The Eighth Qingdao International Sailing Week and Qingdao International Ocean Festival?recently kicked off?in the eastern Chinese coastal city. The events, lasting from August 5 to 14, introduced nearly 40 sports and cultural activities in seven sections, during which tourists and local citizens can watch the games, communicate with the sailors, and go aboard the sailing boats for a visit. The events are co-sponsored and organized by the Water Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sports of China, the Beijing Olympic City Development Association, the Chinese Yachting Association, and the Qingdao Municipal People's Government. Many sailing yachts and players were attracted here from both China and abroad, including the well-known big yacht "Pallada" from Russia which has come to the events for the second time.