GUANGZHOU: A special program to promote the 16th Asian Games across Asian countries and regions will be launched today - the start of the two-year countdown to the sports gala, a senior official from the games' organizing committee said yesterday.

Under the program, the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC) will work with the Olympic Council of Asia to organize a delegation to visit all participating countries and regions along the ancient land and marine silk roads, according to Xu Ruisheng, vice secretary general of the GAGOC.

"The program, which will run until November next year, is part of the important promotion events within the two years ahead of the games," Xu said.

According to Xu, the team consists of representatives from the games' sponsorship partners, media workers, sports professionals and volunteers.

According to the program, a replica ship called Kuokuozhen Princess will be used in accordance with the history of the ancient marine silk road, which started in Guangzhou.

The marine route will start from Kuwait next March, when the new headquarter of Olympic Council of Asia is completed, covering Western Asia, Southeastern Asia and Eastern Asia.

Also, the team will drive cars made by the Guangzhou Automobile Industrial Group, one of the sponsorship partners for the games, during the land silk road visit, which will start in Guangzhou.

The land route will include Mongolia, Central Asia and the Middle East, Xu said.

"The visit via the land and marine routes will greatly help promote the upcoming games and the long history of the host city, as well as strengthen ties among Asian countries and regions," Xu said.

During the visit, he said, the GAGOC will hold a series of promotional events covering economic, cultural and sports development in Guangzhou.

(HK Edition 11/12/2008 page1)