Chinese Olympic hopeful Liu Xiang is among the 30 candidates running for the four seats on the International Olympic Committee Athletes Commission.

The elected athletes will be automatically promoted as IOC members, Xinhua News Agency reports.

Starting today, more than 10,600 registered athletes will vote at polling booths in Beijing and the Olympic co-host cities.

Voting will end on August 20, and the results will be announced the next day.

If elected, Liu Xiang will become the third Chinese athlete to serve on the commission, after retired gymnast Li Ning and former table tennis top gun Deng Yaping.