| Wait almost over for Beijing Olympics |
Published By: Samantha Newman
On Friday 8 August 2008 |
The eyes of the world are on Beijing for the opening of the 2008 Olympic Games.
Over the next 16 days, more than 10,500 of the best international athletes will compete for the 302 gold medals up for grabs across 28 sports.
The Chinese believe the date, 08/08/08, will bring them luck as they host the Games for the first time.
Spectacular fireworks displays will mark the opening of the Games over the main Bird's Nest stadium, the Olympic Forest Park and a section of the Great Wall.
Besides Beijing, Qingdao will hold the sailing competition, Hong Kong will be the location for the equestrian events, and football will be played in Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao.
The nation's eyes will be on British stars in particular as they go for gold. Team GB consists of more than 300 British competitors who are hoping their performances give them a solid footing for success at the 2012 Games in London.
UK Sport has set its sights on 41 medals for a chance to achieve an overall target of 8th place in the medal table.
British medal hopes suffered a setback just before the Games with the withdrawal of boxer Frankie Gavin but, over the coming days, attention will be focused on stars such as Paula Radcliffe, Tom Daley and Kelly Sotherton as they run, dive and jump for glory.
The Games slogan of One World, One Dream is intended to capture China's aspirations to open its doors to the world through the Olympic Games and leave a lasting legacy for their population of 1.3 billion people.
But while the communist nation's economy has made huge strides thanks to its manufacturing industry, the country continues to suffer from poverty in rural areas, high levels of pollution and criticism of its human rights record.
Previous Olympic Games, which are held very four years, have struggled with problems such as completing facilities in time whereas Beijing has faced challenges of a different kind.
Protests during the torch relay and critical words by world leaders such as US President George Bush, have characterised the build-up.
Two British Free Tibet campaigners returned to the UK on Thursday after being arrested for unfurling flags and banners outside the Beijing stadium.
More than 40 Olympic athletes have signed an open letter to Chinese president Hu Jintao condemning the country's human rights record.
Backed by Amnesty International in Germany, the letter calls on Mr Hu "to protect freedom of expression, freedom of religion and freedom of opinion in your country, including Tibet".
More protests are planned during the Games, including one at the Chinese Embassy in London later.
With environmental concerns also high on the international agenda, China has come under fire for its pollution problems.
But the head of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, has praised Beijing's efforts.
In an attempt to improve the atmosphere, heavily-polluting factories have suspended operations while cars are being banned on alternate days.
But setting aside those issues, sport is the ultimate aim of the Olympic Games, representing the culmination of years of hard work by athletes desperate for medals.
The closing ceremony will bring down the curtain on August 24 before the Paralympic Games take over from September 6-17.
