Volunteers perform at a ceremony held on a square between the Drum and Bell towers in north-central Beijing (below) as the clocks turn to January 1, 2008, celebrating the Olympic host city as it stepped into the "Olympic Year."

The 29th Olympiad will be held in Beijing from August 8-24, and the 13th Paralympics, during September 6-11. By December 2007, the number of registered volunteers for the two sporting events had reached 760,000.

In his New Year's message, Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged that China will spare no effort and enthusiasm to make the forthcoming Olympic and Paralympic games grand opportunities for people around the world to understand, befriend and cooperate with each other.

[The Drum (right) and Bell towers were used to mark the time in Beijing from the late 13th to early 20th century.]