Over one million Chinese netizens recommended the panda as the official mascot of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games through an Internet survey that was wound up by Tuesday.

The survey, launched by the China Wildlife Protection Association, China News Service and 20 other news organizations, had received 2.5 million votes from Chinese netizens at home and abroad from May 16 to June 7. About 1.1 million votes recommended the panda to be Beijing's Olympic mascot, taking up to 43.41 percent of all the votes.

Some netizens left remarks on the Internet, saying that the Olympic mascot should represent the Olympic theme, such as peace and harmony between nature and human beings, and that the panda fits in the standard.

One of the survey's sponsors, the China Wildlife Protection Association, said the survey result was only a reference, but it demonstrates people's enhancing awareness of environmental protection.

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2004)