Li Shufen, 96-year-old paper cutter

Ninety-six-year-old Li Shufen of Chaoyang District has a lot of experience with paper cutting. And now Li has an ideao: to present a gift of her papercuttings to next year's Olympic gold medallists. With 300 days left before the 2008 Olympic Games, Li just can't seem to relax. "I've already finished 250 papercuttings!" the excited artist asserted. Li hopes that her gift would help remind the gold medallists of their victory in Beijing and the warmth and hospitality of the Chinese people.

Cheng Jiyong, handicraft factory manager

Cheng Jiyong is the manager of the Fangc Cao handicraft factory in Chaoyang District. Cheng has a limb disability, but he uses that disability to create positive energy for the upcoming Games. Cheng and others have started etiquette and Olympic knowledge training classes at work, hoping to encourage Beijing's residents with a disability to put their best smiles forward to receive visitors from around the world next Summer.

Xia Xuanze, world champion and Chinese badminton team coach

Over the years, Xia Xuanze has experienced the transition from an athlete to a coach. But one thing remains unchanged: his love for badminton. Next year in Beijing, "we will repay our nation's people through our greatest achievements," says Xia.

Luo Wei, Athens 2004 Taekwondo champion

Luo Wei, Taekwondo gold medallist at the 2004 Olympic Games, hopes to be the "person to come closest to the Olympic Games" as a torchbearer, running on the streets of Beijing with the Olympic Flame in hand.

Ren Xiaolong, staff member of BOCOG Cultural Activities Department

As a member of the BOCOG Cultural Activities Department, Ren Xiaolong still has 300 more days of hard work ahead of her. But Ren is confident that her work will pay off when the fireworks are alit over the Beijing sky in 300 days, inspiring the world.

Li Zitao, soldier

Li Zitao, a soldier of Unit 66006, will be ready to provide security for the Olympic Games. "As a soldier stationed in our nation's capital, protecting the nation during the Games is my natural duty."

Xia Fengzhi, city volunteer

For Xia, the 300-day marker means there are only 300 days left to learn English. As a city volunteer, she and fellow volunteers will be providing language services during the Games. Xia is taking every opportunity available to brush up on her English skills and to increase her Olympic knowledge in order to be helpful to visitors from around the world next year.

Yang Yang, BOCOG Sports Department competition division

"I hope our painstaking efforts now, prior to Games-time, will pay off so that we can enjoy ourselves next summer," says Yang. Experience from past Olympic Games indicates that his wish just may come true.

Sun Maofang, Olympic volunteer applicant

Sun Maofang has a three-tier wish: to motivate a hundred people to join her and volunteer for the Olympics, spreading Olympic knowledge to a thousand households and advocating civic duty among ten thousand local citizens.