China Daily will publish the official English newspaper for the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as Village News - the official newspaper of the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic villages - according to an agreement signed yesterday.

Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice-president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), and Zhu Ling, editor-in-chief of China Daily, signed the contract on behalf of their organizations.

Jiang Xiaoyu (L4), executive vice-president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games and Zhu Ling(R4), Editor-in-Chief of China Daily, shake hands at the signing ceremony in Beijing January 30, 2008. [Asianewsphoto]

China Daily - the only national English-language newspaper in the country - will expand The Olympian, its current weekly journal in the run-up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, by up to 48 pages daily during the Games.

It will provide both the panorama of sport and insights into contemporary Chinese society.

Jiang said he believes the official newspapers for the Games will be a part of the legacy of the first Olympics held in the nation.

China Daily is setting up a team of outstanding reporters and editors, including an international line-up, to cover the Games, said Zhu.

"We will strive to publish newspapers that appeal to athletes and visitors coming to China as well as the international community, as part of our contribution to the Games," he said.

Jiang said the Games will see the world's greatest sports meet and the largest media gathering as well.

"Through the impact of the global media, 4 billion people will experience not only the Beijing Games itself, but also an opening and transforming China."

Some 31,600 journalists are expected in Beijing to cover the Games.