Children exchange recycled paper and painting brushes with waste newspaper.

Children wait in line to obtain recycled pens.

More than 200 children obtained recycled paper and painting brushes by turning in waste newspapers as Beijing kicked off "Green Dreams, Colourful Olympics" painting contest on June 12, 2005. At the opening ceremony of the contest held at the Beijing Youth Palace, the children attended a lecture about environment protection and painting techniques. During the painting competition, they will show their understanding of "Green Olympics" with the painting brushes.

Yu Xiaoxuan, director of the Environmental Activity Department of BOCOG, took part in the activity. He encouraged the participants to contribute to the realization of an environmentally-sensitive 2008 Olympic Games.

The painting contest is aimed to promote the concept of "Green Olympics" and raise the environmental awareness among school children. It is jointly held by the Environmental Activity Department and Cultural Activity Department of BOCOG.

All participants will use environment-friendly paper and pens to paint their artworks. A selection of outstanding paintings will be put into an album and printed on the walls around construction sites of Olympic venues in Beijing.

Each of the participants has to submit one piece of painting only by June 10, 2005. Children who are interested may obtain recycled paper and painting brushes from the organizers at the Beijing Youth Palace from June 11 to 20. For more information, please refer to the official website of BOCOG: www.beijing2008.cn. Telephone inquiry: 66152211-1025.

Painting brushes made from recycled waste newspaper.

Environmentalists tell the children about the relationship between the Olympics and the environment.