(BEIJING, November 23) -- The voting period to select the "2007 Top Ten News Stories" kicked off Thursday, and by 5:30 p.m. of the same day, website visitors had posted over 10,000 votes. The story titled, "The planned torch relay routes for the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics are revealed" topped the list.

The "Top 10" campaign is organized by the Internet Affairs Bureau of the State Council Information Office, Beijing Internet Affairs Office, and the Media and Communications Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and sponsored by 13 well-known websites. The campaign comprises three categories: the "2007 Top Ten News Stories on Olympics"; the "2007 Top Ten Wishes of the Beijing Olympics"; and the "2007 Ten Most Frequently Used Words Related to the Beijing Olympics".

Voting opened to the public at 10 a.m. Thursday, and after just seven hours of voting, more than 22,500 votes were cast, including more than 10,000 votes for the top ten news stories, 7,000 votes for the top ten wishes, and 5,500 votes for the ten most frequently used words.

At the time of writing, the top three news stories are:

1. The planned torch relay routes for the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics are released

2. Smile Wristbands for Olympic Volunteers are unveiled officially

3. Jade-inlaid medals for the Beijing Olympics are unveiled

The top wish at the time of writing is: to become a Beijing Olympic torchbearer. And the most frequently used word at the time of writing is "lucky cloud," referring to the theme of the Beijing Olympic Torch.

Website visitors have cast 20,340 votes for the Top Ten News Stories, 13,749 votes for the Top Ten Wishes, and 16,704 votes for the "Most Frequently Used Word."

To thank voting participants, the official website will randomly select 20 winners daily who will receive souvenir gifts.