The 13th World Olympic Collectors' Fair will be held in Beijing from June 23 to 28, announced the Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG) on Wednesday.

This will be the first time the fair takes place in China and it will be open to public for free.

Olympic collectors and fans of sports philately, coins and souvenirs and related traders from around the world will gather in Beijing, along with their collected treasures from more than 100 years, representing varied stages of the Olympic Movement.

Items expected to be displayed will include Olympic torches, trophies and athlete suits, as well as pins, coins, stamps and other items bearing the Olympic rings.

In addition, the Chinese Sport Stamps Collectors' Association will simultaneously host a large-scale stamp exhibition at the recommendation of IOC.

Previous Olympics-related stamps personally donated by Juan Antonio Samaranch, IOC Honorary President for Life and Chairman of the Olympic philately, Numismatics and Memorabilia Commission, will be displayed at the stamp exhibition.

Samaranch is also slated to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Collectors' Fair on June 24th.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2007)