BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Beijing Olympics organizers plan to set up 26 cultural squares across the city where local citizens and visitors can enjoy the greatest sporting event on Earth.

    Big screens are to be erected at each of the squares to relay live broadcasts of the Olympic Games, and various performances and exhibitions, Olympic-themed souvenir exchanges will also be held at the squares.

    People have free access to these squares which will operate from June 23 to the close of the Paralympic Games in September, said the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Games (BOCOG).

    "These squares will help promote Olympic spirit and create festive atmosphere in the city," said Zhao Dongming, director of BOCOG's cultural activities department.

Zhao Dongming (R) of BOCOG and Jiang Gongmin of the City of Beijing signed the MOU. (Source: BOCOG)

    Similar squares will also be set up in the six Olympics co-host cities - Qingdao (sailing), Hong Kong (equestrian), Tianjin, Shanghai, Qinghuangdao and Shenyang (all soccer).

BOCOG and City of Beijing sign MOU on Olympic cultural squares

    BEIJING, Jan. 22 -- A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the Olympic cultural squares was signed at a ceremony Tuesday morning between the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad and the City of Beijing (BOCOG). According to the agreement, 26 Olympic cultural squares are to be set up across Beijing's 18 districts and counties for a three-month period.

    Free of charge to the public, the Olympic cultural square activities will begin June 23 on Olympic Day and will continue until the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games.