The home of the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and more than one billion people will be the stage for the 2008 Olympics. The summer games are heading to Beijing, China.
2008 Beijing Olympics - Summer Games in China
The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing will be the first time the Olympics have been held in China and the first time the summer games have gone to Asia since Seoul, South Korea in 1988. Beijing was awarded the Olympics after a vote by members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Other cities who had hoped to get the games were Paris, Toronto, Osaka and Istanbul. The IOC decided it was time for the Olympics to go to the world's most populated country, which had tried to win the bid for the 2000 Olympics but lost to Sydney, Australia..
2008 Beijing Olympics - Investing in Tomorrow
There are more than 1.2 billion people in China, including 400 million who are under the age of 18. The population breakdown was a big reason the IOC decided to bring the games to China. They felt China's young people would continue to benefit from the millions of dollars that will be spent on new sports programs and facilities.
2008 Beijing Olympics - Controversial Location
Despite their Olympic win, not everyone is happy that China will be hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics. China is ruled by a communist government, which has been long known for its human rights abuses. China to this day struggles with unrest from the people of China, Tibet and Taiwan. Both Tibet and Taiwan have been occupied by China for decades and they continue to fight for their independence.
2008 Beijing Olympics - Did U Know?
- The 2008 Summer Olympic Games will be held from August 8, 2006 to August 24, 2008.
- Nine new sports will be introduced to the 2008 Summer Olympics, including BMX events.
- The 2008 Beijing Olympic slogan is One World, One Dream.
- More than 200 countries will participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- There will be five 2008 Beijing Olympics mascots called the Friendlies. Their names are Beibei, Jinjing, Huanhuan, Yingying and Nini.
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