A total of 2008 students from over 50 universities in Beijing joined a long-distance running at the Tian'anmen Square on Sunday, launching the campaign of Running Toward 2008, the year Beijing is to host the 29th Olympic Games.  

Today's undergraduates will become the pillar of the volunteers for the Beijing 2008 Olympiad, said Secretary of Beijing Municipal Education Committee Zhu Shanlu. He encouraged the students to absorb the Olympic spirit and take part in exercises and sports Games.

Representatives from the city's students union and university sports association proposed at the ceremony that university students keep day-to-day running habit and each person finish a distance of 2008 km. prior to the opening of the Games to widespread the Olympic Spirit as well as to lead a healthy life.

重点词汇

undergraduate  n. 大学生        　pillar  n. 梁柱，主要参与者
volunteer  n. 志愿者