Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

The XXIX Olympic Games will be held in Beijing During 8-24 August 2008.The open ceremony will be held at 8 o'clock first day.Some events, like beach volleyball, sailing, and swimming's new marathon 10km events, will be held in the coastal city of Qingdao.

Beijing was elected host city on July 13, 2001, during the 112th IOC Session in Moscow, beating out Toronto, Paris, Istanbul, and Osaka.

The Chinese government intends to invest in the renovation and construction of thirty-six gymnasiums and stadiums as well as fifty-nine training centers. Over 300,000 houses have been demolished and residents relocated thus far in Beijing due to construction in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. Police in Beijing placed many people under arrest for protesting the evictions.

Its largest architectural pieces will be the Beijing National Stadium, National Gymnasium, Olympic Aquatic Park, Convention Center, Olympic Village, and Wukesong Cultural and Sports Center. US $2.1 billion (RMB¥17.4 billion) in corporate bids and tenders are expected to fund almost 85 percent of the construction budget for the six main venues. 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 centerpiece of the 2008 Summer Olympics is the construction of the Beijing National Stadium, which began on December 24, 2003. 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 National Stadium will feature lattice-like concrete skeleton forming the stadium bowl, which will seat 80,000 people. Architects originally described the overall design as resembling a bird's nest with an immense ocular — an opening with retractable roof over the stadium. However, in 2004 the roof part of the design was abandoned for cost and safety reasons. The Beijing National Stadium will be the site of the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony as well as track and field events and soccer finals.

The emblem combines elements of traditional Chinese society — a red seal and a calligraphic word for jing () ("national capital") with athletic features. The open arms of the calligraphic word symbolizes the invitation of China to the world to share in its culture. According to the International Olympic Committee, the emblem is the first of the modern Olympics to use red as the dominant colour, an important colour for the Chinese people throughout its history.

Fuwa consists of five members: Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini. The five mascots incorporate fish, giant panda, fire, Tibetan antelope, and swallow designs respectively, and each also represents one of the five Olympic Rings. When the five names are put together, they form a pun on the phrase (Běijīng huānyíng nǐ) which means "Beijing welcomes you".

Beijing Olympic Opening

The Olympic rings are pictured

The Olympic rings are pictured during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China.

Fireworks go off during the Opening Ceremony

Fireworks go off during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China.

The countdown begins

The countdown begins during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China.

Movable-type printing

A view of the movable-type printing performance seen during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China.

Artists perform

Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China.

Acrobats perform the Bird's Nest

Acrobats perform the Bird's Nest during the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China.

An art performance of the 'Beautiful Olympics'

Photo taken on Aug. 8, 2008 shows the art performance of the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, titled "Beautiful Olympics", in the National Stadium in Beijing, China.

Yao Ming leads members of the Chinese Olympic Delegation

Yao Ming leads and a Sichuan orphan lead members of China's Olympic Delegation into the National Stadium at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 8, 2008.

Slogan

"One World, One Dream." (Simplified Chinese : )

Image & Look

The project of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Image and Look aims at creating unique, complete and consistent visual images for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games through architectural development and integrated application and management of the image elements of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The Olympic image elements are basic elements of the project of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Image and Look, which include the Olympic Symbol, Beijing Olympic Games emblem, its color system, theme slogan, secondary marks, mascots, Olympic Pictogram, core patterns and a set of photographic images. The Olympic Rings and the image elements of the Beijing Olympic Games, whose design has been completed, symbolize the Olympic Spirit and the concepts of this edition of the Olympic Games, and serve as the basis for the creation of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Image and Look. They are the carrier to showcase to the world the culture and tradition, as well as the city images and human spirit of China and Beijing. They constitute significant wealth of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Image elements of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

The Olympic Symbol

The Olympic symbol consists of five interlaced rings of equal dimensions (the Olympic rings), used alone, in one or in five different colours, which are, from left to right, blue, yellow, black, green and red.

The Olympic Emblem

Every emblem of the Olympics tells a story. The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games emblem "Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing" is filled with Beijing's hospitality and hopes, and carries the city's commitment to the world.

The Slogan of the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games

"One World One Dream" fully reflects the essence and the universal values of the Olympic spirit -- Unity, Friendship, Progress, Harmony, Participation and Dream.

Beijing Olympic Cultural Festival Symbol

Environmental Symbol of Beijing Olympics -'Green Olympics'

Volunteers Symbol of Beijing Olympics

The Official Mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace--and blessings from China--to children all over the world.

Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals--the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow--and the Olympic Flame.

Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow.

When you put their names together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.

Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky -- all stylistic rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.

Spreading Traditional Chinese Blessings Wherever They Go

In the ancient culture of China, there is a grand tradition of spreading blessings through signs and symbols. Each of Fuwa symbolizes a different blessing -- and will honor this tradition by carrying their blessings to the children of the world. Prosperity, happiness, passion, health and good luck will be spread to every continent as Fuwa carry their invitation to Beijing 2008 to every part of the globe.

At the heart of their mission -- and through all of their work--Fuwa will seek to unite the world in peace and friendship through the Olympic spirit. Dedicated to helping Beijing 2008 spread its theme of One World, One Dream to every continent, Fuwa reflect the deep desire of the Chinese people to reach out to the world in friendship through the Games -- and to invite every man, woman and child to take part in the great celebration of human solidarity that China will host in the light of the flame in 2008.

Beibei

In China's traditional culture and art, the fish and water designs are symbols of prosperity and harvest. And so Beibei carries the blessing of prosperity. A fish is also a symbol of surplus in Chinese culture, another measure of a good year and a good life.

The ornamental lines of the water-wave designs are taken from well-known Chinese paintings of the past. Among Fuwa, Beibei is known to be gentle and pure. Strong in water sports, she reflects the blue Olympic ring.

Jingjing

Jingjing makes children smile -- and that's why he brings the blessing of happiness wherever he goes. You can see his joy in the charming naivety of his dancing pose and the lovely wave of his black and white fur. As a national treasure and a protected species, pandas are adored by people everywhere. The lotus designs in Jingjing's headdress, which are inspired by the porcelain paintings of the Song Dynasty (A.D.960-1234), symbolize the lush forest and the harmonious relationship between man and nature. Jingjing was chosen to represent our desire to protect nature's gifts--and to preserve the beauty of nature for all generations. Jingjing is charmingly naïve and optimistic. He is an athlete noted for strength who represents the black Olympic ring.

Huanhuan

In the intimate circle of Fuwa, Huanhuan is the big brother. He is a child of fire, symbolizing the Olympic Flame and the passion of sport -- and passion is the blessing he bestows. Huanhuan stands in the center of Fuwa as the core embodiment of the Olympic spirit. And while he inspires all with the passion to run faster, jump higher and be stronger, he is also open and inviting. Wherever the light of Huanhuan shines, the inviting warmth of Beijing 2008 -- and the wishful blessings of the Chinese people -- can be felt. The fiery designs of his head ornament are drawn from the famed Dunhuang murals -- with just a touch of China's traditional lucky designs. Huanhuan is outgoing and enthusiastic. He excels at all the ball games and represents the red Olympic ring.

Yingying

Like all antelopes, Yingying is fast and agile and can swiftly cover great stretches of land as he races across the earth. A symbol of the vastness of China's landscape, the antelope carries the blessing of health, the strength of body that comes from harmony with nature. Yingying's flying pose captures the essence of a species unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, one of the first animals put under protection in China. The selection of the Tibetan Antelope reflects Beijing commitment to a Green Olympics. His head ornament incorporates several decorative styles from the Qinghai-Tibet and Sinkiang cultures and the ethnic design traditions of Western China. Strong in track and field events, Yingying is a quick-witted and agile boy who represents the yellow Olympic ring.

Nini

Every spring and summer, the children of Beijing have flown beautiful kites on the currents of wind that blow through the capital. Among the kite designs, the golden-winged swallow is traditionally one of the most popular. Nini's figure is drawn from this grand tradition of flying designs. Her golden wings symbolize the infinite sky and spread good-luck as a blessing wherever she flies. Swallow is also pronounced "yan" in Chinese, and Yanjing is what Beijing was called as an ancient capital city. Among Fuwa, Nini is as innocent and joyful as a swallow. She is strong in gymnastics and represents the green Olympic ring.

Olympic Dynamics

National Stadium (NST)

• Venue : National Stadium;
• Location : Olympic Green;
• Total land surface (10,000 sq. m.) : 25. 8;
• Seats : 91,000;
• Functions during the Games: Athletics, Football;
• Post-Games use : The Stadium is to stage sports events at national and international levels, as well as cultural and entertaining activities;
• Groundbreaking date: Dec. 2003;
• Designer : Herzog & DeMeuron (Swiss) and China Architecture Design Institute;
• Status quo: Groundwork has been finished. Following work is underway.

How does the 'bird's nest' stand on its own feet?

The National Stadium in Beijing, the main stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games, is dubbed the "bird's nest" because of its innovative grid formation. The twig-like structural elements and the bowl-shaped roof are the masterpiece of the project, yet they pose great challenges to technicians and workers who need to make the building stand on its own feet.

Three years and eight months have passed since earthworks started in December 2003, and now the constructors are making decisive efforts to let the "bird's nest" support its own weight without relying on any of the supporting structures.

The large steel skeleton of the project weighs 42,000 tons, with the roof and the hanging parts around it accounting for 11,200 tons. To bear such a heavy load, 78 supporting structures were temporarily installed and distributed in different points under stress, i.e. 24 supporting structures along the outer circle, 24 in the middle circle and 30 in the inner circle. The current task is to discharge all these supporting objects from a weight of 11,200 tons.

Through accurate calculation and careful argumentation, experts came to understand that the unloading process of the supporting frameworks should be divided into seven steps and each step should abide by the sequence of outer circle, middle circle, inner circle, middle circle and inner circle. In other words, 35 mini-steps are needed to complete the whole process.

To unload a supporting structure, or to load the in-situ steel skeleton, a lifting jack is used. Jacking pads with a height of 100mm to 200mm are placed on the top of the supporting structures. When the lifting jack rises, it replaces the structure to bear the load of the steel skeleton, and a jacking pad is removed. Then the jack descends slowly to give the remaining load again to the column, thus repeating a total of 35 times until the steel skeleton is able to bear its own weight.

Accuracy is required during the process. The maximum descent of the outer circle is limited to 68-286mm, the middle circle 161-178mm and inner circle 208-286mm. If the descent of the steel structure, which relies on its own supporting capability, exceeds the extent, or cracks appear somewhere in the skeleton, then problems might exist in the design, manufacturing or construction stages in the past three years. In a word, the unloading process is a proof of "the bird's nest" quality.

National Aquatics Center

• Venue: National Aquatics Center;
• Location: Olympic Green;
• Total land surface (sq. m.): 65,000 - 80,000;
• Seats: 6,000 permanent and 11,000 temporary;
• Functions during the Games: Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, and Synchronized Swimming;
• Groundbreaking date: Dec. 24, 2003;

Introduction to National Aquatics Center

National Aquatics Center, the landmark building of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, is located inside the Beijing Olympic Green. It is axially related to the National Stadium on the north part of Beijing Central Axis and reinforces the historical and cultural features of Beijing city. The planning area of the NSC is 62950m², and the total floor area is 65,000 - 80,000m², in which the underground component is not less than 15,000 m².

The National Aquatics Center will be the venue for swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water-polo final during the Olympic Games. The total seating capacity is 17,000, including 6,000 permanent and 11,000 temporary for Games which will be removed post-Games, then the National Aquatics Center will become the venue for various activities such as aquatic sports, swimming, fitness and recreation.

The international competition-winning scheme is known as "Water Cube" ([H2O]³). It is designed by the design consortium consists of China State Construction Engineering Corporation, China State Construction International (Shenzhen) Design Co., Ltd, PTW Architects (Australia) and Ove Arup (Australia). The design concept of the "water cube" combines the symbolisms of the architecture and the unique water bubble structure, and build an appropriate complement to the National Stadium. The NSC functionally meets the requirement of 2008 Olympic Games and post-games operation.

The National Aquatics Center is owned, managed and operated by BJSAM. Commenced at the end of 2003, the construction of the building will last 3 years. The total investment of the project is around 100 million US dollar. After the completion of the construction by the end of 2006, the project will be approved by IOC and FINA. (Provided by: Beijing Stated-owned Assets Management Corp. Ltd)

Pictograms of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

(BEIJING, August 7) -- The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) released the Pictograms of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on the occasion of the 2-year countdown to the opening of the Games.

One of the basic image elements of the Olympics, the Olympic Games Pictograms are widely applied in areas such as Olympic directional instruction system, advertising and communications, landscape and environmental arrangement, TV broadcasting and souvenir designs. The Pictograms play an important role in identifying the Olympic sports as well as in Olympic marketing.

Named "the beauty of seal characters" and with strokes of seal characters as their basic form, the Pictograms of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games integrate pictographic charm of inscriptions on bones and bronze objects in ancient China with simplified embodiment of modern graphics, making them recognizable, rememberable and easy to use. Skillfully using the effect of sharp contrast between the black and white colors which the typical Chinese traditional artistic form of rubbings have, the Pictograms of the Beijing Olympic Games display distinct motion character, graceful aesthetic perception of movement and rich cultural connotations, thus arriving at the harmony and unity of form with conception.

The Beijing Olympics Pictograms comprise of 35 sport icons, namely those of athletics, rowing, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, canoe / kayak flatwater, canoe / kayak slalom, cycling, equestrian, fencing, football, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, weightlifting, handball, hockey, judo, wrestling, swimming, synchronized swimming, diving, water polo, modern pentathlon, softball, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, shooting, archery, triathlon, sailing, volleyball and beach volleyball.

In March 2005, BOCOG invited four professional design institutes and organizations to the solicitation campaign of Pictograms of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The design based on "seal characters" by China Central Academy of Fine Arts and that on "string" by Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University were shortlisted after experts' appraisal.

A joint design working group between China Central Academy of Fine Arts and Academy of Arts and Design constantly improved and perfected the design in accordance with the suggestions of BOCOG and experts home and abroad.

In December 2005, BOCOG submitted the Beijing Olympic Pictograms to the 28 International Sports Federations (IFs) for approval, and all of IFs had endorsed the Pictograms by April 2006. And in June this year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted the set of the Pictograms.

Beijing Travel Guide

• Beijing History
• Beijing Climate
• Beijing Culture
• Beijing Transportation
• Beijing Development
• Beijing Opera
• Beijing Hutong
• Beijing Roast Duck
• Beijing Cloisonne
• Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
• Beijing Silk Street
• Beijing Acrobatics
• The Great Wall
• Forbidden City
• Summer Palace
• Temple Of Heaven
• Ming Tombs