Miss World Contestants join in Olympic drive

The city of Beijing has added over 100 glamorous mascots to its promotional campaign for next year's Olympic Games.

106 Miss World contestants recently joined the ranks of the 2008 Beijing Games and this year the Miss World pageant has adopted an athletic theme; with contestants having to show proficiency - or at least enthusiasm for a sport.

This year's Miss World host country, China, has enrolled the pageant's 106 beautiful women to join its army of Olympic mascots.

Alongside the traditional bikini show and beach games, the contestants have filmed a promotional Olympic music video, singing a specially composed Olympic song.

On Wednesday the contestants brought their song, entitled "Light the Passion, Share the Dream", to China's Great Wall.

Natalia Zabala Arroyo, Miss Spain, comes from a family of Miss World competitors, both her mother and her elder sister represented Spain in the competition. She is proud to be an Olympic mascot.

"I think it's very good. All these kinds of promotions, I think it's okay. For example, we are now here and we're on the wall. We are going to go back to our houses, to our countries, and we are going to be able to talk about it. It's going to have a lot of impact."

Irene Dwomoh, representing Ghana, is delighted to be now also representing her country's athletes.

"I'm so glad to be a part of Miss World this year, because this year is when we are actually praying for the Olympics next year. And I pray that my country can enter so I can support them."

The Miss World competition moved to south China's tropical island, Sanya, in 2003. The island has to date hosted both the Miss and Mr World competitions.

Upon the contestants' return to Sanya, the competition will continue; contestants will be judged in five main categories: beach beauty, talent, sport, beauty with a purpose and top model.

The winner will be announced in an all singing, all dancing final on the 1st of December.