Beijing celebrates start of 'Olympic Year'

Volunteers perform on the stage during a large-scale outdoor performance held on the last day of 2007 on Monday in Beijing to celebrate the Olympic host city stepping into the "Olympic Year." (Xinhua Photo)

BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- A large-scale outdoor performance was staged on the last day of 2007 on Monday in Beijing to celebrate the Olympic host city stepping into the "Olympic Year."

The performance, starting at 10:45 on the winter night in the Chinese capital, saw about 4,000 spectators waving and cheering for pop stars who sang songs related to Olympic dreams and spirit.

"I knew it would be very cold to watch performance on a winter night in Beijing but we really wanted to come because we are interested in activities related with the Olympics," said a woman surnamed Liu, who was with her teenage son at the site.

The weather broadcast said the temperature on Monday night could drop to as low as minus 7 celsium degrees.

Most of the spectators were university students wearing hats and gloves in the five colors of the Olympic Rings and the images of Beijing Olympic mascots Fuwa embroided.

"One of my new year wishes is to see a successful Beijing Olympics," said Liu Dan, a phycology major in Beijing's Capital Normal University.

The Beijing Olympics will open on Aug. 8, 2008 here.