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Fireworks will be set off during the Opening Ceremony

smart and sexy china girls
China Arts Contemporary
I'm from China Arts Contemporary. We know that a lot of new technologies had been applied in the Olympic Games. Is it going to shape or change your design in the future? The year 2008 is a very important year. Are you going to have some exhibition displays in China? After the Games, there will be a review exhibition. What is your own comments of your own performances in 2008?

Cai Guoqiang
I'm 50 years old this year. I've done something different. It's been the summary of my experience in the past and I want to leave something for the future. It is a very special year for me. I left China in 1986. I went to the United States. I spent a lot of time overseas. I really feel honored to be back in China and be a real part of the Beijing Olympic Games preparation. It is a very good opportunity for me to team up with other artists from different countries. It is a very important experience for me as well. For the technologies used, we enjoyed the support from the central government and from the expertise from different areas. We devoted a lot of efforts. Thanks to the joint efforts from different parties. We will be more event-specific. Artistically, it was all based on my past experience.

CBS
Because you have been living in the US for a certain period of time, you may be familiar with their ways to create special effects. China is the birthplace of gunpowder. How can you produce the spectacular effect for Chinese audience?

Cai Guoqiang
American fireworks and the demand of the spectators are solid colors like gold, silver and long lasting like thunderstorm effects. They want 5,000 shells and very sensational. China has its own characteristic. They want it to be colorful. It is more of a melancholy kind of feeling and very folk-art oriented, which is different from the special effects and demands of the U.S. The opening and the closing ceremonies for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be different from each other. But we want to be original, creative, colorful and vibrant. What I mean is Opening Ceremony probably is more thematic, theme oriented and will going to be dazzling.

Associated Press Television
I have two questions. One is about the fireworks and the security. How close will the normal spectators be able to get in order to see the fireworks at the area of Bird's Nest and the Olympic Green? My second question is: what happens if it rains?

Deng Shaohui
Thank you for the question and for your attention on the fireworks. I should say that in the neighboring area of the Bird's Nest, the maximum height will be 100-120 meters above the sky, and some of the special fireworks actually measured up to 500 meters. What do you mean by the distance for safety? Do you mean safe for the spectators inside the venue or the visitors or local residents? Outside the radius of 80 meters to 100 meters, it should be safe.

Associated Press Television
How close can the local residents get close to the Bird's Nest because they are going to close all the roads? Where can we find a good spot to watch the fireworks?

Deng Shaohui
We have controlling areas around the Olympic Green. 100 meters away from the Olympic Green will be a good spot for you to watch. But we do have a lot of buildings surround the area. The security parameter is within the radius of 100 meters.

Cai Guoqiang
I can follow up the question raised by the journalists of AP. He doesn't seem so happy with our answer. Actually, the height is not necessarily the best of the security people's concern. Because sometimes, if it is higher, it is probably safer. 100 or 200 meters above, for some people in a distance, they actually feel like it is right above their heads. We have technical parameters. For example in Shichahai, it is very crowded and so it is pretty low. But in parks and other parks and Tian'anmen Square, so we can shoot up higher to the sky. People don't have to go close to the sites to see the fireworks.

Chengdu Business Daily
Have you considered any incidence, for example, what if there is dumb scroll or what if it rains?

Deng Shaohui
2% dumb scroll is allowed according to the Chinese standard firework display. Because fireworks are all manually made, so with the case in the worst, it is very challenging for us to ensure the quality. Of July 16 for the rehearsal of the fireworks, in the dragon-shaped landscape water system, we shot up about 10,000 shells, and less than 1% was dumb.

What about rains, if it is only drizzle, it is ok. But if it is shower, it would affect our firework. In our contingency plan, we take that into consideration. If it is continuing shower, we probably have to cancel the firework display.

Wen Wei Po
First question. Mr. Wang, you said the total budget is really low. But how exactly low? Can you give the figure? And my second question, on July 16, I saw the fireworks, I saw some long lasting affects like the white smoke. How are we going to avoid that from happening? Also, I understand that there was a fire incident. So other than the clothing, the fireproof clothing, I understand you also have to make some adjustment to the science. What about the safety of the workers? And also another question, there is a hat-like thing in the Bird's Nest. Is that something related to the fireworks?

Wang Ning
I am sure you are very concerned about the budget. I said it is low but I have some comparison. I was comparing it to other similar events. Relatively speaking, it is low. The operation center is responsible for the four ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the production and the operation, everything. The cost of the ceremony is not out yet. But what I can tell you we are costing absolutely low compared to other events like this.

Deng Shaohui
The smoke and dust during the rehearsal of July 16, in terms of the standards, what we were trying to achieve is to minimize smokes. And after all, it is gun powder.

As for the second question, fire incidence? Are you talking about on July 16? We didn't have any fire incident at the above the Bird's Nest?

Due to the membrane structure of the Bird's Nest, to ensure the safety, we did two experimental or rehearsal of fireworks. The first time, because we did some rush preparation, probably 5 to 6 days, so we actually use substitute devices for ignition. We didn't use the designated fireworks for the opening ceremonies because we just decided the suppliers of the fireworks. And we are just testing the impact on the main structure. So we just use some substitute fireworks, some parts were melted on the membrane structure. We use the designated devices for ignition and fireworks products one month later. One ten of fireworks was used compared to the actual consumption and affecting tense of the area, no impact.

On July 16, it was exactly the same scale and amount of fireworks used compared to the opening ceremony. On the Bird's Nest, there is no impact on the membrane structure. Not the holes. So two different things and hat-shaped structure has nothing to do with the fireworks.

Hong Kong Commercial Daily
Any Hong Kong specialists or experts involved in the fireworks plan? Because Hong Kong has some display for fireworks and Hong Kong is also a co-host city. Any graphics of equestrian?

Cai Guoqiang
Unfortunately, no graphics of equestrian. Maybe we can create equestrian graphics in the sky in Hong Kong so that Hong Kong and Beijing can echo each other. Very good idea. Specialists and experts in Hong Kong are not involved. Our team mainly is composed of people from mainland China, from Jiangxi manufactures and Hubei.

AP
In terms of all the potentially exclusive fireworks we are going to have for the opening ceremony, what specific security measures are you taking in terms of protecting the fireworks in all the different areas?

Deng Shaohui
I will take this question. For the safety of the fireworks, it is not only for the on site stadium. Our efforts, generally speaking, from the very beginning, including the production and delivery and final installation, we have all the safety measures in place. The on site safety, firstly, depending on the quality of the product, therefore, the Beijing municipal quality supervision authorities have developed a special regulation and standards, which is higher for the firework products. For example, the dumb shell rate, according to national it is 2%. However, for Olympics, it is much lower. So we can ensure the safety of the firework display. For the release safety and security, it is to do with the equipment and facilities.

On top of the Bird's Nest, we have very special design. As you know, it is steel structure on the top of the Bird's Nest. Normally, we have developed special gadget to secure the release equipment with the top of the Bird's Nest to ensure safety and security. The utilization of the special gadget will ensure there will be no damage for the membrane structure. For the ground level, the dragon-shaped landscape water system, along Hujing East Road, we have the firework site in place. During the installation of the testing stage, the security authorities developed very practical measures for the whole installation, it was conducted and supervised by the quality control authorities of the city to ensure the equipment will be 100 % safe for operation.

Sun WeideThank you for all the three guests. I will keep notice. At 11 o'clock of July 25, still in this press conference hall we are going to have a conference on the opening of the Olympic Village. Your present will be welcome. Thank you!

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Fireworks to highlight Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

Beautiful China Lady
Fireworks will be set off during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games on August 8 to create a joyous and festive atmosphere. Fireworks of different shapes will be displayed above the main stadium of the Games, Olympic Forest Park and the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall

Sun Weide
Good afternoon, Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our today's press conference at MPC on fireworks display. Introduction of the guests on stage, Mr. Wang Ning, executive deputy director of Opening & Closing Ceremonies Department, BOCOG, director of the Opening & Closing Ceremonies Operation Centre, Mr. Deng Shaohui, deputy director of Opening & Closing Ceremonies Department, BOCOG, deputy director of Opening & Closing Ceremonies Operation Centre, Mr. Cai Guoqiang, member of Core Creative Team, director of Visual & Special Effects of Opening & Closing Ceremonies for Olympics & Paralympics. To start, Mr. Wang Ning will give us a brief introduction of the plan of the fireworks on the Opening Ceremony.

Wang Ning
Friends from media, good afternoon. It is a pleasure for me to talk about the fireworks display for the Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on the evening of 8th of August complementing with the cultural performances and protocol proceedings.




  1. At the Opening Ceremony, we will set up above the National Stadium Olympic Central Zone, Olympic Forest Park, north-south access line and the Great Wall at Juyongguan. The fireworks will be dazzling of different various combinations lasting 20 minutes, altogether creating joyous and festive atmosphere of jubilation.

  2. Reflecting the Olympic ideals
    The fireworks at the ceremony will have different shapes and combinations; we will try to add elements as well as symbols to reflect the Olympic ideals. We hope to promote the Olympic ideals though the ignition of fireworks. For example, some of the fire works will be fired off to give stories of the Olympic history, it will depict how the ideals arrive in Beijing and finally settled in the Bird's Nest, and also depict how Chinese are aspired to achieve the century's dreams for the Olympics. For the first time, the shape of the Olympic Rings will be formed.

  3. Implementing the idea of High-tech Olympic Games
    Some of the technologies are very sophisticated. For instance, compressive air launch, chamber pressure launch and computerized ignition technologies. All of these technologies will be employed for the first time for fireworks display. This clearly shows the feature of a 'High-tech Olympics'.

  4. Highlighting the characteristic of a 'Green Olympics'
    Some of the fireworks at the Opening Ceremony will use small smoke powder, or so-called 'minimum smoke powder'. Some sophisticated launch tech will reduce the smoke and dust to minimize the impact or pollution to the environment.

  5. We are aiming to achieve in and out of the venue effects.
    At the Opening Ceremony, for the Olympic Games, the fireworks will not only be for the sake of the people inside the venue and the Olympic Green, the central zone outside the venue will also be combined. The fireworks are along the Olympic Green all the way to the forest park.

  6. We are experimenting new fireworks.
    In addition to traditional fireworks, we also use new types. For example, chip controlled shell and special affect display shells.

Above are some of the characteristics of the fireworks of the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing Olympic Games. The fireworks involve a large area. It is very difficult and complicated to carry out. The fireworks will be set off at different stages. We also have high standard to ensure the safety, safe and sound operation of the fireworks, we organize specialists and experts to put together document for the quality, safety, reliability and high-tech reliability and check delivering as well as storage for the fireworks and collateral devices and equipment. Meantime, after repeated experiments, we also developed elaborate plan as well as operational plan to supervise the operation.

It will not affect the rules or the parade of the athletes on August 8. We will also take measures to ensure the security and infrastructures. On July 16, we conducted the first rehearsal of our Opening Ceremony. Overall, the fireworks rehearsal met our expectations. Our work and operation were tested especially. I want to mention that after the rehearsal, the fireworks caused no damage to the steel bone structure of the National Stadium or to the main brain structure, or to the on-site audiences. Today is 16 days away from the Opening Ceremony, and we are still refining our plan. We hope to make our fireworks the most spectacular part of the Opening Ceremony.

That is my introduction. I would like to present one of my colleagues here. He is the creator and designer of the fireworks at the Olympic Games, Mr. Cai Guoqiang, acclaimed artists. Thank you.

Sun Weide
Mr. Cai will give us a brief introduction on creative plan of the fireworks

Cai Guoqiang

Good afternoon, Mr. Wang just gave you a general and comprehensive plan. I, myself joined the team in 2005. All the way from the start of the bidding process, I received the certificate from Mr. Wang and I can still remember that. I gave a lot of my artistic works in the plan. I submitted a lot of my work plan. It took me 2 to 3 years for the preparation. It was a long journey for me. Basically, in 2005 there are a lot of teams who proposed a lot of plans. The team has had a lot of discussions in the creations and the designs. Some of the highlights are no longer there, but the original ideas are still there. I would like to thank the bosses and the leaders for the Opening Ceremony as well as the director of the ceremony for their support to my creative work. And also I would like to thank the team of the fireworks for the security and all the other supports.

As you know, gunpowder is one of the inventions of China. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies all have fireworks display. Fireworks are effective to pump up the atmosphere. It never missed. But the fireworks this time are not only for the sake of pumping up the atmosphere, but have a goal to achieve the theme. It can play the role of storytelling, too. That poses challenges to fireworks in terms of technology and design. I am not going to talk more details about the technology. I would like to talk about some of the features and characteristics of the fireworks ignition.

For example, along the dragon-shaped landscape water system of the Olympic Green, the fireworks will be fired up into yellow dragon and red peonies. The computer ignition system will control the fireworks. So within seconds, the fireworks will span 3.5 kilometers, so that it will be right after the flag raising. Another example: From Yongdingmen to the National Stadium, we have the sense of sights depicting how the Olympics arrived in China, to Beijing, and to the Bird's Nest.

The fireworks will be thematic and concept based. I think it will be very conducive for the inauguration and Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. During the climax of the performances, we will display the thousands of pictures of smiling faces collected from all around the world. At that moment, to accompany the picture display, we're going to release the fireworks picturing 2008 smiling faces in the sky. Also, after the Olympic Flame is lighted above the Bird's Nest, we are going to fire the "shan" fireworks to symbolize the historical connection between the past and the present.

As for the details and other displays, I would like to give you some very basic ideas of what the fireworks are going to be. This will be a very glamorous moment of the Opening Ceremony which will only take several seconds. We are going to release the display of the Olympic Rings as well. For the details of all the displays, we will release that on the day of the Opening Ceremony.

On July 16, we have the fireworks rehearsal, Here are some of the pictures. This is above the dragon-shaped landscape water system of the Olympic Green, you can see a dragon shaped fireworks. Next, the red peony display shells. It is above the Bird's Nest. You will see everything in the Opening Ceremony. This is the moment of the countdown. In the Bird's Nest, we have one difficulty and one advantage. The difficulty is how to meet the demands of the spectators within the Bird's Nest because the Bird's Nest is a semi-closed shaped. We can play fireworks of different varieties and colors. Spectators will be accommodated at different layers. We will also set up a lighting equipment support so that the fireworks can be seen within and outside the stadium.

The fireworks will be broadcasted, and spectators within the stadium will be having a good time to have a better chance to enjoy the fireworks. This is the dragon I was mentioning along the dragon-shaped landscape water system. It was very spectacular with a length of 3.5 kilometers. This is the gun pressure launching a smiling face firework. It will be very accurately aimed and lighted up at the sky to form a picture so this is technically very demanding. We have spent two years on this technology. Thank you.

Sun Weide
Thank you Mr. Cai. Now I'll give the floor to the friends from media.

Apple DailyI'm from the Apple Daily. What is the budget of the fireworks display? In addition to the spectators within the National Stadium, outside the National Stadium, how many people do you estimate will be able to see the fireworks? Thank you.

Wang Ning
Thank you for the question. I will take the first one. For the cost of the fireworks, during the preparation of the Olympic Games, we have a very important concept which is to hold the Olympic Games in a cost effective way. This is especially embodied in the preparation for the Opening Ceremony. Generally speaking, the budget and the cost are very low as compared to events of the same level. Fireworks are costly as we know. During the Opening Ceremony preparation, however, it only takes a very small part of the total cost of the Opening Ceremony. As you know, China is the birthplace of the gunpowder and fireworks. We have a lot of products to choose from. As for the specific number, I can only give you a percentage points. Fireworks will take less than 1% of the total cost of the Opening Ceremony. For your second question, for the characteristics of the fireworks, I said we need to combine the effects both inside and outside the stadium to light up the skyline of Beijing on the August 8, to give everybody an opportunity to experience the joy brought by the Olympic Games. Therefore, in addition to the release within the Olympic Green central domain, we also have other locations appointed so that more and more people will see the fireworks. Thank you.

Cai Guoqiang
From Yongdingmen to the Tian'anmen Square to the Bird's Nest, we have 29 artistic fireworks which will be displayed. That is from Tiananmen to Yongdingmen to the Bird's Nest to the Forest Parks. In those key areas, we will have fireworks which will last for 10 minutes, leading up to the climax of the Opening Ceremony. We have 73 release sites located surrounding the Bird's Nest. From the director's point of view, we want to make the National Stadium extended to the city center so that people in downtown can also experience part of the Opening Ceremony.

Reporter from Brazil
Can you explain a little bit more about the technological involvement in the ignition system? If I understood correctly, it's the first time that this kind of technology will be used for the ignition of fireworks. What does it need in terms of the accuracy and perfection of the part you are going to see? Can you give us the idea of the amount of the fireworks that will be used? Can you give us an idea of how big it is going to be as compared with the past events?

Cai Guoqiang
The total amount will be 35,000 shells. Obviously it's a big number; however it is not too much. We are trying to use them in all the key points and key locations. For the 10-second display and the dragon-shaped fireworks, the fact is we are not using too much fireworks. But we are trying to achieve the best effects. From the technological point of view, we are using some of the traditional display shells as seen in other events.

In addition, we are also preparing a vast variety of displays to be special and to be different. Also, we are working on the brightness of all the fireworks so that it can be seen really well on the pictures and on the broadcaster's point of view. We have the air compression lauch system and also the gun pressure release system. With this system, we can better adjust the pressure before lauching so that we can control the height of the fireworks, so this is what we have done technically.

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Children sing for Olympics

Olympic outdoor activities already are in full swing at parks and plazas in Beijing. Sunday, children from all over China performed at the plaza of the Millennium Monument, expressing their excitement.

The kids from everywhere sang in chorus, in solos and they joined in ethnic dances. All of the performances were created especially for the Games. Popular children's TV host Ju Ping acted as Master of Ceremonies. The talented kid artists offered their tribute to this year's games. And their excitement was reflected in their beaming faces and merry dancing. Some well-known young singers joined in.

Beijing Olympic 2008Olympic outdoor activities already are in full swing at parks. (Photo credit: CCTV)

If the Olympic Games are festive for Beijingers and for all Chinese people, the children especially add that unrestrained quality of youthful enthusiasm. As participants, helping to raise the Olympic spirit, it's a happy summer holiday for all these kids, one they will always remember.

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Phase Four Olympics ticket sales to start

BOCOG announced on July 22 the policy concerning the phase four sales of Olympic tickets to the domestic public. Beginning July 25, the remaining 820,000 Olympic tickets will be sold at venue ticket booths from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

Unlike the first three phases, the fourth phase of ticket sales is open to the individuals rather than groups, and the public can line up to buy tickets at ticket booths of the Olympic venues and pay with cash or a Visa card.

In order to give more people a chance to buy tickets, each person is allowed to buy at most two tickets for one session at once.

According to Zhu Yan, director of the BOCOG Ticketing Center, only tickets for competitions taking place locally will be available for purchase. Of the 820,000 remaining tickets, 250,000 are for competitions in the Beijing area. Venues in the co-host cities -- Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao -- will only sell tickets for Football matches to be held in each respective city.

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Where to live in Beijing during Olympic 2008?

Five Reasons to Choose a Hostel

A Smart and Economic Stay
The price of hotel during Beijing 2008 has reached its sky_high. According current reservation rate, an economic hotel room is expected to be around $350/night and a luxury room is about $500-$800. Even for a normal bed in youth hotels, the rate will be increased to $100/night. Officials from the Beijing Municipal Government have already announced that they will not restrict hotel room rates during the Olympics.

On the other hand, there are family owned hostel, bed & breakfast and short-term renting apartment available during Beijing 2008. Those hostels provide hotel-grad services while the price will be a lot cheaper than equivalent services in hotels. The trip will surely become economical and pleasant.


Comfortable and Customized Services
"We prefer hostel to hotels. The price will surely be cheaper and hostels are usually located in developed communities and are comfortable to live in", Mrs. White, a visitor from USA, gives her comments after her Beijing tour.

Similar to the equipments in hotel, hostel also provides standard bedroom and bathroom. The hostel could provide more, such as full-equipment kitchen, living-room and balcony. The developed community also has various restaurant, super market, park, bank and hospitals.

As the local resident, the landlord will be your real guide during Beijing 2008. They could provide a lot of customized services, such as airport-hostel transportation, free internet, local mobile phone renting, SIM card purchasing and even helping to get Olympic tickets.


Nearby Olympic Venues and Fast Transportation
According to news, all of the best hotels within the fourth ring road are nearly fully booked by Beijing Olympic organization for Olympic officials, international VIPs, sponsors and media organizations. So, how could you find a living place close to your favorite Olympic venues?

Try to search the 10-minutes-walk hostels nearby the Olympic venues on our map. You could also find a lot of hostels close to the Subway/Metro station within 5 minutes walk.


Experience Real Chinese Culture
Home_stay with a Chinese family; Dinner with a Chinese family; Expirence Chinese Culture, Chinese language and literature, Confucianism, Buddhism, Chinese strategy.

The visitors could have the experience of real Chinese culture by living in hostel during Beijing 2008. Besides Olympic Games, the visitors could also have a wonderful tour in Beijing top attractions, such as Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace and etc.

The Earlier Reservation, the Much Saving Your Money
The earlier reservation, you could get the cheaper price and the hostel more nearby the Olympic venues. The landlord may also help booking competition tickets for you by now.

How Can You Trust the Hostel?
try this Trust Program

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IAAF president: Beijing Olympics will be one of the greatest ever held

The head of the International Association of Athletics Federations, Lamine Diack, predicted in an interview with the official website of the 2008 Olympic Games that "the Beijing Olympics will be one of the greatest ever held, not just for athletics, but for all sports."

"I hope they [the Olympics] allow the Chinese people to express the special culture of their wonderful country," said IAAF President Lamine Diack, who is also a member of International Olympic Committee.

IAAF president Lamine Diack

Diack forecast in a cyberspace-based interview that Beijing's elevated temperatures in August could challenge some of the athletes set to converge on the ancient Chinese capital from across the world: "Athletics is a very complex sport which is made up of many different throwing, jumping and running events. So the weather in Beijing, which we expect to be hot and humid, will be excellent for the sprinters and jumpers, but not ideal for athletes in long distance events such as race walk and marathon."

Yet many of the athletes slated to join the Olympic Games, he added, got a foretaste of the weather conditions likely to prevail in the Chinese capital next month when they took part in last summer's IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan. He explained that Osaka has very similar climate to Beijing's.

The head of the IAAF is himself a former athlete and one-time university champion in the long jump. He is also a champion when it comes to building a family. The official website of the IAAF states that Diack has 15 children.

The IAAF, the global governing group on athletics, was established nearly a century ago, and is currently headquartered in Monaco. The group organizes competitions that include the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, the World Junior Championships in Athletics and the AF Golden League.

Lamine Diack has headed the group since 1999.

Diack told the official website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games that "IAAF representatives say that the [Olympic] stadium is not only an exceptional architectural monument but also has everything they need to conduct an excellent athletics competition."

"I have no doubts at all that the new track will motivate the athletes to perform at their best highest level," he added.

The IAAF's Golden League competitions this year, Diack said, have helped an array of athletes prepare for the Summer Games in Beijing. "The IAAF is currently studying the future of the Golden League," he explained. "Our biggest priority is to extend the circuit outside of Europe and certainly, we fully expect to have competitions from Asia included in the "new Golden League".

Diack also suggested that the Olympic Games, being staged for the first ever by China, have the power to infuse an entire generation of young people with the spirit of global games and interaction: "My wish is that the youth in China benefits from the Games in terms of enthusiasm and motivation."


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Olympic tickets distributed to Olympic Education Schools

With the Beijing Olympic Games one month away, BOCOG and the Ministry of Education distributed Olympic tickets allotted for schools involved in the Olympic education program nationwide on Tuesday.
Beijing Olympic 2008
Following the practice of previous Olympics, BOCOG is offering elementary and secondary schools under the program up to one million tickets, or 14 percent of the total ticket pool, at low prices of five yuan to ten yuan per ticket. Opening and closing ceremony tickets are not included in the special ticketing program.

To ensure sound arrangement for students' accommodations and transportation, ten high schools in Beijing have been designated as hosts to offer affordable services.

BOCOG and the Education Ministry have also issued a special invitation to 65 teachers and students from earthquake-hit areas in Sichuan Province to attend the Olympics as a part of the program.

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Beijing Olympic Main Press Center opens


(BEIJING, July 8) -- The Main Press Center (MPC) for the Beijing Olympics formally opened on Tuesday, July 8 and will follow a 24-hour operation schedule between July 25 and August 27 for media crews from around the world, Director of the MPC and IBC operation team, Sha Wanquan, told reporters Tuesday.

The International Broadcast Center (IBC), nearby the MPC, also began operation Tuesday, stated Director of the BOCOG Median Operations Department, Sun Weijia, who joined Sha at the press conference.


Sun Weide, deputy director of the BOCOG Media and Communications Department chairs the press conference.
The Chinese government, Beijing Municipal Government and BOCOG have attached great importance to media services with courtesy for media members a top consideration, both Sha and Sun stressed.


Sha Wanquan gives a briefing.
With a floor space of 62,000 square meters, the MPC is the largest media center in Olympic history. Located within reach of the "Bird's Nest", "Water Cube", National Indoor Stadium, the Olympic Fencing Hall, the Olympic Village, Media Village and other venues, the MPC allows for more convenient news coverage and easy access by journalists.

The two media hotels are conjoined to the MPC, allowing for direct flow between media work space and living quarters, setting a precedent for the Olympic Games, Sha said.

With 971 workstations, the press work room is also the largest in Olympic history. Among these workstations, 680 are equipped with electrical and network interface features to provide media crews with optimal communication capabilities. An additional 206 workstations will be available for photographers. W-LAN and laptop locks will accompany all stations for user convenience. To date a record 144 media organizations have rented 110 offices at the facility.

The MPC and IBC will follow international practice to provide information terminals, Games-time live broadcasting, competition results, and print and distribution service stations. "In addition, we have also set up a resource area offering a variety of international newspapers, magazines, and library facilities for members of the media," Sha said. "Abundant news coverage and press conferences addressing various topics will also be conducted to provide additional information," he added.

For added convenience, the MPC will offer facilities such as free of charge internet buffet, mobile phone charging stations, Internet IC card lending machine, a bank, a post office, a UPS center, a medical station, a pharmacy, a licensed product shop, a dry cleaning shop, a hair dresser, a travel agency, a convenient store and vending machines. The MPC will also offer a restaurant with a wide selection of international foods, media lounge, massage room, gym, showers and other spaces for relaxation.

Discussing the IBC, Sun said that it would also offer similar facilities for media teams. Additional information would be made available through press conferences from July 8 to 23. Starting July 8, the help desk will begin accepting applications for use of interview facilities and assisting crews with navigating the facility and addressing any concerns.


Sun Weijia gives a briefing.
Offering optimal working conditions and cutting edge technology capabilities has been a priority for planners. "Ever since the early planning stage, we have been committed to top service and setting new Olympic precedents with our offerings," Sun said.

This would be the first time high definition signals would be provided to broadcasters to serve over four billion spectators around the world

"This is also the first time that new media technologies such as the internet and mobile phones will be used for widespread broadcasting," Sun said.

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Chinese vice president inspects Olympic equestrian events venues in HK

HONG KONG, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping inspected the equestrian events venues for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympics Sunday afternoon to get firsthand information about Hong Kong's preparations for the Games.

Xi inspected the racecourses for the equestrian events at the Beas River and Shatin in the New Territories of Hong Kong.

He will be briefed in the afternoon on the preparation work for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events by officials from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.

The Olympic equestrian events will run from Aug. 9 to 21, with jumping and dressage events to be held at Shatin and the cross country competition at the Beas River.

Xi arrived in Hong Kong Sunday morning from Shenzhen on a three-day inspection tour.

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Flash Base little Beijing Olympic 2008 Countdown

Are you want to put Beijing Olympic 2008 Countdown at your website with flash base.
here the little scale countdown base on flash look like :

olympic 2008 countdown





beijing olympic 2008

To put this little Beijing Olympic 2008 Countdown by place code below :


Olympic Beijing 2008 Countdown #1
Olympic Beijing 2008 Countdown #2
Beijing Olympic 2008 Mascots
Beibei, Olympic 2008 Mascot
Jingjing, Olympic 2008 Mascot
Huanhuan, Olympic 2008 Mascot
Yingying, Olympic 2008 Mascot
Nini, Olympic 2008 Mascot
Free Olympic Wallpaper #1
Free Olympic Wallpaper #2

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The Beijing Olympic Countdown Widget in English

This widget are special present for english usage create by Qirui Guo @ Beijing, China

So if you support China and the Olympic Games, just put this HTML code into your blog:

However, if you don’t like the “support links”, you may use this code:

However, if you don’t like the “support links”, you may use this code:

Of course, available in Chinese here.
It’s also available in Netvibes, WordPress and Facebook as:
(URL) 2008 Beijing Olympics Countdown (Netvibes widget)
(Download) 2008 Beijing Olympics Countdown (WordPress plugin)
(Application) Countdown to 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (Facebook Application)
However, if you don’t like it, just forget it :)
So if you support China and the Olympic Games, just put this HTML code into your blog:

However, if you don’t like the "support links", you may use this code:

Of course, available in Chinese here.

Of course, available in Chinese here.
It’s also available in Netvibes, WordPress and Facebook as:
(URL) 2008 Beijing Olympics Countdown (Netvibes widget)
(Download) 2008 Beijing Olympics Countdown (WordPress plugin)
(Application) Countdown to 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (Facebook Application)

Olympic Beijing 2008 Countdown #1
Olympic Beijing 2008 Countdown #2
Beijing Olympic 2008 Mascots
Beibei, Olympic 2008 Mascot
Jingjing, Olympic 2008 Mascot
Huanhuan, Olympic 2008 Mascot
Yingying, Olympic 2008 Mascot
Nini, Olympic 2008 Mascot
Free Olympic Wallpaper #1
Free Olympic Wallpaper #2

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Olympic 2008 free wallpaper


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