The Center for Environmental Education and Communications under the State Environmental Protection Administration of China joined with Volkswagen Group China this week to announce the official commencement of the 2008 Olympic City Tour which is part of the "Volkswagen Green Future Environmental Education Initiative ".

The Initiative is a three-year program which officially began in April 2007 in Beijing withVolkswagon China promising to invest RMB 8 million to jump-start the campaign.

The Olympic City Tour is the highlight of the 2008’s Initiative, which brings together environmental education experts, Olympic champions, Olympic torch bearers, celebrity environmental protection ambassadors, as well as domestic Olympic technology experts and experts on etiquette.

It is scheduled to cover seven Olympic cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang, Shanghai, Qingdao and Hong Kong. Supported by a platform of local green schools and Olympic schools, bringing the latest knowledge of environmental protection and Olympics to children.

Dr. Zhang Suixin, Executive Vice President of Volkswagen Group China, said after the conference,:

“We want to give children education about the Olympics and the environment. Because children are our future, they'll be the leaders of society when they grow up. So if we can make them more aware of environmental protection, I believe they will give China a brighter future.”