The official emblem of the 2008 Beijing Olympics should help promote the image of a modern, bustling metropolis, organisers said today as they launched a contest to design the logo. Inviting proposals for the emblem, officials stressed the soon-to-be ubiquitous symbol should not only reflect the Olympic spirit, but also give a positive message about the city and the country as a whole.“The emblem should capture the special image and spiritof Beijing and China,” said Liu Jingmin, an official. “It should express how Beijing, an age-old city, is entering the 21st century with a brand-new face,” he said. Hundreds of artists, academics and Olympic officials have gathered for a two-day conference on designing the games, including such central subjects as the official emblem and mascot. In contrast to the patriotic urges of Chinese officials, Michael Payne, marketing director of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), warned against being too parochial in the choice of design.
