Bhubaneswar, Sept. 16: Japan plays host to the Olympic Games in 2020 and sports enthusiasts and athletes from across the world who will travel to Tokyo for the greatest show on earth will get to see a replica of the famous temple at Konark on canvas.

The Japan government plans to exhibit the biggest painting in the world by stitching together art works by schoolchildren from over 100 countries. From India, the artwork will be sent by a school in Balighai near Puri.

The final artwork that will be exhibited at the 2020 Olympics will be a collage of the paintings sent from various countries through their respective embassies to Japan.

The Indian embassy in Japan chose Chandrasekhar Academy, a school in Balighai along the marine drive from Konark to Puri, as the Indo- Japan Friendship Centre has initiated free Japanese course for all schoolchildren here.

"We are overwhelmed that from across India, one school was to be chosen to represent the country in the art exhibition. Our regular events and activities in India and Japan with help of our Japanese friends has helped us be selected for such a major art event," said Kuna Dash, who runs the school.

The 200 children of the school are creating various paintings to depict Odisha, India as well as world peace.

"The event has been planned in Japan by a joint effort of the social organisation, Earth Identity Project and the government, to promote world peace and put behind the horrors of the nuclear bomb explosion in Hiroshima.

Thus, apart from creating symbols to represent their country, the students have been requested to include the theme of world peace," said Dash.

The five metres by five metres canvases painted by the students feature themes such as the Konark temple, Mahatma Gandhi and his teachings as well as flags of various nations painted together to show unity among countries.

After exhibiting these works near the Konark temple, the completed paintings will be sent to Japan on October 2. These will be exhibited at a library in Hiroshima, along with paintings sent by schools from around the globe.

These paintings will then be stored at the library till the 2020 Olympics and will be returned to it after being exhibited during the Games.

They will also be available on Google for viewing anytime.