2008 Olympics Updates

Updated：2007-08-16

(BEIJING, August 14) — Aloha.

More than 300 students from around the world bid a tearful goodbye at Beijing No. 80 High School as the 2007 Good Luck Beijing Summer Camp drew to a memorable close.

International campers will not forget their good times in the Olympic City and no doubt they will tell their schoolmates, friends and family members about their China experience and prepare to meet again in the crossroads of the East.

Campers thanked the Beijing Municipal Education Commission and the Media and Communications Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and wished the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games a resounding success.

During their four-day stay in China’s Olympic City, the young campers attended some Good Luck Beijing sport events, toured the city’s scenic spots and cultural relics and spent one day as guests in ordinary Beijing families. Campers participated in games, showed off typical products from their native countries, felt the charm of the Olympic host city and experienced the preparatory efforts underway for next year’s Olympics.

Greek and Chinese students sing Greek songs as the camp draws to an end.

Greek and Chinese students sing Greek songs as the camp draws to an end.

Saying good-bye is difficult.

The campers watch 2007 World Rowing Junior Championships on August 11.

The campers cheer for Slovenian athletes at 2007 World rowing Junior Championships.

Focusing on the Bird’s Nest

The campers visit Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall.

Norwegian students pose for a picture in front of the board marking the countdown to the 29th Olympics.

On August 13, the campers ascend Great Wall

Campers tour Chinese Ethnic Culture Park.

Campers learn how to make dumpling at a Beijing family.

Egyptian students in a mini fashion show.

Campers wear tee-shirts with signatures.

Updated：2007-08-15

(BEIJING, August 14) — The four-day summer camp of the 2007 Good Luck Beijing sport events drew to an end on Tuesday and the participants were excited about their experience in the host city of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Over 300 students and teachers from 17 countries and regions spent an unforgettable time in Beijing.

On Tuesday evening, they treated each other to a wonderful performance in which they displayed their artistic gifts. The songs of the Beijing June 1 Elementary School Choir and the dances of the Kenyan and Congo students drew peals of applause from the audience, in which there were many fellow campers.

Calligraphy works, Chinese paintings, clay figurines, paper-cutting pieces, instantly-made kites and many other traditional handicrafts made by local students impressed the visitors from afar.

< DIV>

Earlier in the morning, the campers ascended the Badaling section of Great Wall. A “mini-expo” brought together the art works and other typical things of the participants. African students showed beautiful sculptures of African giraffes and hippopotamuses, while costumes of Indian students delighted the eyes.

Beijing Hujialou Central Elementary School passed on its skills of waving auspicious Chinese knots to its Spanish partner school, and visitors from Riga Mezciema Elementary School of Latvia learnt martial arts from their counterparts of Hongzhi High School.

Updated：2007-08-17

(BEIJING, August 16) — The Clay Target Field (CTF) has been delivered to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

Located at Shijingshan District in west Beijing, the venue will produce five gold medals in clay target competitions, including men’s trap, women’s trap, men’s double trap, men’s skeet and women’s skeet.

The 2008 shooting program will have three events: rifle, pistol and clay target.

Olympic competition begins August 9 through 17, 2008 as shooters will vie for a total of 15 gold medals.

Shooting first appeared as an Olympic sport in 1896. Women were first allowed to compete in 1968, when Mexico, Peru and Poland entered one female contestant each. In 1984, the International Shooting Federation introduced separate events for women. Between 1984 and 1992, the number of women’s events has gradually increased.

In addition, several of the events on the program remained open to both men and women. Since the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, men’s events have been separated from women’s.

Bird’s eye view of CTF from its stands

Starting point decorated after the model of Great Wall

Clay target storage

CTF stand

Workers are weeding the lawn.

Here are some video links to CNN news reports to the Games.

In this clip, you can see the performance in the countdown:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2007/08/08/stevens.cdb.olympics.one.year.cnn

Here’re some some other clips that features on the preparation work on Beijing 2008! Enjoy!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/08/08/olympics.beijing.reut/index.html?iref=newssearch