The 2008 Beijing Olympics – Let the Games Begin!

July 13, 2001. The International Olympic Committee, after a two round vote in Moscow, awarded Beijing, China to be the host of the 2008 summer Olympic Games. Known as The Games of the XXIX Olympiad, with the opening ceremony commencing at 8:08 pm plus 8 seconds, these contests of skill will mean more than ever before.

The games will be held from August 8 through August 24 in Beijing, Hong Kong, and other Chinese cities. The official logo of the games entitled “Dancing Beijing” displays five Fuwa – characterized mascots representing the five basic elements of Chinese philosophy: Earth, metal, wood, fire, and water. These mascots take their features after the Tibetan antelope, giant panda, swallow, Olympic flame, and fish respectively. They are designed to represent the attributes of health, happiness, good fortune, passion, and prosperity also in respective order.

Thirty-one Beijing based venues had begun construction as of May, 2007 with major funding of 2.1 billion dollars invested by the US. On December 24, 2003, construction began on the centerpiece of the events, The Beijing National Stadium. The product of international architectural firms competing for the accepted design, the stadium that will seat 80,000 is said to resemble a huge bird’s nest with an enormous ocular. Although the design originally included a retractable roof for the evasion of probable rains, the plan was scrapped for reasons of finance and safety. This stadium will serve as home to both opening and closing ceremonies as well as housing athletic events and football (soccer) finals.

The Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee announced in August, 2006 that it will sell seven million tickets to the various events that will make up the games. With regard to Chinese economy, the tickets are said to be very, very cheap to purchase. Authorities in Beijing, on April 10, 2006, enacted over seventy new local laws and decrees in order to rid vagrancy, beggars, and the mentally ill from the gaming areas. These laws will also serve to strengthen boarder control and disallow protests during the games. The Chinese of course have a reputation for strict enforcement of laws to begin with. The government has also taken steps to ensure that police officers clean up their acts by ceasing foul language usage, lessening their arrogance, and being more respectful in general.

Twenty-eight sports represented in 302 events will be engaged at the 2008 games. These are the same as the 2004 games in Athens. On March 25, 2008, in Olympia, Greece, the Olympic torch will begin its journey of 137,000 km (85,100 miles). This relay entitled the “Journey of Harmony” will last 130 days and comprises the longest distance that an Olympic torch has ever been carried. From Olympia, Greece, the torch will proceed to Athens and then to many destinations along the Silk Road – a remembrance of China’s important role in the establishment of international trade routes. Part of the relay will even include an attempt to carry the torch to the top of Mount Everest; the torch itself designed to be able to withstand 65 kilometer per hour winds and substantial rainfall without extinguishing its flame.

The Games of the XXIX Olympiad will certainly be demonstrative of all the glorious legacies that the Olympics have entailed since the first games were held. International competitive tradition such as this is unparalleled on this planet, giving each country a chance to reign supreme in the absence of political or financial power. May the best Olympians be victorious!