After a nationwide search, China has selected nearly 30 songs to serve as the official music for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The songs were selected from a pool of over 50,000 that were submitted for consideration between April 2003 and February 2008.Official Site: 50,000 Songs Gathered in Olympic Campaign

Each song will be designated a specific purpose. For example, "I am a Star" is the official song of the Olympic volunteers and "Welcome to Beijing" is the official song of the 100-day countdown to the games. Each will be made into a music video and will be packaged into a CD, which will be available for sale.Official Site: Theme Songs Heat Up Pre-Games Cultural Environment (July 8, 2008)

Many of the selected songs have been performed and recorded by celebrities. In September of 2007 actor Jackie Chan recorded the theme song for the one-year countdown to the games, "We Are Ready!"Official Site: Jackie Chan is Ready for the Paralympics (September 4, 2007) Also in 2007, 106 contestants at the Miss World Pageant recorded "Light the Passion Share the Dream", the official theme of the Olympic Torch Relay.Official Site: 106 Misses 'light the passion' for the Olympic Games (November 19, 2007)