2008 Summer Olympics

De **2008 Summer Olympics** (Chinese: 2008年夏季奥运会; pinyin: *Èr Líng Líng Bā Nián Xiàjì Àoyùnhuì*), officially de **Games of the XXIX Olympiad** (Chinese: 第二十九届夏季奥林匹克运动会; pinyin: *Dì Èrshíjiǔ Jiè Xiàjì Àolínpǐkè Yùndònghuì*)  wey dem officially brand am as **Beijing 2008** (Chinese: 北京2008; pinyin: *Běijīng èr líng líng bā*), na ebe international multisport event dem hold from 8 to 24 August 2008, insyd Beijing, China. Total of 10,942 athletes wey komot 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) compete insyd 28 sports den 302 events, one event more dan those dem schedule give de 2004 Summer Olympics. Na dis be de first time China host de Olympic Games, den de third time dem hold de Summer Olympic Games insyd East Asia, dey follow de 1964 Olympics insyd Tokyo, Japan, den de 1988 Olympics insyd Seoul, South Korea. Na dese sanso be de second Summer Olympic Games make dem hold insyd communist state, de first be de 1980 Summer Olympics insyd de Soviet Union (plus venues insyd Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, den Estonia).

Na dem award Beijing de 2008 Games over four competitors for 13 July 2001, dem win majority of votes from members of de International Olympic Committee (IOC) after two rounds of voting. De Government of de People's Republic of China promote de 2008 Games wey e invest heavily insyd fresh facilities den transport systems. Na dem use 37 venues make dem host de events, wey dey include twelve dem construct specifically give de 2008 Games. Na dem hold de equestrian events insyd Hong Kong, dey make dese de third Olympics for wich na dem hold de events under de jurisdiction of two different NOCs.Na dem contest de sailing events insyd Qingdao, while de football events take place across chaw different cities.

De official logo give de 2008 Games, dem title "Dancing Beijing" (舞动北京), Guo Chunning wey create am (郭春宁), dem feature de Chinese character give *capital* (京, dem stylize into de shape of human being) for reference to de host city. Na 3.5 billion people worldwide watch de 2008 Olympics, wey e feature de longest distance give Olympic Torch relay. De 2008 Games sanso set chaw world den Olympic records, wey na ebe de most expensive Summer Olympics of all time, den de second most expensive overall, after de 2014 Winter Games insyd Sochi. Na de opening ceremony be lauded by spectators den chaw international presses as spectacular, spellbinding, den by chaw accounts, "the greatest ever in the history of Olympics". Beijing host de 2022 Winter Olympics, wey make am de first city ever make e host both de Summer den Winter Games.

Unprecedented 87 countries win at least one medal during de 2008 Games. Host nation China win de most gold medals (48), wey e cam turn de seventh different team make e top overall Summer Olympics medal tally, dey win total of 100 medals overall. De United States place second insyd de gold medal tally buh dem win de highest number of medals overall (112). Na Russia achieve de third place insyd de gold medal tally.

Dis Olympic Games mark de return of de Summer Olympic Games to Asia after de 1988 Olympics insyd South Korea. Na ebe de first Olympics give Serbia as separate state since 1912 den de first give Montenegro, as dem separate from Serbia insyd 2006. Na e sanso be de first Olympics give Nepal as republic, de Marshall Islands den Tuvalu. Mongolia den Panama each win dema first Olympic gold medal. For addition, Afghanistan, Mauritius, Serbia, Sudan, Tajikistan den Togo win dema first Olympic medals for dese Games. North Korea, dem symbolically march plus South Korea as one team for de opening ceremonies of de preceding three Games wey na e enter (2000 insyd Sydney, 2004 insyd Athens, den 2006 insyd Turin), dem parade separately dis time.

## Organization

### Bid
Under de direction of Liu Qi, na dem elect Beijing as de host city give de 2008 Summer Olympics for 13 July 2001, during de 112th IOC Session insyd Moscow, dem defeat bids from Toronto, Paris, Istanbul, den Osaka. Prior to de session, na five oda cities (Bangkok, Cairo, Havana, Kuala Lumpur, den Seville) submit bids to de IOC, buh dem fail make dem make de short list dem choose by de IOC Executive Committee insyd 2000. After de first round of voting, Beijing hold significant lead over de oda four candidates. Osaka receive six votes per wey n dem eliminate am. Insyd de second round, na majority of voters support Beijing, wey eliminate de need for subsequent rounds. Na Toronto ein bid be ein fifth failure since 1960 (fail bids for 1960, 1964, 1976 den 1996 Games, wey e loose to Rome, Tokyo, Montreal den Atlanta).

Na members of de IOC no disclose dema votes, buh news reports speculate say broad international support lead to China ein selection, especially from developing nations wey na receive assistance from China make dem construct stadiums. De size of China, ein increased enforcement of doping controls, den sympathy wey dey concern ein loss of de 2000 Summer Olympics to Sydney na all be factors insyd de decision. Eight years earlier, na Beijing lead every round of voting give de 2000 Summer Olympics before dem loose to Sydney by two votes insyd de final round.

Na de delegates consider human rights concerns express by Amnesty International den politicians insyd both Europe den North America, according to IOC Executive Director François Carrard. Carrard den odas suggest say de selection fi lead to improvements insyd human rights for China insyd. For addition, chaw IOC delegates wey na dem formerly be athletes express concern about heat den air quality during de Games, dey consider de high levels of air pollution insyd Beijing. China outline plans make dem address dese environmental concerns insyd ein bid application.

### Costs

For 6 March 2009, de Beijing Organizing Committee for de Olympic Games report say na total spending give de Games be "generally as much as that of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games", wich na ebe equivalent to about US$15 billion. Dem go on make dem claim say surplus revenues from de Games go exceed de original target of $16 million. Oda reports, however, estimate de total costs from $40 to $44 billion, wich go make de Games "far and away the most expensive ever". Na ein budget later exceed by de 2014 Winter Olympics insyd Sochi, wich suffer from major cost overruns; de 2014 Winter Olympics cost roughly US$50 billion insyd public funding. De *Oxford Olympics Study 2016* dey estimate de outturn cost of de Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics for US$6.8 billion insyd 2015-dollars. Dis dey include sports-related costs per, such as those dem incur by de organizing committee anaa those dem incur by de host city, country, den private investors make dem build structures dem require make dem host de Games. Indirect capital costs—those wey no directly relate to staging tde Games—dem no include. De Beijing Olympics ein cost of US$6.8 billion dey compare plus costs of US$4.6 billion for Rio 2016 den US$15 billion for London 2012.

### Venues
By May 2007 na dem begin de construction of all 31 Beijing-based Olympic Games venues. De Chinese government renovate den construct six venues outsyd Beijing, wey dem construct 59 training facilities. Na de largest structures dem build be de Beijing National Stadium, Beijing National Indoor Stadium, Beijing National Aquatics Center, Peking University Gymnasium, Olympic Green Convention Center, Olympic Green, den Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center. Na dem fund almost 85% of de construction budget for de six main venues by $2.1 billion (RMB¥17.4 billion) insyd corporate bids den tenders. Na dem expect investments from corporations wey dey seek ownership rights after de Olympics. Na dem hold sam events outsyd Beijing, namely football insyd Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, den Tianjin; sailing insyd Qingdao; den, secof de "uncertainties of equine diseases and major difficulties in establishing a disease-free zone", na dem hold de equestrian events insyd Hong Kong. Na dem build sam stadiums for de former site of hutong neighbourhoods, wey dey include Qianmen Subdistrict.

Na de showpiece of de 2008 Summer Olympics be de Beijing National Stadium, dem nickname am "The Bird's Nest" secof ein nest-like skeletal structure. De stadium host both de opening den closing ceremonies, as well as de athletics competition. Construction of de venue begin for 24 December 2003. Na dem originally plan, construct, den plete Guangdong Olympic Stadium insyd 2001 make dem help host de Games, buh na dem make decision make dem construct fresh stadium insyd Beijing. Insyd 2001, de city hold bidding process make e select de best arena design. Na dem require several criteria of each design, wey dey include flexibility for post-Olympics use, retractable roof, den low maintenance costs. Dem narrow de entry list to thirteen final designs. De bird ein nest model dem submit by architects Jacques Herzog den Pierre de Meuron in collaboration plus Li Xinggang of China Architecture Design and Research Group (CADG) na dem select dem as de top design by both professional panel den by broader audience during public exhibition. De selection of de design cam turn official insyd April 2003. Na construction of de stadium be joint venture among de original designers, project architect Stefan Marbach, artist Ai Weiwei, den group of CADG architects lead by Li Xinggang. Na dem fund ein $423 million cost by de state-owned corporate conglomerate CITIC den de Beijing State-Owned Assets Management Company.

### Transport

Make e prepare for Olympic visitors, na dem expand Beijing ein transportation infrastructure. Beijing ein airport undergo major renovation plus de addition of de fresh Terminal 3, design by architect Norman Foster. Within de city einself, na dem double Beijing ein subway for capacity den length insyd, plus de addition of seven lines den 80 stations to de previously four lines den 64 stations wey dey exist. Na dem include insyd dis expansion be fresh link wey dey connect to de city ein airport. Fleet of thousands of buses, minibuses, den official cars transport spectators, athletes, den officials between venues.

For effort make dem improve air quality, de city place restrictions for construction sites den gas stations top wey dem limit de use of commercial den passenger vehicles insyd Beijing. From 20 July thru 20 September, na dem place restrictions for passenger vehicle restrictions for alternative days wey dey depend for de terminal digit of de car ein license plate top. Na dem anticipate say dis measure go take 45% of Beijing ein 3.3 million cars off de streets. Na dem expect de boosted public transport network make e absorb de demand dem create by dese restrictions den de influx of visitors, wich na dem estimate for more dan 4 million additional passengers per day.

### Marketing

Na dem know de 2008 Summer Olympics emblem as Dancing Beijing. De emblem combine traditional Chinese red seal den representation of de calligraphic character give "capital" (, sanso be de second character of Beijing ein Chinese name) plus athletic features. De open arms of de calligraphic word symbolize de invitation from China to de world make dem share for ein culture insyd. Na IOC presido Jacques Rogge rather be pleased plus de emblem, wey dey say, *"Your new emblem immediately conveys the awesome beauty and power of China which are embodied in your heritage and your people.*"

Na de official motto for de 2008 Olympics be "*One World, One Dream*" (同一个世界 同一个梦想). E call upon de whole world make dem join insyd de Olympic spirit den build better future give humanity, wey na dem choose am from over 210,000 entries dem submit from around de world. Dey follow de announcement of de motto, na dem use de phrase by international advocates of Tibetan secession. Na banners dem unfurl dey read "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet" from various structures around de globe insyd de lead up to de Beijing Olympics, such as from de San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge den de Sydney Opera House insyd Australia.

Na de mascots of Beijing 2008 be de five Fuwa, each of wich represent both color of de Olympic rings den symbol of Chinese culture. Insyd 2006, de Beijing Organizing Committee for de Olympic Games release pictograms of 35 Olympic disciplines (however, for sam multidiscipline sports such as cycling, na dem release single pictogram). Na dem name dis set of sport icons *the beauty of seal characters*, secof each pictogram ein likeness to Chinese seal script.

### Mascots
Na de mascots of de 2008 Summer Olympics be de Fuwa, Han Meilin (韩美林) create am. De mascots consist of Beibei, fish, Jingjing, panda, Huanhuan, Olympic flame, Yingying, Tibetan antelope, den Nini, sand martin kite. Wen dem combine dema Chinese characters, dem form 北京欢迎你, anaa "Beijing Welcomes You". Year before de Games insyd 2007, na dem release de 100-episode The Olympic Adventures of Fuwa wey dey feature de mascots.

### Media coverage
Na de 2008 Games be de first make dem produce den broadcast entirely insyd high definition by de host broadcaster. For comparison, American broadcaster NBC broadcast half per of de Turin 2006 Winter Olympics insyd HD. For dema bid for de Olympic Games insyd 2001, Beijing state to de Olympic Evaluation Commission say der go be "no restrictions on media reporting and movement of journalists up to and including the Olympic Games." However, some media outlets claim say organizers ultimately fail make dem live up to dis commitment.

According to Nielsen Media Research, 4.7 billion viewers worldwide tune insyd sam of de television coverage, one-fifth larger dan de 3.9 billion wey watch de 2004 Olympic Games insyd Athens.  American broadcaster NBC produce two hours per of online streaming video give de 2006 Winter Games buh e produce approximately 2,200 hours of coverage give de 2008 Summer Games. CNN report say, for de first time, "live online video rights in some markets for the Olympics have been separately negotiated, not part of the overall 'broadcast rights.'" Na dem say de fresh media of de digital economy dey grow "nine times faster than the rest of the advertising market."

De international European Broadcasting Union (EBU) provide live coverage den highlights of all arenas per give certain territories for dema website top, Eurovisionsports.tv. Chaw national broadcasters likewise restrict de viewing of online events to dema domestic audiences. De General National Copyright Administration of China announce say "individual (*sic*) and websites will face fines as high as 100,000 yuan for uploading recordings of Olympic Games video to the internet", part of extensive campaign make dem protect de pertinent intellectual property rights. De Olympic Committee sanso set up separate YouTube channel for Beijing 2008.

### Theme song
Na de theme song of de 2008 Summer Olympics be "You and Me", wich na ebe compose by Chen Qigang, de musical director of de opening ceremony. Na dem perform am during de opening ceremony by Chinese singer Liu Huan den British singer Sarah Brightman. Na de theme song originally for be song dem bell "So much love, so far away (Tanto amor, tan lejos)" Cuban singer-songwriter Jon Secada den Peruvian singer-songwriter Gian Marco wrep am under production from Cuban producer Emilio Estefan Jr. from EMI.

## Torch relay

Na de design of de 2008 Olympic Torch dey base for traditional scrolls top wey dem use traditional Chinese design dem know as de "Propitious Clouds" (祥云). Na dem design de torch make e remain lit insyd 65 km/h (40 mph) winds, den insyd rain of up to 50 mm (2 in) per hour.

Na dem meet de relay, plus de theme "Journey of Harmony", plus protests den demonstrations by pro-Tibet supporters thru out ein journey. E last 130 days wey dem carry de torch 137,000 km (85,000 mi)—de longest distance of any Olympic torch relay since de tradition begin for de 1936 Berlin Games. Na dem describe de torch relay as "public relations disaster" give China by *USA Today*, plus protests against China ein human rights record, particularly dem focus for Tibet top. De IOC subsequently bar future Olympics organizers from make dem stage international torch relays.

De relay begin 24 March 2008, insyd Olympia, Greece. From der, e travel across Greece to Panathinaiko Stadium insyd Athens, den then to Beijing, wey e arrive for 31 March. From Beijing, de torch follow route wey dey pass thru every continent except Antarctica. De torch visit cities for de Silk Road top, wey dey symbolize ancient links between China den de rest of de world. Na dem select total of 21,880 torchbearers from around de world by various organizations den entities.

Na de international portion of de relay be problematic. De month-long world tour encounter wide-scale anti-Chinese protests. After trouble insyd London wey dey involve attempts by protesters make dem put out de flame, na dem extinguish de torch insyd Paris de day wey dey follow. Na dem alter de American leg insyd San Francisco for 9 April widout prior warning make dem avoid such disturbances, although na der still be demonstrations along de original route. Na dem delay den simplify de relay after de 2008 Sichuan earthquake hit western China.

Na dem carry de flame to de top of Mount Everest for 108 km (67 mi) long "highway" wey dey scale de Tibetan side of de mountain, dem build especially give de relay. De $19.7 million blacktop project span from Tingri County of Xigazê Prefecture to de Everest Base Camp. Insyd March 2008, China ban mountaineers from make dem dey climb ein side of Mount Everest, den later dem persuade de Nepalese government make dem close dema side as well, officially dey cite environmental concerns. E sanso reflect concerns by de Chinese government sat Tibet activists fi try make dem disrupt ein plans make dem carry de Olympic torch up de world ein tallest peak.

De route dem originally propose na e go fi take de torch thru Taipei after dem lef Vietnam den before dem head for Hong Kong. However, de government of Taiwan (then lead by de independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party) object to dis proposal, wey dem claim say dis route go make de portion of de relay insyd Taiwan make e appear to be part of de torch ein domestic journey thru China, rather dan a leg for de international route top. Dis dispute, as well as Chinese dey demand say make dem ban de flag den de national anthem of de Republic of China along de route wey lead de government of Taiwan make e reject de proposal say e be part of de relay route. De two sides of de Taiwan Strait subsequently blame each oda for injecting politics into de event.

## De Games

### National Olympic Committees wey dey participate

All buh one of de 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) dem recognize wey exist as of 2008 participate insyd de 2008 Summer Olympics, de exception be Brunei. Three countries participate insyd de Olympic Games for dema first time: de Marshall Islands, Montenegro den Tuvalu.

While e no be full member dem recognize by de IOC den thus dem no allow make e compete formally insyd de Olympics, de Macau Sports and Olympic Committee send delegation make dem participate insyd de Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008, ebe de unrecognized National Olympic Committee per wey na e take part insyd de 2008 Summer Olympics. E sanso coordinate efforts plus de Chinese Olympic Committee make e organize de torch relay thru Macau.

De Marshall Islands den Tuvalu gain National Olympic Committee status insyd 2006 den 2007 respectively, wey na 2008 be de first Games for wich dem be eligible make dem participate. De states of Serbia den Montenegro, wich participate for de 2004 Games jointly as Serbia and Montenegro, compete separately for de first time since Serbia last participate insyd 1912. Montenegro make ein debut appearance, as na dem accept de Montenegrin Olympic Committee as fresh National Olympic Committee insyd 2007. Neighboring Kosovo, however, no participate. After de declaration of independence insyd Kosovo, de IOC specify requirements wey Kosovo dey hia make dem meet before dem go recognize am by de IOC; most notably, e for be recognize as independent by de United Nations. However, dem since recognize am by de IOC insyd 2014 widout e fulfil dese criteria wey e make ein debut insyd de 2016 games.

More dan 100 sovereigns, heads of state den heads of government as well as 170 Ministers of Sport attend de Beijing Olympic Games.

### Number of athletes by National Olympic Committees

### Sports

### '''Calendar'''
:*All dates be Beijing Time (UTC+8)*

## Medal table
Of de 204 nations wey participate insyd de 2008 Games, 87 earn medals wey 54 of those win at least one gold medal, both of dese figures dey set fresh records give Olympic Games. Na der be 117 countries wey dey participate wey no win any medals. Athletes wey komot China win de highest number of gold medals of any nation for dese Games, plus 48, thus dey make China de seventh nation make e rank top insyd de medal table insyd de history of de modern Olympics, along plus de United States (fifteen times), France (insyd 1900), Great Britain (insyd 1908), Germany (insyd 1936), de Soviet Union (six times), den de Unified Team (insyd 1992).

De United States team win de most medals overall, plus 112. Afghanistan, Mauritius, Sudan, Tajikistan den Togo win dema first Olympic medals. Mongolia (wich previously hold de record for most medals widout a gold) den Panama win dema first gold medals. Four members of de water polo team wey komot Serbia win de first medal give dema country under ein fresh name, dem previously win medals dey represent Yugoslavia den Serbia and Montenegro.

American swimmer Michael Phelps win total of eight gold medals, more dan any oda athlete insyd single Olympic Games, dey set chaw world den Olympic records for de process insyd. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt sanso set records insyd several different events, dey plete de 100m final plus time of 9.69 seconds, dey beat ein own previous world record. Gymnast Nastia Liukin win de all-around gold medal insyd artistic gymnastics, wey she cam turn de third American female make she do so, dey follow de footsteps of Mary Lou Retton insyd 1984 den Carly Patterson insyd 2004.

Dese be de top ten nations wey win medals insyd de 2008 Games

 ‡   Changes insyd medal standings

 *   Host nation (China)

### Podium sweeps

## References


## External links
**2008 Summer Olympics** for Wikipedia ein sisto projects

*  from Commons
*  from Wikidata

Wikivoyage get travel guide give ******.

Scholia get *topic* profile give ******.

* "Beijing 2008". *Olympics.com*. International Olympic Committee.
* "2008 Summer Olympics Official Site". Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
* Beijing Olympic Sites Four Years Later – What Remains at Modern Day Ruins
* Mallon, Bill (18 January 2019). "ALL OLYMPIC DOPING POSITIVES – THE COUNT BY GAMES". *OlympStats*.