Lu Xiao at a press conference.

   (BEIJING, March 15) -- Eight ambitious Chinese young people declared today to travel around the world in 800 days by car to widespread the message of Beijing Olympic Games.

   The travelers will set off from Shanghai in June 2006 and conclude the mission in August 2008, when the Beijing Olympics begins.

   During the journey, they will visit over 200 countries or regions with membership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) across Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, South America, and North America.

   With the support of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC), these young men will call upon officials of the national Olympic committees that have been involved in staging previous Olympic Games to gain insight into local Olympic history. They will also invite Olympic heroes to share their experience, introduce Beijing Olympics to local residents and invite them to attend the 16-day event.

   Team members know the drills of medical treatment, photographing, field living and internetworking, and are currently undergoing last minute trainings for the journey, said Lu Xiao, head of the team.

   It is learnt that the team is to donate part of the financial and material support they received to poor countries or regions through humanitarian aid organizations.