2008 Summer Olympic Games

The 2008 Summer Olympic Games is a major international multi-sport event which is being celebrated in Beijing, People’s Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008 and followed by the 2008 Summer Paralympics from September 6 to September 17.

Up to Ten thousand athletes will be expected to compete in 302 events in 28 sports.

The opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing will be held in the Beijing National Stadium,
and begin at 13:00 UK time on 8 August 2008. The choice of date and time in China (2008-08-08 8:00)
reflects the fact that the number 8 is considered lucky in China.

It has been announced that Canada’s Celine Dion, Taiwan’s Jay Chou, Britain’s Sarah Brightman and China’s Liu Huan would perform during the opening ceremony.

The Olympic Stadium Statistics

The centrepiece of the 2008 Summer Olympics will be the Beijing National Stadium, nicknamed the “Bird nest” because of its nest-like skeletal structure.

The stadium is 330 metres long by 220 metres wide, and is 69.2 metres tall.

Olympic Capacity: 91,000