Beijing Olympics Pictograms

(ATR) As part of two-years-to-go events, the pictograms for the events of the Beijing Olympics are now public, a set of 35 images based on Chinese seal characters.

August 8 will mark two years to opening ceremony.

The pictograms are named "the beauty of seal characters", according to the BOCOG web site. The inspiration for the look comes from inscriptions on bones and bronze objects in ancient China.

"Skillfully using the effect of sharp contrast between the black and white colors which the typical Chinese traditional artistic form of rubbings have, the Pictograms of the Beijing Olympic Games display distinct motion character, graceful aesthetic perception of movement and rich cultural connotations, thus arriving at the harmony and unity of form with conception" says BOCOG.

The pictogram group includes 35 icons: athletics, rowing, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, canoe / kayak flatwater, canoe / kayak slalom, cycling, equestrian, fencing, football, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, weightlifting, handball, hockey, judo, wrestling, swimming, synchronized swimming, diving, water polo, modern pentathlon, softball, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, shooting, archery, triathlon, sailing, volleyball and beach volleyball.

BOCOG first solicited designs in March 2005, with the final look a collaboration between the China Central Academy of Fine Arts and Academy of Arts and Design.

Each international federation approved their respective pictograms earlier this year. The IOC gave its assent in June.

More on Beijing in an exclusive Around the Rings webcast, August 8, 0900 GMT/UTC at www.aroundtherings.com.