More than 4,000 people gathered in Lhasa Wednesday at a ceremony marking the one-year countdown to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The celebration started with a creative performance in which 2,008 middle school students from Lhasa imitated the domino effect by gently falling to the ground one after another in front of the Potala Palace, forming the pattern of the Olympic rings and the number "2008".

"I am honored to be part of the celebration and I hope I can visit Beijing to watch the games next year," said Ouzhu, an 18-year-old Tibetan student.

It took the students 10 days to practise the display, said Ouzhu.

More than 2,000 local residents and tourists watched the performance.

The celebration also included the official release of Beijing Olympic souvenirs in Tibet.

Song Haiyan, sales assistant at the only souvenir shop in Tibet, said trial sales since the shop was opened a month ago has been satisfactory, and she is optimistic about future business.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2007)