Year of Rat Meets Beijing's Olympic Rings

To kick off the Year of the Rat, celebrations in Beijing let revelers try various events that will be part of the upcoming 2008 Olympics. "That's hard work. Hats off to the athletes," said a 26-year-old after trying out a rowing machine. An Olympic committee exec says the fair is aimed at letting citizens experience the Games first-hand, AFP reports.

"Maybe they won't have a chance go to the real Games, so letting them experience the Olympics at the fair is a perfect combination," the official said of the bazaar, being held at Beijing's Long Tan Park. China is in the feverish final stretch before the Summer Games kick off 180 days from today. (More China stories.)