Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Calendar - 北京奥运会

2008 Summer Olympics - Highlights

The 2008 Summer Olympic Games will be held in Beijing, China, from Friday, August 8, 2008 to Sunday, August 24, 2008 A total of 302 sets of medals will be awarded in 31 sports. Number of participating athletes is about 10,500.

The Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony will start at 08-08-08 08:08:08 pm local time at the Beijing National Stadium in Beijing.

The Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony will start at 08-08-24 08:08:08 pm local time at the Beijing National Stadium in Beijing.

2008 Summer Olympics - Gold Metal Calendar - Total: 302

2004 Summer Olympics Medal Count - Top 10

2004 Summer Olympic Games were hosted in Athens, Greece with 11,099 athletes from 202 nations participated in 28 sports. The opening ceremony was on August 13, 2004 and the closing ceremony was on August 29, 2004.

A total of 929 gold, silver and bronze metals were awarded in 301 sport events. The top 10 nations that won medals are listed here:

Rank   Nation         Gold  Silver  Bronze   Total

   1   United States    36      39      27     102
   2   China            32      17      14      63
   3   Russia           27      27      38      92
   4   Australia        17      16      16      49
   5   Japan            16       9      12      37
   6   Germany          13      16      20      49
   7   France           11       9      13      33
   8   Italy            10      11      11      32
   9   South Korea       9      12       9      30
  10   Great Britain     9       9      12      30

2008 Olympics Mascots

The mascots of the 2008 Summer Olympics are 5 good-luck dolls (福娃,Fuwa) designed by Han Meilin. 5 mascots are named as Beibei (贝贝), Jingjing (晶晶), Huanhuan (欢欢), Yingying (迎迎), and Nini (妮妮). If you put 5 names together, they sound identical to "Beijing welcomes you" in Chinese: 北京欢迎你 Beijing huanying ni.

"Beibei (贝贝)" represents fish and water. 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 (晶晶)" represents giant panda. He 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 (欢欢)" represents Olympic flame. 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 (迎迎)" represents Tibetan antelope. 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's 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.

"Yingying (妮妮)" represents Swallow. 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.

External Links

The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games