Beijing plans to unveil the mascot of the 2008 Paralympic Games next year, said a senior official at the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG).

"We are evaluating the candidates now," Wang Wei, secretary-general and executive vice-president of BOCOG, told a press conference

"The mascot of the 2008 Paralympics is probably to be unveiled in the middle of next year."

BOCOG launched a worldwide solicitation of mascot designs for the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics in August last year. A handful of doll figures named the Five Friendlies were presented as mascots for the 2008 Olympics.

The 2008 Paralympics will be held September 6-17, 2008, about two weeks after the Olympic Games concludes.

Source: Xinhua