Liu Jingmin attends the launching ceremony.

   (BEIJING, Jan. 1, 2006) -- A total of 2008 students from over 50 universities in Beijing joined a long-distance running at the Tian'anmen Square today, launching the campaign of Running Toward 2008, the year Beijing is to host the 29th Olympic Games.

   A launching ceremony was held at the Olympic Countdown Clock in front of the National Museum in China's capital, with 950 days to go to the Olympiad.

   Today's undergraduates will become the pillar of the volunteers for the Beijing 2008 Olympiad, said Secretary of Beijing Municipal Education Committee Zhu Shanlu. He encouraged the students to absorb the Olympic spirit and take part in exercises and sports.

   Representatives from the city's students union and university sports association proposed at the ceremony that university students keep day-to-day running habit and each person finish a distance of 2008 km. prior to the opening of the Games to widespread the Olympic Spirit as well as to lead a healthy life.

   Liu Jingmin, vice mayor of Beijing and executive vice-president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), gave the start signal at the ceremony, and Feng Jianzhong, vice minister of the General Administration of Sport was among the officials attending the ceremony organized by BOCOG Media and Communications Department and departments concerned of the Beijing Municipality.

Liu Jingmin (1st left) and Feng Jianzhong (1st right) lead the crowds.

Liu Jingmin gives the start signal.

Student Representatives address the ceremony.

The students run by the Tian'anmen Tower.