The Beijing Olympic Games organizers Wednesday launched a design competition in a bid to collect ideas for costumes used for the victory ceremony.

The competition opened to both professionals and general public both at home and abroad, organizers said.

"This will be an open competition not only welcoming participants from China but also from abroad," said Lu Hao, vice mayor of Beijing.

"We already sent invitations to some professional designers and companies but it doesn't mean that we have any bias against non-professionals," he said. "Everyone's idea will be paid equal attention."

The participants can find the procedure and submission form through the official website of the Beijing Olympic Games (www.beijing2008.cn).

They are asked to design the costumes for medal/ flower bearer (ladies), presenter usher (ladies), athlete escort (ladies) and flag bear (men).

The deadline for design submission is June 25.

Source: Xinhua