Shanghai Daily news

Shanghai World Expo organisers are soliciting essays from the world on suggestions for its official mascot.

Submissions will be accepted till May 31, and the winner will be announced on August 5 at the "1,000 days countdown" celebration. The best essay will win 3,000 yuan (US$387.57).

The theme of the essay-writing is "Visualise the 2010 Shanghai World Expo Mascot." It plans to collect ideas and suggestions for the mascot and spread the Expo notions to the public.

The organisers set no age, academic, occupation or location restrictions.

Anyone interested can e-mail their essays to expo2010zj@gmail.com or mail the printed copy to the committee at Room 7005, No. 1559, Zuchongzhi Road in Pudong New Area, 201203. More information is available on the contests official Website (http://www.chinacartoon.org.cn/cn/expo/hdqs.asp). No English version is available for the time-being.

This event is one of many supporting activities of the mascot solicitation for the 2010 event held from January 17 to May 31. The organizers want the mascot to reflect the Expo's theme, "Better City, Better Life," and represent Chinese culture.

World Expos, which debuted in 1851, are grand events where various countries display historical experience, exchange innovative ideas and demonstrate camaraderie in economic, scientific, technological and cultural areas.

The Shanghai World Expo 2010 aims to attract at least 200 exhibitors and 70 million-plus visitors, making it the biggest in history.