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2008 Summer Olympics

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"Beijing 2008" redirects here. For the video game, see Beijing 2008 (video game).

Template:Contains Chinese text The 2008 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, is a major international multi-sport event which is being held in Beijing, People's Republic of China, from August 8 (except football, which started on August 6) to August 24, 2008, and will be followed by the 2008 Summer Paralympics, from September 6 to September 17. A total of 10,500 athletes are expected to compete in 302 events in 28 sports, one event more than was on the schedule of the 2004 games.[2] The 2008 Beijing Olympics will also mark the third time that Olympic events will have been held in the territories of two different National Olympic Committees (NOC), as the equestrian events are being held in Hong Kong.

The Olympic games were awarded to Beijing after an exhaustive ballot of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on July 13, 2001. The official logo of the games, titled "Dancing Beijing," features a stylised calligraphic character jīng (京, meaning capital), referring to the host city. The mascots of Beijing 2008 are the five Fuwa [3], each representing both a colour of the Olympic rings and a symbol of Chinese culture. The Olympic slogan, One World, One Dream, calls upon the world to unite in the Olympic spirit. Several new NOCs have also been recognised by the IOC.

The Chinese government has promoted the games to highlight China's emergence on the world stage and has invested heavily in new facilities and transportation systems.[4][5] A total of 37 venues will be used to host the events including 12 newly constructed venues. Earlier in 2007, former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch had said that he believes that the Beijing games will be "the best in Olympic history,"[6] and current president Jacques Rogge asserts that the IOC has "absolutely no regrets" in choosing Beijing to host the 2008 games.[7] The choice of China as a host country has been a subject of criticism by American politicians and NGOs concerned about China's human rights record.[8][9]

Bid

2008 Summer Olympics bidding results
City NOC Round 1 Round 2
Beijing China China 44 56
Toronto Canada Canada 20 22
Paris France France 15 18
Istanbul Turkey Turkey 17 9
Osaka Japan Japan 6 —
Main articles: 2008 Summer Olympics bids and Beijing 2008 Olympic bid

Beijing was elected the host city on July 13, 2001, during the 112th IOC Session in Moscow, beating Toronto, Paris, Istanbul, and Osaka. Prior to the session, five other cities (Bangkok, Cairo, Havana, Kuala Lumpur, and Seville) submitted bids to the IOC but failed to make the short list in 2000. After the first round of voting, Beijing held a significant lead over the other four candidates. Osaka received only six votes and was eliminated. In the second round, Beijing was supported by an absolute majority of voters, eliminating the need for subsequent rounds.[10]

After winning the bid, Li Lanqing, the vice premier of China, declared "The winning of the 2008 Olympic bid is an example of the international recognition of China's social stability, economic progress and the healthy life of the Chinese people." Previously, Beijing had lost a close bid to Sydney for the chance to host the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Development and preparation

Venues

Olympic rings
Part of a series on
2008 Summer Olympics
Main articles: 2008 Summer Olympics venues and Olympic Green

By May 2007, construction of all 31 Beijing-based Olympic Games venues had begun.[11] The Chinese government has also invested in the renovation and construction of six venues outside Beijing as well as 59 training centres. Its largest architectural pieces are the Beijing National Stadium, Beijing National Indoor Stadium, Beijing National Aquatics Centre, Olympic Green Convention Centre, Olympic Green, and Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center. Almost 85% of the construction budget for the six main venues is funded by US$2.1 billion (RMB¥17.4 billion) in corporate bids and tenders. Investments are expected from corporations seeking ownership rights after the 2008 Summer Olympics. Some venues will be owned and governed by the State General Administration of Sports, which will use them after the Olympics as facilities for all future national sports teams and events. The 2008 Beijing Olympics are officially the most expensive games in history with a total of $40.9 billion spent between 2001 and 2007 on infrastructure, energy, transportation and water supply projects.[12]

Some events are being held outside Beijing, namely football in Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Tianjin; sailing in Qingdao; and, because of "uncertainties of equine diseases and major difficulties in establishing a disease-free zone", equestrian in Hong Kong.[13]

Beijing National Stadium

Main article: Beijing National Stadium
The Beijing National Stadium.

The centrepiece of the 2008 Summer Olympics is the Beijing National Stadium, nicknamed the Bird's Nest because of its nest-like skeletal structure.[14] Construction of the venue began on December 24, 2003. The Guangdong Olympic Stadium was originally planned, constructed, and completed in 2001 for the games, but a decision was made to construct a new stadium in Beijing.[clarification needed][15] Government officials engaged architects worldwide in a design competition. A Swiss firm, Herzog & de Meuron Architekten AG, collaborated with China Architecture Design & Research Group to win the competition. The stadium features a lattice-like concrete skeleton forming the stadium bowl and will have a seating capacity of over 90,000 people during the Olympics. Architects originally described the overall design as resembling a bird nest with an immense ocular—an opening with a retractable roof over the stadium. However, in 2004, the idea of retractable roof was abandoned for economic and safety reasons. The Beijing National Stadium will be the site of the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the athletics events and soccer finals. The stadium's designer Ai Weiwei has since withdrawn his support for China's Olympic games, saying "he wants nothing to do with them anymore".[16][17]

Most recently, the Beijing Olympic Village opened on July 16, 2008 and to the public on July 26, 2008.

Transport

A map of the Olympic venues in Beijing. Several expressways encircle the center of the city, providing for quick transportation around the city and between venues.

In preparation for the huge rush during the games, Beijing's subway system underwent a major expansion which increased its capacity to more than twice its previous size. The previous system was composed of 4 lines and 64 stations. An additional 7 lines and more than 80 new stations were constructed, including a direct link to Beijing Capital International Airport. In the airport itself, 11 unmanned trains, each transporting a maximum of 83 passengers, will expedite the movement of people throughout the new terminal building.[18] Most of them are scheduled to operate from June 30, 2008, one month before the start of the games. In 2007 January, the BOCOG announced that the Metro cars will be fitted with video screens showing the latest news and events during the games. Additionally, cellphone signals would be made available, so that people can use their communication devices in the metro stations or underground.[19] On August 1, Beijing South Railway Station was reopened after two years of construction. The 120-km long Beijing–Tianjin Intercity Rail opened on the same day that connects the new railway station with Olympic co-host city Tianjin with world's fastest scheduled train service at 350 km/h.[20]

According to the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, a new five-level emergency alert system for extreme weather and security threats will be implemented in the airport. This system is designed to ensure smooth and safe transportation for the estimated 3 million domestic and overseas visitors who will flock to Beijing for the games in 2008 August.[21]

On the ground, Beijing is set to designate 38 official public transit routes that will link the Olympic venues. During the games, 2,500 large-size buses and 4,500 minibuses will be operated by a total of 8,000 drivers to transport people across various venues. Prior to the games, public transport will be optimised in order to reduce the existing 110 overlapping routes.[22]

Athletes, Olympic guests and media will be moved around the city in a fleet of 5,000 Volkswagen "low-emission, low-consumption" vehicles.[23]

Beijing will be implementing a temporary road space rationing based on plate numbers during the Games in order to significantly improve air quality in the city.[24] Under the traffic plan made public on June 20, 2008, the rationing will be enforced for two months, between July 20 to September 20, as the Olympics will begin on August 8, and then will be followed by the 2008 Paralympics, from September 6 until 17.[25][dead link‍] The restrictions will be in placed on alternate days depending on the plates ending in odd or even numbers. This measure is expected to take 45% of the 3.3 million car fleet off the streets. In addition, 300,000 heavy polluting vehicles will be banned from July 1, and the plan also prohibits access to most vehicles coming from outside Beijing. The boosted public transport network is expected to absorb this additional demand, estimated in more than 4 million extra passengers per day.[26][25]

Marketing

Main article: 2008 Summer Olympics marketing

The 2008 Summer Olympics emblem is known as Dancing Beijing (Chinese: 舞动的北京). The emblem combines a traditional Chinese red seal and a representation of the calligraphic character jīng (京, "national capital", also the second character of Beijing's Chinese name) with athletic features. The open arms of the calligraphic word symbolises the invitation of China to the world to share in its culture. IOC president Jacques Rogge was very happy with the emblem, saying, "Your new emblem immediately conveys the awesome beauty and power of China which are embodied in your heritage and your people."[27]

The slogan for the 2008 Olympics is "One World, One Dream" (simplified Chinese: 同一个世界 同一个梦想; traditional Chinese: 同一個世界 同一個夢想; pinyin: Tóng Yíge Shìjiè Tóng Yíge Mèngxiǎng.)[28] The slogan calls upon the whole world to join in the Olympic spirit and build a better future for humanity. It was chosen from over 210,000 entries submitted from around the world.[14]

Broadcasting

These games will be the first to be produced and broadcast entirely in high definition television, and will likely garner upwards of 4 billion viewers.[29] In their bid for the Olympic games in 2001, Beijing confirmed to the Olympic Evaluation Commission "that there will be no restrictions on media reporting and movement of journalists up to and including the Olympic Games,"[30] but according to a report in The New York Times, "these promises have been contradicted by strict visa rules, lengthy application processes and worries about censorship."[31]

Olympic rings
Part of a series on
2008 Summer Olympics

This is a list of Olympic broadcasters of the 2008 Summer Olympics. These games were the first to be produced and broadcast entirely in high-definition television.[29] In their bid for the Olympic games in 2001, Beijing confirmed to the olympic evaluation commission "that there would be no restrictions on media reporting and movement of journalists up to and including the Olympic Games."[32]

The host broadcasting organization of the games was BOB (Beijing Olympic Broadcasting). The home nation broadcasters are CCTV, CETV. CNR and other broadcasting stations in China with other languages which are broadcasting all competitions, events, galas and ceremonies with the Paralympics.

Broadcasters

In Canada the public network CBC/Radio-Canada and cable networks TSN and RDS broadcast its final games before a private consortium involving CTV/Rogers/TQS takes over for the 2010 Winter Olympics, which will be happening within Canadian borders, in Vancouver. In Australia the Seven Network broadcast its final games before the Nine Network and Pay-TV operator Foxtel took over from the 2010 Winter Olympics and beyond.

The IOC awarded Australia's Seven Network the 'Golden Rings' award for "Best Olympic Programme". The award is given for the best overall Olympic coverage.[33]

Territory Rights holder HDTV Ref.
 MENA Arab States Broadcasting Union Aljazeera Sport HD
 Albania RTSH
 Argentina Canal 7 (All events), TyC Sports (all events)
 Armenia ARMTV
 Australia Television broadcast:
Seven Network
SBS
Radio broadcast:
2GB SEN 5AA 6IX 2CC KOFM
Seven HD [34]
 Austria ORF ORF 1 HD [35]
 Belarus Belteleradiocompany: TV-First and LAD [36]
 Belgium VRT, RTBF VRT: één HD [37]
 Bolivia Unitel, Red Uno, TyC Sports
 Bosnia and Herzegovina BHRT [38]
 Brazil Free-to-air television broadcast:
Rede Globo
Rede Bandeirantes
Cable and Satellite television broadcast:
Sportv (Sportv 2 | Sportv 3 | Sportv 4 | Sportv +)
Band Sports
ESPN
ESPN Brasil
Internet and Cellphone broadcast:
Terra Networks
Radio broadcast:
Rádio Gaúcha
Rádio CBN
Rádio Globo
Rádio Jovem Pan
Rádio Eldorado
 Free-to-air television broadcast:
Rede Globo
Rede Bandeirantes
Cable and Satellite television broadcast:
Sportv HD
Globosat HD		 [39][40]
 Brunei Kristal-Astro, Radio Television Brunei
 Bulgaria BNT [41]
 Cambodia National Television of Cambodia
 Canada CBC Television, Radio-Canada, bold, TSN, RDS CBC HD, Radio-Canada HD, TSN HD, RDS HD [42][43][44]
 Chile TVN, Canal 13; webcast on Terra Networks [45]
 China China Central Television, China Radio International (CRI) and China National Radio (CNR) CCTV-HD [46]
 Colombia Free-to-air:
Señal Colombia, Caracol, RCN
Webcast:
Terra Networks		 [47]
 Croatia HRT [48]
 Czech Republic Czech Television [49]
 Denmark DR, TV 2 [50][51]
 Dominican Republic Television Centro
 Estonia Eesti Televisioon [52]
 European Union Eurosport [49]
 Finland Yle, Urheilukanava YLE Peking HD, Eurosport HD & Saunalahti [53][54]
 France France Télévisions [55]
 Georgia GPB
 Germany ARD, ZDF Das Erste HD
ZDF HD		 [56]
 Greece ERT [57]
 Hong Kong ATV, TVB ATV HD
TVB HD		 [58]
 Hungary MTV m1 HD, m2 HD [59]
 Iceland RUV [60]
 India Doordarshan, Zee TV [61]
 Indonesia TVRI, AORA [62]
 Iran IRIB TV3
 Ireland RTÉ [63]
 Israel TV broadcast:
Channel 1
Sport 5 (Including Sport 5+, Sport5+ Live and Sport5+ Gold)
Webcast:
sport5.co.il
Cellphone broadcast:
Pelephone, Orange and Cellcom		 Cable and satellite:
Sport 5HD		 [64][65][66][67]
 Italy RAI [68]
 Japan Japan Consortium (NHK, Nippon Television, Fuji Television, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo, Tokyo Broadcasting System) [69][70]
 Laos Lao National Television, Lao National Radio
 Latvia Latvijas Televīzija [71]
 Lithuania LRT
 Macau TDM (Power by China Central Television) TDM HD
 Malaysia Astro, Radio Televisyen Malaysia [72][73]
 Mexico Televisa
TV Azteca
TVC Deportes		 Televisa HD
TV Azteca HD		 [74][75][76]
 Moldova TRM [77]
 Mongolia MNB, UBS, Channel 25, TV5, TV9, NTV [78]
 Montenegro RTCG
 Myanmar Myanmar Radio and Television
 Netherlands NPO/NOS Nederland 1 HD [79]
 New Zealand TVNZ [80]
 Norway NRK [81]
 Pakistan Geo Super [82]
 Philippines Television Cable:
Solar Sports
Basketball TV
Jack TV
SOLAR All Access 1 and 2(PPV)
Free-to-air:
C/S
ETC
2nd Avenue		 [83]
 Poland Telewizja Polska [84]
 Portugal RTP [85]
 Puerto Rico Telemundo de Puerto Rico
 Romania TVR, Telesport [86][87][88]
 Russia VGTRK: Russia, Russia 1, Russia 2 and Sport1 and news info on Vesti, Channel One, NTV Plus NTV Plus [89][90]
 Serbia RTS
 Singapore StarHub TV, Singtel and Mediacorp [91][92]
 Slovakia STV [93]
 Slovenia RTV Slovenija RTV Slovenija HD Test [94][95]
 South Africa SABC, SuperSport [31]
 South Korea KBS, MBC and SBS
 Spain RTVE [96][97]
 Sri Lanka Rupavahini [98]
 Sweden SVT1, SVT24, Peking+, SRP4 and SR's webcasts. Also broadcast on the web through SVT Play and to cellphones by Tele2. SVT HD [99][100][101][102][103]
  Switzerland SF TSR TSI HD Suisse
 Chinese Taipei CTV, CTS, FTV, TTV PTS HIHD
 Thailand TPT (NBT, MCOT, Channel 3, RTA TV5, BBTV Channel 7, TPBS), TrueVisions [104]
 Turkey TRT [105][106]
 Ukraine First National [107]
 United Kingdom BBC [108]
 United States NBCUniversal
See also: 2008 Summer Olympics on NBC		 [109][110][111]
 Venezuela Venevisión, Meridiano TV, TVES [112]
 Vietnam Vietnam Television, Ho Chi Minh City Television, Hanoi Radio Television and Vietnam Multimedia Corporation [113]

See also

Notes

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  2. ^ "6th Coordination Commission Visit To Begin Tomorrow". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2006-05-20.
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  7. ^ Abrahamson, Alan (2008-08-02). ""Absolutely no regrets" in coming to China, IOC president says". NBC. Retrieved 2008-08-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Ian Traynor and Jonathan Watts: Merkel says she will not attend opening of Beijing Olympics. Guardian on-line. March 29 2008
  9. ^ Amnesty International: China: The two faces of the Beijing Olympics. 1 June 2008.
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  12. ^ The Most Expensive Games In History, Beijing 2008. Retrieved on August 5, 2008.
  13. ^ Olympic Venues, Beijing 2008. Retrieved on May 15, 2006.
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  18. ^ "Un-manned trains to operate at new airport terminal building". BOCOG. 2007-06-13. Retrieved 2007-06-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "Official: passengers can watch the Games in Beijing metro". BOCOG. 2007-01-31. Retrieved 2006-02-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ China inaugurates 220mph fastest rail service in world in time for Olympics
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  28. ^ "'One World One Dream' selected as the Theme Slogan for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games". BOCOG. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2007-05-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ a b "Seeing clearly: Panasonic ushers in first HDTV Game". China Daily. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2008-03-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "HDTV" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  30. ^ Report of the IOC Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2008, pg.73
  31. ^ a b Stelter, Brian (2008-07-21). "Networks Fight Shorter Olympic Leash". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
  32. ^ Report Archived 2003-12-29 at the Wayback Machine of the IOC Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2008, pg.73
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  34. ^ Seven Network 2008 - Olympics
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  36. ^ Belteleradiocompany Archived 2009-02-21 at the Wayback Machine
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  91. ^ "StarHub Offers Unprecedented Coverage Of The Olympic Games". Archived from the original on 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  92. ^ "MediaCorp the official broadcaster of the 2008 Beijing Olympics". Archived from the original on 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  93. ^ "Public broadcaster STV is ready to launch its third channel". The Slovak Spectator. 2008-07-08. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  94. ^ "Prenos Olimpijskih iger na RTV Slovenija". Računalniške novice (in Slovenian). Nevtron&Company. 2008-08-05. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  95. ^ "Poletje visoke ločljivosti". Žurnal24 (in Slovenian). Žurnal. 2008-08-06. Archived from the original on 2008-08-13. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  96. ^ "The TVE will cover the Olympics" (in Spanish).
  97. ^ "The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games via mobile". Archived from the original on 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  98. ^ "Rupavahini's Channel Eye will cover the Olympics" (in Sinhala).
  99. ^ SVTs största OS-satsning någonsin Archived 2008-08-19 at the Wayback Machine
  100. ^ OS största satsningen någonsin för Radiosporten – i radio, på webben, i mobilen Archived 2008-08-13 at the Wayback Machine
  101. ^ Tele2, Beijing 2008 i Mobilen Archived 2008-08-10 at the Wayback Machine
  102. ^ SVT HD, Beijing 2008 Archived 2008-08-19 at the Wayback Machine
  103. ^ SVT Play, Beijing 2008 Archived 2008-08-19 at the Wayback Machine
  104. ^ ข่าว กีฬา ถ่ายสดอลป. ทีวีพูลเจ๊ง40ล. : www.thairath.co.th - หนังสือพิมพ์ไทยรัฐ ออนไลน์ Archived 2008-08-12 at the Wayback Machine (in Thai)
  105. ^ Pekin 2008 Olimpiyat Oyunları (in Turkish)
  106. ^ TRT3 TELEVİZYON AKIŞLARI (in Turkish)
  107. ^ official web site
  108. ^ "Beijing Olympics on the BBC". BBC. Retrieved 2008-06-28.
  109. ^ "Coming in August: The Complete Olympics on NBC". NBC. Retrieved 2008-06-28.
  110. ^ "NBC's planned Olympic coverage, on TV and online". USA Today. 2008-07-10. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  111. ^ "Westwood One Lays Out Olympic Program Plans". 2008-07-25. Archived from the original on 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2008-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  112. ^ "Medios se alistan para Beijing". News. Lavinotinto.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  113. ^ "National TV station said to have Euro 2008 broadcasting rights". VietNamNet. 2007-09-08. Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-16.

Online coverage

The 2008 Olympics marks the debut of online and on-demand video, roughly 200 hours of coverage per day for the duration of the games. "Exclusive broadcast rights holders in large markets in Europe, North America and Australia have plans to show thousands of hours online." Furthermore, for the first time "live online video rights in some markets for the Olympics have been separately negotiated, not part of the overall 'broadcast rights,'"; these new media of the digital economy are growing "nine times faster than the rest of the advertising market."[1]

Globally, however, the 2008 Olympics is subject to extensive copyright restriction –which amounts to territorial restrictions– whilst still being covered extensively online within various exclusive copyright autarkies. Thus despite the international nature of the event and the global reach of the Internet, the coverage world wide of assorted nation-states and television networks is not readily accessible; there is no global or supranational media coverage as such. The international European Broadcasting Union (EBU), for example, provides live coverage and highlights of all arenas only for certain of its own territories[2] on their website eurovisionsports.tv.[3] Many national broadcasters likewise restrict online events to their domestic audiences.[4]

Despite the contractual obligations of the digital economy, some of the same technologies used to circumvent the Great Firewall of China (such as UltraSurf) can be used to subvert the Olympic media autarkies on the Internet as well.

YouTube has removed a video of a regional German network's (NDR) coverage of the opening ceremonies as "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by a third party.[5][6]; a video from Australia's Seven Network has been removed "for violation of terms of service." Furthermore, the General National Copyright Administration of China has announced that "individual (sic) and websites will face fines as high as 100,000 yuan for uploading recordings of Olympic Games video to the internet,"[7] part of an extensive campaign to protect the pertinent intellectual property rights.[8][9][10]

Torch relay

2008 Olympic Torch
Main articles: 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay and 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay route

The design of the Olympic Torch is based on traditional scrolls and uses a traditional Chinese design known as the "Propitious Clouds" (祥云). The torch is designed to remain lit in 65 kph (40 mph) winds, temperatures of up to -40°C and in rain of up to 50 mm (2 in) per hour.

The relay, with the theme Journey of Harmony, lasted 130 days and carried the torch 137,000 km (85,000 mi)—the longest distance of any Olympic torch relay since the tradition began at the 1936 Berlin Games.[11][12] The torch relay was called a "public relations disaster" for China by The Times[13], with protests of China's human rights record, particularly about Tibet.

Route of the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay

The relay began March 24, 2008, in Olympia, Greece. From there, it traveled across Greece to Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, and then to Beijing, arriving on March 31. From Beijing, the torch followed a route passing through every continent except Antarctica. The torch visited cities on the Silk Road, symbolizing ancient links between China and the rest of the world. A total of 21,880 torchbearers have been selected from around the world by various organizations and entities.[14]

The international portion of the relay was problematic. The month-long world tour saw wide-scale protests to China's human rights abuses and recent crackdown in Tibet. After trouble in London saw several attempts to put out the flame, the flame was extinguished in Paris the following day.[15] The American leg in San Francisco on 9 April was altered without prior warning to avoid such scenes, although there were still demonstrations along the original route.[16] The relay was further delayed and simplified after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake affecting western China.

The flame was carried to the top of Mount Everest[14] on a 108 km (67 mi) long "highway" scaling the Tibetan side of the mountain especially built for the relay. The $19.7 million blacktop project spanned from Tingri County of Xigazê Prefecture to the Everest Base Camp.[17] In 2008 March, China banned mountaineers from climbing its side of Mount Everest and later persuaded the Nepalese government to close their side as well, officially citing environmental concerns.[18] It also reflected concerns by the Chinese government that Tibet activists may try to disrupt its plans to carry the Olympic torch up the world's tallest peak.[19]

The originally proposed route would have seen the torch carried through Taipei after leaving Vietnam and before heading for Hong Kong. Taiwan authorities, however, objected to this proposal, claiming that this route would make the portion of the relay in Taiwan appear to be part of the torch's domestic journey through China, rather than a leg on the international route.[20] This dispute as well as demands that the flag of the Republic of China and the National Anthem of the Republic of China be banned along the route[21] led the Taiwan authorities to reject the proposal that it be part of the relay route, and the two sides of the Taiwan Strait subsequently blamed each other for injecting politics into the event.[22]

The Games

Further information: [[:2008 Summer Olympics highlights, medal count, and medal winners]]

Opening ceremony

File:BeijingOlimpicGames2008-08-08.jpg
A scene from the opening ceremony.
Main article: 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

The opening ceremony was held at the Beijing National Stadium. It began at 8:00 pm China Standard Time (UTC+8) on 8 August 2008.[23][24][25] The number 8 is associated with prosperity and confidence in Chinese culture.[26] The ceremony was co-directed by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou and Chinese choreographer Zhang Jigang.[27] It featured a cast of over 15,000 performers, and was dubbed beforehand as "the most spectacular Olympics Opening Ceremony ever produced".[28]

A rich assembly of ancient Chinese art and culture dominated the ceremony. It opened with the beating of Fou drums for the countdown. Subsequently, a giant scroll was unveiled and became the show's centerpiece. The official song of the 2008 Olympics was performed by Britain's Sarah Brightman and China's Liu Huan, and was titled You and Me.[29] Former Chinese gymnast Li Ning ignited the cauldron.

The entry parade of the competing athletes differed in order from previous Olympic ceremonies, as the national teams did not enter in order by the host nation's alphabet. Since Chinese does not have an alphabet, teams entered the stadium in order (lowest first) of the number of strokes in their Simplified Chinese character transcriptions. As a result, Australia (normally one of the first teams to enter the stadium) became one of the final teams to arrive, as the first character of the Chinese name of Australia (澳大利亚) has 16 strokes. The Olympic traditions of Greece entering first and the host nation (China) entering last were still observed.

A review of the opening ceremony from around the world called it "spectacular and devoid of politics"[30] though it was later revealed that the televised fireworks were enhanced with computer animation. Another cosmetic enhancement in China's quest for a perfect Summer Games was using a cute girl to lip-sync over the singing voice of a girl with "chubby face and crooked baby teeth" during the opening ceremony song Ode to the Motherland.[31]

More than 100 sovereigns, heads of state and heads of government as well as 170 Ministers of Sport will be attending the Beijing Olympic Games.[32]

Closing ceremony

Main article: 2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony

The 2008 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony will conclude the Beijing Games on August 24, 2008. It is scheduled to begin at 8:00pm China Standard Time (UTC+8), and to take place at the Beijing National Stadium.

British singer Leona Lewis is scheduled to perform at the closing ceremony, representing the change from Beijing to London.[33] The Ceremony will also include the handover of the games from Beijing to London. Guo Jinlong, the Mayor of Beijing will hand over the Olympic flag to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, and there will be a performance by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG).

Participating NOCs

Participating nations

Following the Opening Ceremony on August 8, 2008, all but one (Brunei) of the current 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs)[34] will participate. China and the United States have the largest teams, with 639 and 596[35][36]competitors respectively. Several countries are represented at the games by a single athlete.

Three countries participated for their first time in history: The Marshall Islands, Montenegro and Tuvalu.

South African swimmer Natalie du Toit, five time gold medalist at the Athens Paralympics in 2004, has qualified to compete at the Beijing Olympics, thus making history by becoming the first amputee to qualify for the Olympic Games since Olivér Halassy in 1936.[37][38] Natalia Partyka (who was born without a right forearm) will compete in Table Tennis for Poland.[39]

TPE

As in the previous games since 1984, athletes from the Republic of China (Taiwan) are competing at the Olympics as "Chinese Taipei" (TPE) [40] under the "Chinese Taipei Olympic flag" and using the National Banner Song as their official anthem. The participation of Taiwan had been in doubt due to disagreements over the designation of the team in the Chinese language, and concerns that Taiwan would march in the Opening Ceremony next to the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong.[41] Supporters inside and outside of the venues will not be able to display the flag of the Republic of China.[42]

Participation changes

The Marshall Islands and Tuvalu gained National Olympic Committee status in 2006 and 2007 respectively, and are participating in the Games.[43][44]

The states of Serbia and Montenegro, which participated at the 2004 Games jointly as Serbia and Montenegro, are now competing separately. The Montenegrin Olympic Committee was accepted as a new National Olympic Committee in 2007.[44] IOC has promised to recognise the newly independent Republic of Kosovo, but not in time for the nation to compete in the Olympics.[45]

North Korea and South Korea held meetings to discuss the possibility of sending a united team to the 2008 Olympics,[46][47] but the proposal failed, due to disagreements between the two NOCs on the proportion of athletes from the two countries within the team.

On July 24, 2008, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned Iraq from competing in the 2008 Olympic Summer Games due to "political interference by the government in sports."[48][49] On July 29, the IOC reversed its decision and will allow the nation to compete after a pledge by Iraq to ensure "the independence of its national Olympics panel" by instituting fair elections before the end of November. Until then, Iraq's Olympic Organisation will be run by "an interim committee proposed by its national sports federations and approved by the IOC."[50]

Brunei Darussalam were due to take part in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. However, they were disqualified on August 8, having failed to register either of their athletes.[51] The IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said in a statement that "it is a great shame and very sad for the athletes who lose out because of the decision by their team not to register them. The IOC tried up until the last minute, midday Friday 8 August 2008, the day of the official opening, to have them register, but to no avail."[52] Brunei's Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports submitted a Press release why Brunei decided not to participate in Beijing, stated that "one athlete competing in the shot putt event Mohd Yazid Yatimi Yusof (who) has undergone intensive training since March ... injured himself in June (right liotibial strain with mild lateral ministrial knee injury), when he was competing in the Pesta Sukan Kebangsaan (National Sports Festival)". The Brunei Darussalam Olympic Council (BNOC) issued a Press release stating that "it had to wait for approval from the Youth and Sports Department under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as to whether Brunei Darussalam could be represented at the Olympic Games".[53] It is also noted that the withdrawal can lead Brunei to being sanctioned and appropriate action will be taken after the closing of the Olympics on August 24.[54]

Georgia announced on August 9, 2008 that it is considering withdrawing from the Beijing Olympic Games due to current military conflict in South Ossetia. Certain participating Georgian athletes have made known they want to leave the Olympics in order to fight with the Georgian army.[55]

Sports

File:Swimming 2008.gif
This pictogram depicts Swimming.

The program for the Beijing 2008 Games is quite similar to that of the Athens Games held in 2004. The 2008 Olympics will see the return of 28 sports, and will hold 302 events (165 men’s events, 127 women’s events, and 10 mixed events), one event more in total than in Athens.

Overall 9 new events will be held, which include 2 from the new cycling discipline of BMX. Women will compete in the 3000 m steeplechase for the first time. In addition, marathon swimming events for men and women, over the distance of 10 kilometres, will be added to the swimming discipline. Team events (men and women) in table tennis will replace the doubles events. In fencing, women's team foil and women's team sabre will replace men's team foil and women's team epee.[56][57][58][59]

The Beijing Organizing Committee have released pictograms of the 35 Olympic disciplines. This set of sport icons is named the beauty of seal characters, due to each pictogram's likeness to Chinese seal script.[60]

The following are the sports to be contested at these Games. The number of events to be contested in each sport is indicated in parentheses.

Calendar

In the following calendar for the 2008 Olympic Games, each blue box represents an event competition, such as a qualification round, on that day. The yellow boxes represent days during which medal-awarding finals for a sport are held. Each bullet in these boxes is an event final, the number of bullets per box representing the number of finals that will be contested on that day.[61]

Template:2008 Summer Olympics Calendar

Medal table

The reverse side of the medals of the 2008 Summer Olympics: silver (left), gold (center), bronze (right)
Main article: 2008 Summer Olympics medal table

These are the top-ten positions so far:

1  China (CHN) 26 9 6 41
2  United States (USA) 14 13 19 46
3  Germany (GER) 8 2 4 14
4  South Korea (KOR) 6 9 3 18
5  Italy (ITA) 6 4 4 14
6  Japan (JPN) 6 4 3 13
7  Australia (AUS) 5 7 8 20
8  Russia (RUS) 3 8 8 19
9  France (FRA) 3 8 7 18
10  Great Britain (GBR) 3 2 3 8

Concerns and controversies

The banner reads: "Human Rights Abuse Cannot Co-exist with Beijing Olympics", picture taken during the opening of the Human Rights Torch Relay event
Main article: Concerns over the 2008 Summer Olympics

A variety of concerns over the games have been expressed by various entities; including allegations that China violated its pledge to allow open media access,[62] various alleged human rights violations,[63][64][65] air pollution in both the city of Beijing and in neighbouring areas,[66][67] proposed boycotts,[68][69] warnings of the possibility that the Beijing Olympics could be targeted by terrorist groups,[70] foiled sabotage attempt, potentially violent disruption from pro-Tibetan protesters,[71] equivocal religious freedoms,[72] the banning of ethnic Tibetans from working in Beijing for the duration of the games,[73] criticisms of policies mandating the electronic surveillance of internationally owned hotels,[74][75][76] displacement of residents[77], the silencing of dissenting voices by means of torture One day before the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Zeng Jinyan was forcibly dissapeared[78], arrests[79], harassment[80] and forcible disappearances and ticket adversities.[81]

Additionally, pro-Tibetan independence proponents have exhibited disdain and protested the games,[82] human rights activists critical of China's role in the Darfur conflict have sought policy change,[83] and Americans have voiced concerns regarding the persecution of some religious groups.[84][85][86][87]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/07/09/oly.media/index.html
  2. ^ http://www.eurovisionsports.tv/olympics/geoerror/geoerror.html
  3. ^ Beijing Live, Beijing 2008. Retrieved on August 9, 2008.
  4. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/cycling/7552544.stm
  5. ^ http://community.livejournal.com/olympicgames08/28771.html
  6. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1nmR8Ndj7g
  7. ^ http://www.danwei.org/2008_beijing_olympic_games/china_copywrites_the_olympics.php
  8. ^ http://olympics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/16/for-olympics-china-ramps-up-copyright-infringement-campaign/
  9. ^ http://news.xinhuanet.com/newmedia/2008-06/13/content_8359170.htm
  10. ^ http://english.ipr.gov.cn/ipr/en/info/Article.jsp?a_no=142611&col_no=926&dir=200711
  11. ^ "Beijing 2008: BOCOG Announces Olympic Torch Relay Route". International Olympic Committee. 2007-04-26. Retrieved 2007-04-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Officials Expect Olympic Torch to Continue on Route".
  13. ^ "Britain sends mandarins to China on subtle mission". The Times. 2008-04-25. Retrieved 2007-04-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ a b "Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Planned Route and Torch Design unveiled". BOCOG. 2007-04-26. Retrieved 2007-04-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Bremner, Charles (2008-04-07). "Tibet protests force organisers to snuff out Olympic flame in Paris". The Times. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "Confusion strikes US torch relay". BBC News. 2008-04-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "China to build highway on Mt Everest for 2008 Olympics". The Hindu. 2007-06-20. Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Climbers banned from Everest as China seeks to stop protests on summit". The Independent. 2008-03-17. Retrieved 2008-03-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "China closes its side of Everest to climbers". CNN. 2008-03-12. Retrieved 2008-03-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "Taiwan rejects 'domestic' Olympic torch route". Taiwan Journal. 2007-05-04. Retrieved 2007-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ BBC NEWS Asia-Pacific | Olympic torch will bypass Taiwan
  22. ^ "China blames Taiwan for scuttling Olympic torch relay through Taipei, labels 'vile precedent'". Yahoo! Canada Sports. 2007-09-21. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ "Tickets Information - The official ticketing website of the BEIJING 2008 Olympic Games".
  24. ^ "Beijing Confirms the Opening Ceremony Time for 2008 Olympics", Travel China Guide. Retrieved on August 2, 2008
  25. ^ "Opening Ceremony plan released". Official website. 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  26. ^ "The Number Eight And The Chinese". Retrieved 2007-04-22.
  27. ^ http://en.beijing2008.cn/culture/ceremonies/n214143744.shtml
  28. ^ Olympics opening ceremony to have 15,000 performers -- The Live Feed
  29. ^ FACTBOX: Fears, foul-ups and triumphs at past Olympic openings
  30. ^ Olympics opening ceremony reviews -- The Live Feed
  31. ^ Olympic opening uses girl's voice, not face
  32. ^ IOC President to meet with world leaders
  33. ^ Knight, Tom. London rap troupe fly flag at Beijing Olympics The Telegraph. 16 June, 2008. Accessed 24 July, 2008.
  34. ^ "National Olympic Committees". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  35. ^ 2008 United States Olympic Team Entered Into XXVIV Olympic Games in Beijing, China, USOC, July 24, 2008
  36. ^ "Asian Americans Going for the Gold in…". AsianWeek. Retrieved on 2008-08-11.
  37. ^ "Dreams carry Natalie Du Toit to Beijing", The Telegraph, May 4, 2008
  38. ^ "Du Toit, who lost leg in scooter accident, will swim in Beijing Games", Reuters, May 3, 2008
  39. ^ "Natalia: Paralympic AND Olympic athlete". Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  40. ^ "Reinstatement in the Olympic Movement", Chinese Olympic Committee, March 27, 2004
  41. ^ "Taiwan clears Games hurdle", The Australian, August 4, 2008
  42. ^ "Taiwanese plan to skirt Olympics flag ban", International Herald Tribune - Asia-Pacific, August 12, 2008
  43. ^ "Robert Meets IOC President". ONOC. 2005-04-02. Retrieved 2006-12-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ a b "Two new National Olympic Committees on board!". International Olympic Committee. 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2007-07-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ "IOC to recognise Kosovo". News24. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  46. ^ "Koreas 'to unify Olympics teams'". BBC. 2006-05-14. Retrieved 2006-12-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  47. ^ "Two Koreas Make Progress in Creation of Unified Team". International Olympic Committee. 2006-09-05. Retrieved 2006-09-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  48. ^ "Iraq banned from Summer Olympics". CNN. 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
  49. ^ "Iraq banned from Beijing Olympics". BBC Sport. 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
  50. ^ IOC lifts Iraq's Olympic suspension
  51. ^ "Brunei Darussalam excluded from Beijing Olympic Games". Xinhua. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  52. ^ Brunei excluded from Beijing Games
  53. ^ [1]
  54. ^ [2]
  55. ^ [3]
  56. ^ The fencing programme will again include all six individual events and four team events, though the team events will be a different set than were held in 2004. The International Fencing Federation's rules call for events not held in the previous Games to receive automatic selection and for at least one team event in each weapon to be held. Voting is conducted to determine the fourth event. In 2004, the three men's team events and the women's épée were held. Thus, in 2008, the women's foil and sabre events and men's épée were automatically selected. Men's sabre was chosen over foil by a 45–20 vote.
  57. ^ "List of decisions of the 2006 General Assembly" (PDF) (pdf). Federation Internationale d'Escrime. 2006-04-08. Retrieved 2007-04-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  58. ^ "Beijing 2008: Games Programme Finalised". International Olympic Committee. 2006-04-27. Retrieved 2006-05-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  59. ^ Programme of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, Beijing 2008, International Olympic Committee. Retrieved on May 15, 2006.
  60. ^ "Pictograms of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games unveiled". BOCOG. 2006-08-07. Retrieved 2006-08-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  61. ^ "Olympic Games Competition Schedule". BOCOG. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  62. ^ Two Concerns for Olympics - Air and Access - NYTimes.com
  63. ^ "Protestors Rally in Europe on Eve of China Olympics". Deutsche Welle. 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  64. ^ "China's un-Olympic human rights record". Calgary Herald. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-09. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  65. ^ "Canadian protests over China's human-rights record continue prior to Games". Haaretz. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  66. ^ "Ji Xinpeng: Beijing welcomes you with its blue sky". China Daily. 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  67. ^ "Beijing failing to clear the air". The Daily Yomiuri. 2008-07-27. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  68. ^ Kosyrev, Dmitry (2008-08-06). "Beijing Olympics as a diplomatic convention". RIA Novosti. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  69. ^ Newman, Saul. "Why Grandpa boycotted the Olympics". Haaretz. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  70. ^ Interpol says Olympic terror attack 'real possibility'. The Globe and Mail. Accessed: April 25, 2008
  71. ^ Interpol chief warns of Olympic terror threat. Yahoo! Eurosport UK. Accessed: August 8, 2008
  72. ^ O'Sullivan, Mike (2008-08-10). "Bush Olympic Visit Highlights Religion in China". Voice of America.
  73. ^ Seattle Times article
  74. ^ AFP: China plans to spy on Olympic hotel guests: US senator
  75. ^ Sen. Brownback says China monitoring Internet access in hotels - Los Angeles Times
  76. ^ The Associated Press: Senator: China spying on Internet use in hotels
  77. ^ Fan, Maureen (2008-02-20). "China Defends Relocation Policy". The Washington Post. The Washington Post Company. Retrieved 2008-08-09. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  78. ^ "Chinese rights activist Zeng Jinyan disappears" International Herald Tribune, August 9, 2008
  79. ^ "Blogger put in prison for criticizing the Olympic Games" The Observers by France, August 15, 2008
  80. ^ "Zeng Jinyan - The TIME 100," TIME Magazine, May 14, 2007
  81. ^ "British fraud ran Beijing ticket scam". theage.com.au. 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
  82. ^ "Protest attempt at Olympic event". BBC News. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  83. ^ "China 'is fuelling war in Darfur'". BBC News. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
  84. ^ "4 Winds Allows Olympic Testimonies Underground -- China is Hypocritical in Treatment of Christians on the Streets". Christian Newswire (Press release). 2008-08-06. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  85. ^ Colson, Chuck (2008-08-03). "Bush, China, and the Olympics". The Christian Post. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  86. ^ Qin Yue & Li Mingcai (2008-08-07). "Beijing Intensifies Suppression of House Churches Ahead of Olympics". Sound of Hope Radio. Epoch Times. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  87. ^ "Chinese bishop explains reasons for participating in Olympic opening ceremonies". Catholic News Agency. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
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