Athens impression: time to play and purchase

Olympic Games bring Athens huge commercial opportunities. The Athens 2004 Olympic Games will open on August 13.

Olympic stars: US sprinter Michael Johnson in limelight

The U.S. five-times Olympic champion Michael Johnson (C) takes a photo with his fan athletes during his interview with Xinhua News Agency, among other four media, at the Olympic Village in Athens, Greece, August 12, 3004.

Chinese divers try Athens aquatic center

Chinese diver Lao Lishi practices 10-meter platform event at the Olympic Aquatic Center in Athens, August 12, 2004.

Chinese basketball team bids for best eight

Yao Ming (R) of China's men basketball team take part in warming-up exercises in Athens, Greece, Aug.12, 3004. This team carried out its first exercise shortly after their arrival here Thursday.

Titanic exhibition opens in Shanghai

Visitors view glass vessels fished out from the world famous luxury cruise ship Titanic in Shanghai, east China. More than 300 articles fished out from the sunken Titanic were shown on Thursday in Shanghai, the first stop of the articles' exhibition in Asia.

Olympic flame lights up Acropolis Hill

For a hundred years, the Olympic flame has returned to home atop Acropolis Hill, putting the global torch relay to an end for its last overnight stay outside the Olympic Stadium.

Performance of cheer teams for Olympiad

Members of a Chinese Kung Fu cheer team perform during a promotional show sponsored by Mass Transit Railways (MTR) at a shopping mall in Hong Kong, south China, Aug. 12, 2004. Four teams from China, Australia, the United States and Japan were here to raise the spirit of Hong Kong residents ahead of the opening of the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Lee Hsien Loong sworn in as the new PM of Singapore

Lee Hsien Loong sworn in as the new PM of Singapore, Aug. 12, 2004.

Cosplay contest

Comic fans dressed up as cartoon characters show themselves during a cosplay contest in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, Aug. 12, 2004. Comic fans from more than 90 cartoon fan group took part in the contest.

New records in Ningxia's tourism

Tourists make tour by yacht on the Shahu Lake in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Aug. 11, 2004. According to the statistics by the region's Tourism Bureau, the region received 1,924,600 tourists and earned 693 million RMB yuan (83.8 million US dollars) during the first half of 2004, both setting new record highs.

Relief work underway in quake-hit Yunnan Province

Armed policemen set up a tent for quake-stricken people at Yandong Village in Ludian County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, August 12, 2004. The county in northeast Yunnan was rocked by an earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale late Tuesday. Four people have been confirmed dead and 594 others injured in the quake.

Chinese basketball team vows to join the best eight

Yao Ming (R) of China's men basketball team take part in warming-up exercises in Athens, Greece, Aug.12, 3004. This team carried out its first exercise shortly after their arrival here Thursday.

Typhoon Rananim sweeps Zhengjiang

Three pedestrians struggle with their umbrellas in strong winds and rain brought by the Typhoon Rananim Thursday, August 12, in Hangzhou, eastern Zhejiang Province. Powerful Typhoon Rananim has killed 63 people and injuring more than 1,800 in Zhejiang Province. (newsphoto)