Hong Kong will organize a series of activities on Aug. 8 to mark the two-year countdown to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the Information Services Department of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said Friday.

The events will be organized by the Home Affairs Bureau of HKSAR and the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, which have a two-fold purpose, to welcome Beijing's hosting of the Olympics and to celebrate Hong Kong's honor of staging the Games' equestrian events, the department said.

The activities, including a variety show, a community participation carnival and a panel exhibition, will be staged in Kowloon Park in Kowloon.

The variety show will be held on the evening of Aug. 8 in the Piazza of Kowloon Park, which is expected to attract about 700 guests, including members of the Executive Council and the Legislative Council, government officials, consular corps in Hong Kong, and representatives from the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, various sports associations, and equestrian bodies.

In addition to performances by entertainers and singers, the show will feature introductions to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and Hong Kong's elite athletes.

The show will include a launch ceremony in the evening and a ceremony to mark the two-year countdown to the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 8, 2008.

Meanwhile, the games stalls carnival will be staged along the Loggia of Kowloon Park from 3:30 p.m. (0730 GMT) to 6:30 p.m. (GMT) next Tuesday. Ten organizations, including the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation, the Riding for the Disabled Association Limited, the Hong Kong Elite Athletes Association and youth uniformed groups, will set up 20 games stalls with either the Olympic spirit or the equestrian events as the theme.

The exhibition on Olympic Games will be held from Aug. 6 to Aug. 13 at the Arcade of the Kowloon Park to let people know more about the Olympic Games.

With display panels and videos, the exhibition will showcase the history of the Olympic Games, the 28 Olympic summer sports, the achievements and highlights of the National Teams of China and Hong Kong Teams in previous Games as well as the preparation for the equestrian events.

Besides, visitors will be able to use the computer kiosks installed at the exhibition to surf for information on the Beijing Olympics, the 2009 East Asian Games and related websites. Olympic memorabilia, such as mascots, first day covers and pins, will also be displayed.

Source: Xinhua