The 3rd Beijing Olympic Culture Festival got underway on Thursday with an outdoor concert at the China Centenary Altar in the capital.

The three-weeklong event is being held to mark the fourth anniversary of Beijing's successful bid to hold the 2008 Games and to help promote the Olympic movement in the city.

It will culminate on Sunday when the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) unveils its slogan for the Games.

Before last night's concert, there had also been an exhibition of historical documents, pictures and souvenirs associated with Beijing's bid.

Various events including concerts, a photo exhibition, dance performances and an Olympic forum will also take place in Beijing and Qingdao, which will be the sailing venue for the Games.

The documentary movie The Year of the Yao that chronicles Yao Ming's first year in the NBA is one of 20 sports-themed films to be shown during the festival.

The Beijing Olympic Culture Festival is being held annually until 2008.

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2005)