Organised by the International Olympic Committee, the camp is an educational and cultural exchange programme for young people aged between 16 and 18 which has been running alongside the Olympics since the 1912 Stockholm Games.

Intended to promote the Olympic spirit, the camp also gives participants a chance to experience and understand the culture and history of the host city.

For the first time, this year's camp includes representatives from all 205 National Olympic Committees. Four hundred and eighty teenagers from countries including Cuba and North Korea and Iraq are taking part.

The camp has three elements - participants not only get a chance to watch some of the events and visit the Olympic Village, but will also engage in cultural exchanges with fellow students as well as touring Beijing to learn about the city's culture and history.

'It's my first time in Beijing and everything is new to me,' said 16-year-old Samuel, a table tennis player from Diocesan Boys' School. 'I've always wanted to visit Beijing because of its rich history.'

He is looking forward to visiting the city's famous old buildings, such as Yi He Yuan.

'My roommate is a nice Chinese boy and I'm sure I can learn a lot from him,' Samuel added.

Wing-tung, 17, from Diocesan Girls' School, is excited at the thought of meeting young people from all over the world.

'I'd like to find out more about their cultures and share training methods,' she said.

Wing-tung, who plays badminton and javelin, hopes to get a chance to watch the two events.

'I'm looking forward to visit the Olympic Village as well. I might be lucky enough to meet Liu Xiang ,' she said.

The students are staying in the Beijing 101 School, a tourist attraction in its own right. This beautiful site is part of the former Yuan Ming Yuan, the last stop in the city in the Olympic torch relay.