Beijing Olympic organizers announced on Monday that they are soon to launch a global search for the mascot design for the 2008 Games.

"The selection will be kicked off next month," said Jiang Xiaoyu, Vice President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG).

Like the Olympic emblem, which is entitled "Chinese Seal-Dancing Beijing", the mascot will be selected in an "open" and "fair" process.

"The mascot design will be hopefully finalized by the end of May next year," Jiang told Xinhua on the sidelines of the 2008 Olympic Games Mascot Design Conference held Monday in Beijing.

But before the mascot is officially unveiled, the design will have to undergo thorough appraisal and gain the approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said Jiang.

Several animals, including South China tiger, Tibetan antelope and Monkey King, a legendary money figure in Chinese culture, have been proposed as the mascot for the first-ever Olympic Games to be held in China.

"The mascot should be a symbol of China and well accepted by the world," Jiang said.

Jiang said the trademark issue is an important factor in choosing the mascot, hinting that some animal figures might not be considered amid worries about possible infringement of proprietary rights.

Source: Xinhua