China Prepares Itself for the Beijing Olympics

The Games of the XXIX Olympiad is almost upon us. For the casual observer, this is otherwise known as the Summer Olympics to be held in Beijing, China. The opening ceremonies will begin on August 8, 2008, at 8 minutes past 8 PM, local China time. The number 8 signifies good luck in a culture steep in tradition. And with the world watching, the country will welcome some good fortune as it hosts the biggest sporting show on earth.

Over the years, we have all seen the progression and popularity of the Olympics from one four-year cycle to the next. The Olympic Games are getting bigger, more commercial and more extravagant. There are logistical questions regarding transporation, hotel accomodations and security involved. To get a better understanding of the issues a host country faces in these modern times, here is a look at the numbers.

Some 205 nations will be participating in the Beijing games, with approximately 10,500 athletes competing in 302 events within 28 sports. 37 sporting venues were built to accommodate the Beijing Olympics Games. While most of the events will be held in Beijing, football, equestrian and sailing will be held in other Chinese cities such as Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin, Hong Kong and Qingdao.

The anticipated attendance for the Beijing Games is more than half a million. This does not include the 70,000 volunteers, 4000 staff, 18,000 journalists and the 10,500 athletes themselves.

When the Summer Games were awarded to Beijing, one of the concerns was the poor air quality of the city. Moreover, to house so many new visitors, transportation was an issue in an already chaotic traffic system. To combat this problem, local vehicles will only be allowed on the road on alternate days during the Olympic Games. Vehicles from outside Beijing will also be prohibited from entering the city unless they meet air quality standards.

Another issue that Chinese officials had to address was the dangerous time we live in. The Olympics has grown to become the premiere sporting event in the world with a global audience. Unfortunately, this spotlight also attracts political and religious zealots. To keep the Games safe, China has created an anti-terror squad of 100,000 men strong.

It seems as though China is addressing anticipated issues well and will strive for the best Olympic Games ever for its coming out party. Now that the logistics are over, let's get the show on the road and let the XXIX Olympiad begin!