Honduran taekwondo player Miguel Adrian Ferrera Rodriguez made a decision two months ago that will literally mark him for the rest of his life.

He had the five Olympic rings and the three Korean characters for "taekwondo" tattooed on the inside of his right arm.

"I had it done as soon as I knew I'd qualified to compete in the Games," the 26-year-old said.

"If I win a medal I'll get another tattoo on my left arm," he joked.

Ferrera is one of many athletes who have shown their passion for the Games through indelible body ornamentations. Another popular design among swimmers is that of a shark tattooed on the shoulder blade.

Sharpshooter Ned Gerard, who is representing the Virgin Islands at his first Olympics in Beijing, had the Olympic logo tattooed on his wrist.

"It's good for motivation," the 53-year-old said.

Others prefer to show their love for the Olympics through their hairstyles.

New Zealand swimmer Daniel Bell is one of many to have had the Olympic rings etched into his cropped hair.

"Right now it's for my personal pleasure. If I win, I'll throw off my cap and show it to the world," he said.

"The Olympic emblem is the most popular hair design, but the jing (as in Beijing) is a close second," village hair salon stylist Zhao Haigang said.

"We do about 10 of those every day."

Not all the decorated athletes waited until they got to the Olympic Village, however.

The French women's swimming team is one example. They all had their fingernails varnished red, white and blue in honor of their national flag while training in Dalian.

(China Daily August 15, 2008)