Ancient carvings provide inspiration for icons

"BEIJING Olympics organizers have again tapped the nation's roots by using calligraphy to design 35 new icons representing the sporting events at the 2008 games.

The organizers earlier chose stylized calligraphy for the main Olympic logo: a running figure inspired by Chinese characters. The new set of icons draws on several traditional elements, including Chinese seal script, oracle bone writings and bronzeware script - all simplified into modern graphics.

The pictograms were unveiled in Beijing yesterday at a ceremony that doubled as the start of the two-year countdown to the August 8, 2008, event. Chinese graduate school student Wang Jie came up with the idea for the icons while reading rubbings from stone inscriptions..."

Shanghai Daily