Organizers of the 2006 China Open tennis tournament have launched a global search for the mascot design for the year's event.

The solicitation, which started Friday, will end on May 26.

A judging panel made up of China Open officials and experts will evaluate all the entries after the solicitation campaign ends.

Five designs will make the shortlist, with each winning a prize of 3,000 yuan (US$380).

The selection panel will then pick the final design out of the five short-listed candidates, and the winner will scoop a total 30,000 yuan (US$3,750 ) prize.

The 2006 tournament, slated from September 9 to 24, will be played on hardcourt at the Beijing Tennis Center with events of men's, women's, juniors' and seniors' brackets.

(CRI English April 30, 2006)