The Olympic 2008 Torch-Burns Bright

The Beijing Olympic 2008 Torch has strong Chinese characteristics and displays Chinese designs. This torch is symbolic of the concepts of Green Olympics, High-tech Olympics and the People’s Olympics.

It can stay aflame for a long duration. It has been designed in such a way that it can withstand severe weather conditions like strong winds, rain, snow. The flame can be photographed in sunshine and areas of extreme brightness.

The fuel used in torch is propane which is a common fuel and also does not cost much. The fuel is environment friendly and the material of its form is recyclable.

The Olympics 2008 torch is made of aluminium, has a height of 72centimeters and weighs 985 grams. It is curved in form and during its production was even etched and anodized.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic torch has been, researched, designed and produced in China and has been done very beautifully. The shape, color and design express the idea of harmony and togetherness.

Media and Olympics-Holding Hands

2008 Beijing Olympics is the most talked about event of the season. The 2008 Olympics owe this popularity to the media coverage it’s getting. Media has always been an integral part of the Olympics. Media has helped Olympics reach each and every household.

There are short promotional films made for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Five directors from various parts of the globe got together to participate in a project called “Vision Beijing”. They all made a short film each about Beijing and its people preparing for the Summer Olympics 2008.

These short films talk about the participating nations, the events to be held and the Beijing makeover. The construction of the beautiful stadium and other places all get a place in these films. Each and every person in China knows all about the happening of the Olympics 2008.

Media was given official approval to cover the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay which in turn helped in the publicity of the relay. Media has got the permission to cover the torch relay of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in other countries too.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Slogan

The theme slogan of the 2008 Beijing Olympics is “One World One Dream”. The slogan expresses the soul and the values of the Olympic spirit which are- Unity, Harmony, Friendship and Progress.

China believes that though there is a difference in color, race and language but everyone has the same world as their home and shares the same dreams.

Since the ancient times the philosophies and ideals of the Chinese is, “Harmony of Man with Nature” and “Peace Enjoys Priority”. They have been in pursuit of harmony between man and nature and harmony among people.

The slogan of the Beijing Games, “One World, One Dream” is very reflective in meaning. It conveys the ideals of the people in China to believe in the world as one unit and to create a future together with everyone across the globe.

The slogan gives a voice to the aspirations of 1.3 billion Chinese people to be a part of establishing a peaceful and bright world. The slogan of the 2008 Beijing Olympics is simple, meaningful, inspiring, and easy to remember.

Water Cube- Swimming pool for the Olympics

After the Bird’s Nest Beijing has added another feather to its cap by building a Water Cube. The water Cube is an aquatic center where all the water related events like swimming, diving and synchronized swimming will take place. It is built right next to the Beijing National Stadium in the Olympic Green.

The Water Cube also known as the Beijing National Aquatics Center built by CSCES (China State Construction Engineering Corporation) has a very unique design and technology.

It has a membrane exterior made from ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluorethylene- a kind of plastic designed to have high corrosion resistance and can handle wide range in temperature) cushions which allow the light to enter the arena. The solar energy on the building helps create green house effect which in turn keeps the building and the pool warm and reduces energy costs by 30%.

The most interesting fact is that water used in the pool will not be wasted by running it into wastewater network as most of it will be recycled. The water will run through the filtration system before being put in the pool again. This has its environmental benefits.

Olympics Ceremonies- The Opening

134 days left for the 2008 Beijing Olympics to take off. On 8th August 2008 in Beijing in the National Stadium the Olympics will commence with the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony consists of traditional elements and artistic display of dance and theatre which represent the host nation.
The first event to take place is the hoisting of the host nation’s flag and presentation of its national anthem. After that the participating nations walk into the stadium for the “parade of the nations” with their participating athletes. One top contestant from every country carries the flag of the country and leads it.

Usually, Greece marches in first as it was here that Olympics originated, and the nation playing host that is Beijing would march in last. All the other nations would march between the two nations that is Greece and Beijing.

The President of the host nation then makes a speech and declares the Olympic Games open. The 2008 Beijing Olympics flag is brought into the stadium horizontally and is hoisted as the national anthem is played.

The Olympic torch lit in Olympia is then brought into the stadium by an athlete of the host nation. The athlete then carries the torch to the stadium cauldron and lights the fire there after which doves are released in the sky.

Bird’s Nest-Beijing’s National Stadium

The Bird’s Nest is the name of the Beijing National Stadium. It has been given this name due to its shape which looks like a birds nest. Located at the Olympic Green in Beijing it is believed to be the world’s largest enclosed space.

After winning a design competition held in Beijing in 2002 the Swiss architectural firm of Herzog & Meuron in alliance with Chinese artists and designers gave a form to this stadium. The stadium is built with huge steel beams which support each other and are interwoven together.

It looks like a birds nest with interwoven twigs, so the name. The stadium is not covered from the top to allow fresh air and the sight of the blue sky. Restaurants, shops, suites, restrooms-you name it and it is all there in the stadium.

The ‘Bird’s Nest’ can hold 100,000 spectators during the 2008 Beijing Olympics . But the capacity will be reduced to 80,000 after the games. It is 330 metes long and 220 meters wide with a height of 69.2 meters.

The stadium will play host to the opening and closing ceremonies and to the athletics and football events. This stadium is a historic landmark on the map of Beijing.

Olympic torch on its way- Beijing Waits

The Olympic torch was lit on 24th March 2008 in front of the Temple of Hera, on the grounds of Olympia, where the Ancient Olympic games took place. The flame was lit in the traditional way which is by using the sun’s ray and a parabolic mirror. It was lit by a Holy Priestess.

The priestess handed over the torch to the first runner of the Beijing Torch Relay at the Ancient Olympic Stadium. The torch bearer ran past the tomb of Pierre de Coubertin. It is in this tomb where his heart is buried. The torch will stop in twenty-one countries and pass five continents.

It will reach Beijing, China where it is being waited with a lot of enthusiasm. It will enter the Opening Ceremony where the Olympic Cauldron will be lit in the Olympic Stadium in Beijing. This event will take place on 8 August, 2008.

Jacques Rogge, the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said during the ceremony, “The torch is the link between all athletes and citizens of this world; between all of us who believe in Olympism and the virtue of sport. It has the force to unite humanity and to stand for harmony."

It is rightly said. The 2008 beijing olympics event has the might to spread harmony, oneness and sportsmanship around the globe.

2008 Olympic Games impact—1917 Chinese have adopted Fuwa as name

Those who say what’s there in name needs to give a second thought as Chinese people have started keeping names after Olympic Games and Fuwa—the 2008 Beijing Olympics mascot.

According to a recent news, 1917 Chinese people have adopted “Fuwa” as their names and 3500 have kept their names as “Aoyun”—a English word that means Olympic Games.

What can this be termed? Weird fixation or a nice way of celebrating a momentous event?

I prefer it calling the best way to commemorate such moments that hold great significance to ones life.

That’s exactly what hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games means to all the Chinese residents—an event of great pride and significance.

The number of people with names related with Olympic Games is just believed to be spiral-up as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games come close.

What you say guys? Are u gonna adopt names related with 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Good news: Beijing’s pollution levels dipping remarkably

This news is even soothing for me coz I am a patient of asthma and I was wondering whether should I proceed with my planned trip to Beijing Olympic games? But now after reading the news that China had spent a whooping $17 billion for cleaning the prevalent air pollution of Beijing city, I have decided that I will proceed as per my plan.

We all knew that China had lot of pressure from the rest of the world to clean up the air and atmosphere of Beijing and that it was trying everything it could to make the city air breathable.

And as per the story that I read on Bloomberg, China is getting results in its attempt to clean Beijing’s air. According to that story, Beijing last year had 246 days of blue sky compare to 100 days of blue sky in 1998.

Man, I say its damn good news—a healthy sign that all athletes and spectators like me will be happy about.

How to buy Beijing Olympic Games tickets?

I am sure this is one question that will top everyone’s agenda who wish to travel all the way to Beijing to witness the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. And more so, since I know with how much difficulty I manage to grab a Beijing Olympic Games tickets. Therefore, I know there will be lots of guys like me out there looking and enquiring for Beijing Games tickets and though this piece I though I will provide them some help.

Do’s and Don’ts for buying 2008 summer Games tickets

1. Don’t log on to Beijing Olympic Games’ official site for buying Olympic tickets. That’s only for Chinese people.

2. People who are not from china should contact the Olympic association of their respective countries. They are authorized to sell Olympic Games tickets. In case, they don’t sell then they might have appointed some sports tickets agents to sell Beijing Olympic Games tickets on their behalf.


3. Don’t blindly rush to all the online sports tickets agents to buy Beijing Games tickets. Heard lots of tales of people being duped.

4. Approach these online sports tickets agents as your last option if you nation’s Olympic Association is not able to provide u tickets; but before that too make sure you verify the credibility of such tickets agents.

5. Here, I am providing urls that will benefit all the people of the world in buying Beijing Olympic Games tickets. You can blindly rely on them - http://www.sportsofworld.com/tickets/olympic_games/

29th Summer Olympics

The 29th Summer Olympics will be held at Beijing –The National Capital of China. The 2008 Beijing Olympics begins on October 8th 2008 and culminates on October 24th 2008.Over 10,500 athletes from 214 countries of the world will be competing among themselves for the top spot in various sporting disciplines of Olympic Movement. In all there will be 37 Olympic Sports ( Disciplines at this years Olympics.

The 47 track and field events will again put Athletics as the number one Olympic discipline . Swimming with 34 events will be the second top discipline of 2008 Beijing Olympics .To cater to this greatest sport extravaganza China is getting ready with numerous high tech stadiums .Some of the stadiums where the 37 Olympic Sports will be held are : National Stadium the (Opening Ceremony ,Closing Ceremony ,Athletics and Football), National Aquatics Center (Swimming, Diving, Synchronized Swimming), National Indoor Stadium (Artistic Gymnastics, Trampoline, Handball), Laoshan Velodrome (cycling), Beijing Shooting Range Hall ( Shooting). Incidentally The 95,000 capacity . National Stadium will be the main stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics .

The Mascot and the Emblem for this years Summer Olympics are five Fuwa ( Good fortune dolls) and Dancing Beijing.

Athletes shouldn't wear smog-masks during 2008 Beijing Olympics

Whether athletes should wear smog-masks during the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics or not is one of the raging issues that everyone is talking aboutthese days? Anyone who is following the 2008 Beijing Olympics developments know that the level of air pollution in Beijing is so high that they can'teven see the clear blue sky; and if reports are to believed, then, itstough to even breathe and many people have had respiratory complicationsduring their stay there.

Considering that, almost all the nations who will be sending theirathletes for the 2008 Beijing Olympics have started giving special kind oftrainings to their athletes to make them acclimatize with that pollutedweather of Beijing.

I even read in NYT that there are some US athletes who were consideringrunning after buses that emit lots of toxic smoke to make themselvesacquaint with the weather that they will be facing during 2008 BeijingOlympics. Then, many athletes said they will use masks and they all saidon a personnel level but now AFP carried a news stating that the British Olympic Association will give permission to use smog masks to their athletes.

I am personally against this move by the BOA for allowing their athletesto wear smog masks during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Not only, I, who isagainst this; there are many star athletes too who have spoken againstsuch moves as it will be a major embarrassment for the host nation. Ibelieve in that.

See, every nation and every city has its own problems but that doesn'tmean that we are gonna stop visiting that place or should we startslamming the governments of that places.

Fine to an extent critising those governments is fine but at the same timewe need to see how serious is the government about improving theprevailing conditions. We if its serious then instead of slamming them weshould support them and the same we can do with the Chinese government byactively participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympics that to withoutwearing smog-masks or should I say "snub-masks" as we all know howserious is Chinese people in bring down the pollution levels.

Spielberg shouldn't have quit from 2008 Beijing Olympics panel

I strongly feel that the ace Hollywood director has not done the right thing by quitting from his post of artistic advisor for the 2008 BeijingOlympics just to air his discontent with China's policy in Sudan.

Tell me ,Mr. Spielberg honestly "Is there any super power country which is not using other smaller nations for their own benefit?". You don't have lookto farther-US the nation where you reside and make your classic movies is one such example. Have you ever given a thought on US's foreign policies?You just need to think about that first. How can you forget that what theydid to Vietnam, former Russia and Iraq.

You never said that you will stop making your movies from US etc. why?What they have done to these countries is worse than what China is doingby being a mute spectator in Sudan.It's nice that you are concerned about the welfare of people there but forthat don't use sports events like 2008 Beijing Olympics as a weapon. And Iam strongly against it. You should have helped China in making 2008Beijing Olympics a major success by standing by them.

Don't forget that you are the king of the most potent tool called moviesthat has more impact than what you did by stepping down from the post ofartistic advisory for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.Wat u say guys?

Don't just read my blog,...comment also man!!!!!!!

I know there will lots of guys out there reading my blog on 2008 BeijingOlympics and laughing their heartout thinking about the way our nation is gearing up for this mega event that will be beginning soon. And buddieslook great I mean u feel better when your blog gets response too.. I mean to say comments that could be in favour of views or it could be against it.

But there has to be some sort of communication from all readers elseit gives the impression that I am talking like a lunatic with myselflol...So, how is ur country gearing up for this sporting extravaganza called the2008 Beijing Olympics? And what do u guys think about China's chance ofdisplacing US from the medal table as the number one country in terms ofmedals won?I think this time China is gonna beat US in the medal tally. It is my gutfeeling. Hope to hear from you guys on 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Why India fails to win Olympic medals?

I think it’s the mystery of the century that why India with its one billion population, which is constantly growing, is not able to win medals at Olympics. There are many small, small nations that win more Olympic medals in a single Olympics games than what India has won in all its participation in the Olympic Games.

The upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics is no different. I am sure our ill-treated athletes are gonna come back again empty handed. We shouldn’t blame them for that. It should be the Indian Olympic Association who is to be blamed for our shoddy performances at Olympics.

You can get a glimpse of how much our IOA is serious about the 2008 Beijing Olympics by visiting their site. Till few days back, they literally had nothing about the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. And the little info that they had would have made anyone laugh at the silly mistakes they had done.

They had written the spelling of closing as “clocing”, modern pentathlon was written as “modern pentalon”. It seemed they were secretly marketing for “Pantaloon”. And above all for Indian Olympic Association there are just 27 sports that will be there in 2008 Beijing Olympics. Whereas the fact is that there are 28 sports that will be part of 2008 Beijing Olympics and the great Indian Olympic Association which is bestowed with the responsibility of propagating the Olympic Games was doing the other way round. They had missed out sailing sport.

This is a small thing to show how much serious this country is about the Olympics or the 2008 Beijing Olympics that will start in few months from now.

Should asthmatic people visit Beijing for 2008 Beijing Olympics?

I plan to buy tickets for 2008 Beijing Olympics but I am scared now after reading news daily about the air pollution of Beijing. The more I read such news the more I get scary about going head with my plan of being one of the spectators to watch this Beijing Olympic Games?

Is there anyone out there who is stuck up with a similar problem? I need to interact with such people to know how they are gonna make themselves ready for the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics.

I was just going through an article published in New York Times about the way American athletes are preparing themselves for the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics and that scared the hell out of me, man.

You will wonder that whether these American athletes preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games or some war at the Chinese frontiers. After reading the kind of preparation they are putting in to make themselves acclimatize for the Beijing smog, I think I should better drop my plan for the visiting Beijing for this 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In such case, it will be better to be part of the 2008 Beijing Olympics by sitting in the cozy comfort of my drawing room without even being pushed by the maddening crowd of Beijing.

The trauma of buying 2008 Beijing Olympic Games tickets

I just wanna share with you guys my trauma of getting a ticket for the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. You know it was my childhood dream to be part of an Olympic Games as a spectator. During school days, I used to watch each day of the Olympic Games and had nurtured this small dream of witnessing Olympic Games.

Since, now I am working and with 2008 Summer Olympic Games to be held in our neighbor country China, I was confident of making it to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and had this plan of buying an Olympic Games ticket for the 100 m event—my best event since even I was a 100 mt athlete till my college days.

So, with each approaching days for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, my curiosity to get an Olympic Games tickets just increased and I started enquiring about it from my friends, who were totally blanked about it. I was shocked to hear that some friends were totally oblivious of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Then, with news on the craze for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games tickets that had crashed the Beijing games tickets software, my curiosity for that rose further and finally scan most of Beijing Olympic Games sites pages to gather any information about Beijing games tickets.

Luckily, they had enough info on that. It said people from other nation will have to get in touch with their country’s Olympic Committee. So, finally I thought yes now I have got the place from where I can finally book my ticket for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and enthusiastically opened the site of my country’s (India) Olympic site hoping that I will be able to buy tickets in November 2007 and I was flabbergasted to find nothing there.

I couldn’t believe that. And again few days ago, I log on to that same site thinking that with 2008 Beijing Olympic Games just few months away, they would have updated that section; and I will be able to accomplish my childhood dream, but alas, these Indian Olympic official were still found napping.

Can India win medal at 2008 Beijing Olympic Games?

I feel a big “NO”. India will repeat its long history of going to Olympic Games with lots of hope from our hockey team but from the last two occasions the burden of wining an (I write “an” coz a winning a single medal is too much for India) Olympic medal has been shared by our shooters, who do well at World Cups, and our weightlifters, with same credentials, but fail to repeat that feats at the biggest sporting arena called the Olympic Games. And I feel this year’s Beijing Olympic Games will be no different.

Miracles do happen. And like the last Athens Olympic Games when Major Rajvardhan Singh came from nowhere to bag a lone silver medal for India. This time too, if miracle happens then some little known sportsman or sportswoman might do India proud at the 2008 Beijing Olympics . Else, I don’t see any chance of any one from the Indian contingent standing on the podium.

Luckily for the Indian hockey team, with other sportsman occasionally performing well at international meets, expectations from them have been off their shoulders. And what you say guys, I have noticed a strange thing every Olympics—that of the medal expectations from different teams.

Every Olympics, the burden of winning a medal is borne by different teams. During Sydney Olympic Games, it was the weightlifting team, and during the Athens Olympic Games it was the shooters; and in Beijing Olympics Games a lot is expected from the Archery team, especially Dona Banerjee, who was recently crowned the World Champion.

And again, the former world number one pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati have rekindle the hopes of a medal in Beijing Olympics by agreeing to join hands for this Beijing Olympic Games, which will be begin in this August.

But despite all there world class performances from various Indian Sportsman or sportswoman, I don’t know why I have this feeling that they will not be able to repeat their best performances. I know I will be accused of being pessimist to the core, but I feel ,I am simply honest.

Sania Mirza’s absence deeply felt at Fed Cup

With the Indian Fed Cup team losing to Indonesia that to a margin with 1-2, India now desperately wants its star tennis player Sania Mirza to come back and restore some pride by winning some matches for India in the Fed Cup 2008.

In the absence of Sania Mirza who is out with hamstring injury, Shikha Uberoi and Sunitha Rao both who stay in US and play for India couldn’t do much in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group 1 Federation Cup Group 1 Opener match. Shikha, who is the cousin of Vivek Oberoi, somehow manage to win her single match against Ayu Fani 6-4, 6-4 but the poor lass, Sunitha, just couldn’t match her teammate’s level of play and went down cheaply to a player who is far below in ranking.

Sunitha lost her first singles Fed Cup match in three sets. Her score was 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. And then the duo came together to play Fed Cup doubles match for India and alas both these girls who reside in US, a country where all tennis players love to stay to improve their games, again lost to their Indonesian opponents 6-7, 3-6, 6-3.

I find it strange, that Indian Federation Cup team who is lead by these two girls were not able to beat Indonesia, a nation who I never heard making any news in tennis, though they are the powerhouse in badminton.

Had Sania been there then I can tell you scene and scores would have been different. Come on Sania Mirza make a speedy recovery from you injury and help India score some points in the ongoing Fed Cup 2008.

What you says guys this year’s Fed Cup is generating enough interest among tennis fans with some top tennis players representing their countries in the ongoing Fed Cup.

Maria Sharapova adds glamour to the Federation Cup

The announcement that the gorgeous former world number one Maria Sharapova will be part of the Russian team for the 2008 Federation Cup has got more tennis fans like me, who are more interested in men’s tennis or pro tennis, to this team event that I feel comes and goes without a whimper.

If I have started following the 2008 Federation Cup then it’s just because of Sharapova or else I never cared for this tournament which is given a skip by most top tennis players for more lucrative tennis tournaments.

I think what Maria Sharapova has done needs to be applauded. Participation of such world class players for such team event like the Federation Cup just gives a fresh lease of life to such tournaments that are played simply for the honor of a nation.

And then, I have also felt these professional players don’t play with the kind of gutso with which they play professional tour matches. I think even that needs to be changed. All that is possible if the all the professional players take active part in such tournaments.

One of the reasons for the poor show in tournaments like Federation Cup or Davis Cup is the mismatch of contest. A top class player can never play the kind of game he plays with someone who is at the bottom in the rankings. This disparity needs to be changed if the organizers want to get the stadiums packed chock-o-block like any other pro tour tournament gets.

2008 Beijing Olympic Games

I think the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will indeed be the most popular one. I am not saying this just for the sake of making a statement rather if one is following the Beijing Olympic Games news then anyone can say yes it will be the most popular one.

First the fact that China, the fastest growing economy, is hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympics is in itself sufficient to generate lots of interest in the Games. And then, the way China went on to the create state-of-the-art stadiums in Beijing and in other cities are praiseworthy. One has got to see those majestic stadiums that will be hosting the highly anticipated Beijing Olympic Games few months from now.

I know anyone will counter my argument by saying any Olympic Games hosting nation generates that much interest. For example when Greece had organized the 2004 Olympic Games it had got the world talking about it and one of the reason for that was the return of the Olympic Games to Athens where it all started in 1896.

Honestly, with Athens Olympic Games only that was the talking point but with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games things are much different.

Can you imagine with keeping in with their slogan of Green Olympics, China has done everything possible to ensure that there is not much affect on the environment because of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

To ensure that they are using fuel for Beijing Olympic Games torch relay that emits very less amount of toxic and then they even have endangered species in their mascot as a sign of sympathy for that creature. Having endangered species in mascot is one of the ways to spread awareness about it.

And I think it is because of all this and more that there have been such high demands for the Beijing Olympic Games tickets that the software through which they were selling 2008 Beijing Olympic Games tickets crashed. I think I don’t need to give more evidence to say that the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will be most popular one.