BEIJING -- Beijing will hold a series of celebrations to mark the 100-day countdown to the Beijing Olympic Games on April 30, 2008.

The news was announced by Zhao Dongming, director of the Culture and Ceremonies Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), on Tuesday.

As part of the celebrations, 30 songs selected for the Games will be announced, he told reporters at the weekly "Getting to Know" press briefing.

A song entitled "Welcome to Beijing," written specially for the countdown activity by Hong Kong lyricist Lam Jik, will be performed by 100 artists from Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and the Chinese mainland.

Organized by the Beijing Municipal Administration of Sport, 10,000 runners will take part in a marathon on April 30 to the National Stadium, also known as the "Bird's Nest". "We invite the public to enjoy the elegance of the "Bird's Nest" as a way of appreciating their support for the Olympics," Zhao said.

Talking about other cultural activities before the Olympics, Zhao disclosed that Beijing also plans to hold the biggest-ever Olympic cultural festival beginning June 23, with musicians, singers and dancers from around the world giving performances in the Chinese capital and other co-host cities.

"Beijing's 6th Olympic Cultural Festival will last the longest, involve the largest number of performers and enjoy the highest standards of any cultural activity we've organized," said Zhao.

Under the theme slogan of "Youth Creates Future," an Olympic youth camp will be held from August 6 to 26. Some 800 youths between the ages of 16 and 18 from around the world are expected to take part.

Zhao said another point of the cultural activities will be the unveiling of the host (hostess) costumes of the Olympic award ceremonies. The host team includes 337 hostesses and 180 flag-raisers.

On the preparation for sports presentations at the Games, Zhao said over 800 artists, including a number of foreigners, have been available through training and rehearsals, and they will interact with spectators via audio, video, flash and other media.