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BEIJING-Drum rolls and dragon dances set off Lunar New Year celebrations here Wednesday as revellers welcomed an Olympic-themed Year of the Rat.Millions will throng parks across the country to enjoy the food and fun during the holiday season and in Beijing, the host of the 2008 Olympics, there was an added dimension at Long Tan Park.The park's temple fair was chosen by Olympic organisers to showcase the Games and bring the Olympics closer to the people.Adults and children were invited to try their hand at sports they have only seen on television such as archery, shooting, fencing and boxing.Transport worker Dong Yi, 32, said she had gained respect for Olympic competitors after shooting a pistol."They shoot twice-bang! bang!-and get the full score.I shot for a long time until my arm was shaking.It's very hard. Those Olympic champions are really great."Singers, dancers, acrobats and artists performed lavish shows in the parks while food stalls groaned under an array of delicacies including baked scorpion on sticks.For those with a sweet tooth, sugared Osama Bin Laden-shaped candies were on offer along with rat-shaped lollipops.Children skated around dressed as fuwa, the animal-shaped Olympic mascots.With the Beijing Games just over 180 days away, 26-year-old magazine editor Chi Yan thought he would try his luck on a rowing machine in one of several Olympic booths set up in the park."That's hard work. Hats off to the athletes," he said.For many Chinese, New Year's eve on Wednesday will include a temple fair visit, a family dinner, and fireworks to welcome New Year's day on Thursday."New Year is mainly about family, being with your loved ones," said Chi. "So I will spend the festival with my parents."Wang Hui, head of the Olympic organising committee's media department, said the Olympic show was aimed at letting the people experience the Games."Temple fairs are for ordinary folk to enjoy," she said. "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."As in the days of Noah....
