(BEIJING, December 22) -- As the Olympic host city, Beijing will be setting up 26 Olympic cultural squares throughout the city during the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to Zhao Dongming, director of the Cultural Activities Department of BOCOG (the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad).

Zhao represented BOCOG Saturday at a signing ceremony with the Hong Kong SAR government concerning the arrangement of Olympic cultural squares in Hong Kong.

The cultural squares will serve as Olympic-themed entertainment venues for city residents and visitors, Zhao said.

Urban Olympic cultural squares have been an important component of Olympic cultural activities since the Sydney Games. The cultural squares serve as a means to creating a positive Olympic atmosphere and for spreading the Olympic spirit.

Plasma screen televisions will be set up at the Olympic cultural squares to broadcast the Olympic competitions. In addition, the cultural squares will hold performances, themed exhibitions, sponsor activities, licensed product sales, food services and medical services, among other activities and services.

Beijing and the Olympic co-host cities of Hong Kong, Qingdao, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao have already selected the locales for the Olympic cultural squares, said Zhao.