2010-09-14 11:10

GUANGZHOU - The official English-language journal of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games launched its inaugural issue on Monday as the southern city headed into the last 60 days before the opening of the Games.

The full-color Asiad Daily, launched by the Games' organizing committee and China Daily, the leading national English-language newspaper, features stories of star athletes, Guangzhou's social and cultural developments and useful information for living in Guangzhou, according to the Games' organizing committee.

Luo Jingjun, director of the organizing committee's publicity department, said the special journal will show the best aspects of Guangzhou - including economic and social developments - to visitors and participants during the Games and help enhance Guangzhou's international image.

The initial eight-page journal will be expanded to 16 pages from Nov 11 to 28. It will also be published during the Guangzhou Asian Para Games to be held from Dec 12 to 19.

On congratulating the journal's launch, Kang Bing, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily, said: "We have selected the most experienced reporters and editors, as well as foreign professionals to cover the Asian Games."

As one of the country's most influential newspapers, China Daily has published almost all the journals for major international conferences and sports events held in China in the past decades.

Prior to the Asiad Daily, China Daily was also exclusively authorized to publish official publications for the Beijing Olympics and the Beijing Paralympics in 2008. It is also the media partner for the World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

Some 12 national and local media groups, including People's Daily and Guangzhou Daily, also signed contracts with the Games' organizing committee in July to promote and cover the Games.

About 15,000 reporters from home and abroad are expected to register as the Games' official correspondents, according to the organizing committee.