It was obvious that people's enthusiasm for the emblem for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games was not dampened by the two and a half months of delay.

Several hundreds people Sunday gathered before a large screen on the Wangfujing Street, a downtown commercial center of the municipality, watching the new Olympic logo printed on a scroll bya greenish jade seal.

The emblem, officially entitled "Chinese Seal -- Dancing Beijing", was picked form some 2,000 entries. It features a single Chinese character on a traditional red Chinese seal with the words "Beijing 2008" written in an eastern-style brush stroke.

The stick-figure that comprises the logo looks like a lively runner or dancer and also mimics the Chinese character "jing" meaning the Chinese capital, or Beijing.

The emblem also represents the ancient Chinese art of seal-cutting which dates back 3,700 years to the Yin Dynasty. Seals were used as a personal "signature" as well as for official documents.

"Wow, it is beautiful," said college student Liang Hua at the sight of the logo. "I can tell it resembles a running person. I like it."

"It was truly unexpected that the emblem would be introduced this way," said Li Yaoxing, a Beijing resident who came to Wangfujing with his wife for a walk. He was all praise for the emblem and the unveiling ceremony.

"Using the jade seal to print the logo is of Chinese characteristic, and the I like the logo so much," said Li.

His wife Xu Bingxiu agreed.

"It resembles not only a runner but also the Chinese character 'Jing', which represents Beijing," said the retired office clerk. "And look at the running figure. Does not it look like a person opening his arms to the world? It is really good."

11-year-old Yang Yixin from Shandong province was on summer vacation as she traveled in Beijing with her parents.

"I like it because it is beautiful and easy to understand," said the girl, who had been soon to tell the meaning of the emblem.

The IOC gave its approval to the emblem for the 2008 Games in March and Beijing originally scheduled to unveiling it for May 25.But the plan had to be postponed due to the outbreak of SARS.

Beijing organizers plan to initiate their marketing campaign in September.

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