The theme of the 2008 Olympics is the driving force behind medical specialists from more than 70 countries gathering in Beijing from Sept. 23 to 26, a senior organizer told Xinhua in an interview here before leaving for the event.

The theme of the Beijing Olympic Games -- "One world, one dream" -- became the main idea of the 19th International Congress of the International Association of Surgeons, Gastroenterologists and Oncologists (IASGO), its Secretary General, Nicolaos J. Lygidakis said.

The "Surgical Olympics" will bring together surgeons, gastroenterologists and oncologists to discuss the latest in medical science and help bridge the gap between different levels of medical services in the world.

"We call it sugical Olympics because the spirit of the Olympic sexists not only in sports but also in the field of scientific research. In ancient Greece, intellectuals were encouraged to produce better achievements," said Lygidakis, who is also a professor at the Athens Medical Center.

The scientific programs to be presented at the conference include the latest development in the fields of clinical research of GI malignancies, liver transplantation, and many others. More than two hundred videos would be presented demonstrating the most innovative and fascinating surgeries, Lygidakis said.

Doctors from around the world would for the first time use the latest Digital Video Transmission System to discuss a number of very challenging clinical cases, he added.

Lygidakis said he first visited China in 1980s, and had maintained close cooperation with his Chinese colleagues for years.

"China's achievements in the (medical) area are very high," he said, praising his Chinese colleagues for their efforts to help spread new technologies and development in medical science to the world.

He also commended China's offer to organize this event and to invite doctors from some less developed countries to participate in this seminar.