From correspondents in Beijing, China, 05:00 PM IST

Apart from organising a flawless Olympic Games, China has given the thousands of visitors from across the world an option to quench their thirst for aesthetics. An exhibition of fine arts has drawn a large number of people from all over.

The 'Olympic Fine Arts 2008' exhibition at the China International Exhibition Centre aims to showcase a collage of Chinese arts and culture and also presents the underlying thread connecting cultures of all nations, according to a statement on the exhibition's official website.

According to China Daily, since the event kicked off in Jan, it has received nearly 10,000 artworks from artists of more than 40 countries and regions. About 800 of them are on display in the exhibition.

The event included a sports and art contest. Ten artists were awarded at the opening ceremony Friday. Around 16 outstanding artworks from the contest would be on display as well. The International Olympic Committee first held the Olympic sports and art contest in Sydney for the 2000 Games.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)