contest.

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2008)