The 2008 Olympic Games winners will be asked to leave their handprint or footprint on the 1.3 kilometer long Olympic Boulevard, Beijing plans to build in 2007.

Vice Director of Beijing Municipal Develop and Reform Commission, Wang Haiping, said the 200-meter wide boulevard will stretch from Huandao Road on the North Fourth Ring Road to the south gate of the Olympic Park.

The construction will cost around 120 million yuan (US$15 million).

The design of the boulevard will conform with the environment-friendly, humanistic ideals of the Beijing Games.

The road and footpath will be constructed from absorbent and skid-resistant material, while energy-saving lights will line both sides of the street. Two fountain squares at the beginning and end of the boulevard will provide the public will an ideal place to rest and relax. In addition, ten sports sculptures will continue the Olympic theme throughout the boulevard.

Like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Olympic boulevard will contain handprints and footprints from the 2008 Olympic champions.
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(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2007)