The first Olympic Cultural Festival was held in Beijing from September 21 to 29, 2003. The annual activity was jointly held by the State Council, Ministry of Culture, State Administration of Radio Film and Television, State General Administration of Sports, Beijing Municipal Government and BOCOG and will be held every year from 2003 to 2008. The activity is designed to demonstrate the long-standing, glorious Chinese civilization to the world, create a new international image of China that is open to the outside world, promote the dissemination and strengthening of the Olympic spirit in China and publicize the concepts of the Beijing Olympic Games--"Green Olympics, Technology Olympics, Cultural Olympics." On September 18, BOCOG and other sponsoring units held a joint press conference together and announced the content of the activities. BOCOG Vice President Jiang Xiaoyu attended the press conference.

   The theme of Beijing 2008 first Olympic Cultural Festival" is "Charming Beijing, Cultural Olympics." The main content of the activities includes novel and unique opening and closing ceremonies and Beijing Olympic Games Emblem Exhibition. Well-known Chinese and international experts will be invited to express their opinions on the Olympic Games emblem, the cultural aspect of the Olympic Games, the Olympic torch relay route, Chinese jade Culture & Olympic spirit, Olympics-related education and application of digital film and television for the Olympic Games. Other activities to be held include "10,000 people performing Taiji on the Great Wall", open-air cultural and sports activities and Beijing high school English speech contest.

   This cultural festival has rich content, long duration and broad participation. It's another significant activity in the preparation work for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The sponsors will uphold the principle of "highlight the bright spots and show the cream of culture" so as to bestow the Beijing 2008 Olympic Cultural Festival with special characteristics and wide recognition. The cultural festival is expected to become a cultural holiday that is popular and widely accepted among Beijing citizens.