Beijing National Stadium

The centrepiece of the 2008 Summer Olympics is the Beijing National Stadium, nicknamed the Bird's Nest because of its nest-like skeletal structure. Construction of the venue began on December 24, 2003. The Guangdong Olympic Stadium was originally planned, constructed, and completed in 2001 to help host the Games, but a decision was made to construct a new stadium in Beijing. officials engaged architects worldwide in a design competition. A Swiss firm, Herzog & de Meuron Architekten AG, collaborated with China Architecture Design & Research Group to win the competition. The stadium features a lattice-like steel outer skeleton around the concrete stadium bowl and has a seating capacity of over 90,000 people. Architects originally described the overall design as resembling a bird nest with an immense ocular opening with a retractable roof over the stadium. However, in 2004, the idea of the retractable roof was abandoned for economic and safety reasons. The Beijing National Stadium was the site of the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the athletics events and soccer finals.

The Beijing Olympic Village opened on July 16, 2008 and to the public on July 26, 2008.

2008 Summer Olympics

The 2008 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, People's Republic of China, from August 8 (except football, which started on August 6) to August 24, 2008. A total of 10,500 athletes competed in 302 events in 28 sports, one event more than was on the schedule of the 2004 Games.^[2] The 2008 Beijing Olympics marked the first occasion that either the Summer or Winter Games were hosted in China, making it the 22nd nation to do so. It also became the third time that Olympic events have been held in the territories of two different National Olympic Committees (NOC), as the equestrian events were being held in Hong Kong (the other two instances being the 1956 games, where the equestrian events were hosted in Stockholm, Sweden, due to strict Australian quarantine rules, and the other events were hosted in Melbourne, Australia; and the 1920 games which were hosted in Antwerp, Belgium, but the final two races of the 12ft dinghy event in sailing were held in The Netherlands).

The Olympic Games were awarded to Beijing after an exhaustive ballot of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on July 13, 2001. The official logo of the Games, titled "Dancing Beijing," features a stylised calligraphic character jīng, meaning capital), referring to the host city. Several new NOCs have also been recognised by the IOC.

The Chinese government promoted the Games and invested heavily in new facilities and transportation systems. A total of 37 venues were used to host the events including 12 newly constructed venues. At the closing ceremony IOC president Jacques Rogge declared the event a "truly exceptional Games" after earlier asserting that the IOC had "absolutely no regrets" in choosing Beijing to host the 2008 Games. The choice of China as a host country was the subject of criticism by some politicians and NGOs concerned about China's human rights record. China and others, meanwhile, warned against politicizing the Olympics.

The Games saw 43 new world records and 132 new Olympic records set.A record 87 countries won a medal during the Games. Chinese athletes won 51 gold medals altogether, the second largest haul by a national team in a modern, non-boycotted Summer Games. Michael Phelps broke the record for most golds in one Olympics and for most career gold medals for an Olympian. Usain Bolt secured the traditional title "World's Fastest Man" by setting new world records in the 100m and 200m dashes.

Ancient Olympics

There are many myths surrounding the origin of the ancient Olympic Games, the most popular of which identifies Heracles and his father Zeus as the creators of the games. According to the legend, Zeus held sporting events in honor of his defeat of Cronus, and his succession to the king of heaven. Heracles, being his eldest son, defeated his brothers in a running race and was crowned with a wreath of wild olive branches. It is Heracles who is believed to have first called the games Olympic, and established the custom of holding them every 4 years. The legend diverges at this point. One popular story says that Heracles went on to build the Olympic stadium and surrounding buildings as an honor to Zeus, after he completed his 12 labors. After he built the stadium he walked in a straight line for 200 strides and called this distance a "stadion" (Greek: στάδιον, Latin: stadium, "stage") that later also became a unit of distance. Another myth associates the first Games with the ancient Greek concept of Olympic truce (ἐκεχειρία, ekecheiria). The most widely held estimate for the inception of the Ancient Olympics is BC 776.

From then on, the Olympic Games quickly became much more important throughout ancient Greece, reaching their zenith in the 6th and 5th centuries BC. The Olympics were of fundamental religious importance, contests alternating with sacrifices and ceremonies honouring both Zeus (whose colossal statue stood at Olympia), and Pelops, divine hero and mythical king of Olympia, who was famous for his legendary chariot races with King Oenomaus of Pisatis.The number of events increased to twenty, and the celebration was spread over several days. Winners of the events were greatly admired and were immortalised in poems and statues. The Games were held every four years, and the period between two celebrations became known as an Olympiad. The Greeks used Olympiads as one of their units of time measurement.

The Games gradually declined in importance as the Romans gained power in Greece. After Emperor Theodosius I proclaimed Christianity the religion of the Empire in AD 393 and banned pagan rites, the Olympic Games were outlawed as a pagan festival. The Olympics were not seen again until their rebirth 1,500 years later.

Ancient Olympics

There are many myths surrounding the origin of the ancient Olympic Games, the most popular of which identifies Heracles and his father Zeus as the creators of the games. According to the legend, Zeus held sporting events in honor of his defeat of Cronus, and his succession to the king of heaven. Heracles, being his eldest son, defeated his brothers in a running race and was crowned with a wreath of wild olive branches. It is Heracles who is believed to have first called the games Olympic, and established the custom of holding them every 4 years. The legend diverges at this point. One popular story says that Heracles went on to build the Olympic stadium and surrounding buildings as an honor to Zeus, after he completed his 12 labors. After he built the stadium he walked in a straight line for 200 strides and called this distance a "stadion" (Greek: στάδιον, Latin: stadium, "stage") that later also became a unit of distance. Another myth associates the first Games with the ancient Greek concept of Olympic truce (ἐκεχειρία, ekecheiria). The most widely held estimate for the inception of the Ancient Olympics is BC 776.

From then on, the Olympic Games quickly became much more important throughout ancient Greece, reaching their zenith in the 6th and 5th centuries BC. The Olympics were of fundamental religious importance, contests alternating with sacrifices and ceremonies honouring both Zeus (whose colossal statue stood at Olympia), and Pelops, divine hero and mythical king of Olympia, who was famous for his legendary chariot races with King Oenomaus of Pisatis.The number of events increased to twenty, and the celebration was spread over several days. Winners of the events were greatly admired and were immortalised in poems and statues. The Games were held every four years, and the period between two celebrations became known as an Olympiad. The Greeks used Olympiads as one of their units of time measurement.

The Games gradually declined in importance as the Romans gained power in Greece. After Emperor Theodosius I proclaimed Christianity the religion of the Empire in AD 393 and banned pagan rites, the Olympic Games were outlawed as a pagan festival. The Olympics were not seen again until their rebirth 1,500 years later.

Olympic Games

The Olympic Games is an international multi-sport event established for both summer and winter sporting events. There have been two generations of the Olympic Games; the first were the Ancient Olympic Games (Greek: Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες; [Olympiakoi Agones] (help·info)) held at Olympia, Greece. The second generation, known as the Modern Olympic Movement, were first held in 1896, in Athens, Greece. The modern Olympics feature the Summer Games and Winter Games. The Paralympic and Youth Olympic Games are further variations on the Modern Olympic Movement.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded in 1894 on the initiative of a French nobleman, Pierre Frédy, Baron de Coubertin. His vision was to bring together amateur athletes from around the world to compete in a variety of sporting events. The IOC has become the governing body of the "Olympic Movement," a conglomeration of sporting federations that are involved in the organization of the Games. As the Olympic Movement has grown so has the profile and complexity of the Games. The ideal of the pure amateur athlete had to evolve under the pressure of corporate sponsorships and political regimes intent on the creation of sports "dynasties."

Participation in the Games has increased to the point that nearly every nation on earth is represented. This growth has created numerous challenges, including political boycotts, the use of performance enhancing drugs, bribery of officials, and terrorism. While the Olympic Movement is forced to address issues never before conceived by Coubertin, the Olympics continue to evolve in the face of these challenges. The Games also encompass many rituals and symbols that were established during their infancy in the late 19th and early 20th century. Most of these traditions are on display during the Opening and Closing ceremonies, and the medal presentations. Despite the complexity of the current modern Games, the focus remains on the Olympic motto: Citius Altius Fortius - Faster, Higher, Stronger.

Team USA's Women's Track and Field For 2008 Olympics

100, 200 meters | Allyson Felix
A Two-time world champion in the outdoors for the 200 meter-dash.
She had the biggest margin of victory ever in World Championships 200-meter final (2007).
She was the 2004 Olympic silver medalist in the 200 meters.
Has run a 10.93second 100m. this season.

400 meters | Sanya Richards
She is the 2006 IAAF world athlete of the year
A three-time U.S. champion outdoors
A 2004 Olympic gold medalist on the 4x400 relay team.
She competed at University of Texas.

800 meters | Alysia Johnson
She just completed her college eligibility for California at the NCAA championships
She is the reigning U.S. outdoor champion.
Her winning time of 1:59.29 at the 2007 NCAA meet is the 3rd fastest in college history.

1,500 meters | Treniere Clement
Has won three successive U.S. outdoor championships in the 1,500
She was the 2006 U.S. indoor 1,500 champion
A sub-2-minute 800 runner.
She competed for Georgetown.

5,000 meters | Lauren Fleshman
The 2006 U.S. Championship
A three-time NCAA champion for Stanford.
She is trained by Oregon Coach Vin Lananna.

10,000 meters | Kara Goucher
Became the first U.S. woman to medal at the World Championships in the 10,000 by taking the bronze in 2007.
Was second in the 5,000 at the 2006 nationals
Second Placer in the 10,000 at last year's U.S. championships.
She is trained by Coach Alberto Salazar

Steeplechase | Jennifer Barringer
The reigning U.S. champion after winning last season in 9:34.64, then the second-fastest time by a U.S. woman.
2008 NCAA champion for University of Colorado.

100 hurdles | Lolo Jones
A two-time reigning U.S. indoor 60-meter champion and 2008 world indoor champion.
She placed third in the 2007 U.S. championships outdoors
She placed sixth at last year's World Championships outdoors.
Was a three-time national champion
Was an 11-time All-American for Louisiana State.


400 hurdles | Tiffany Ross-Williams
The reigning U.S. Champion
Winner of the 2007 Visa Championship Series.
Ranked sixth in the world in 2007 by Track & Field News.

High jump | Amy Acuff
Won her first U.S. championship in 1995 and still is among the best in the world. A three-time Olympian and the reigning U.S. champion, she finished fourth in the 2004 Athens Games. Competed for UCLA.

Long jump | Brittney Reese
NCAA champion in 2008
NCAA champion in 2007
Named Southeastern Conference women's field athlete of the year.
Second at the 2007 U.S. Championships
Ranked eighth at the World Championships.

Triple jump | Erica McClain
She has won seven Pacific-10 Conference titles in either the long or triple jumps, including both events at the 2008 Pac-10 meet.
She has won the 2005 U.S. triple jump championship as a Stanford freshman.
Third at the U.S. championships outdoors last season.

Pole vault | Jenn Stuczynski
A U.S. Record-holder
She reset her own record last month at 16- 3/4.
She has won three consecutive U.S. outdoor championships
She has won three of the last four national championships indoors.

Shot | Kristin Heaston
Three-time U.S. champion outdoors and 2004 Olympian.
She was the first thrower in the qualifying round in the 2004 Games at Ancient Olympia
The first woman to compete there in an Olympiad

Discus | Suzy Powell-Roos
U.S. Record-holder
She broke a mark that had stood for 21 years by throwing 222-0 last year.
The reigning U.S. Champion
A two-time Olympian.
She finished eighth at last year's World Championships

Hammer | Brittany Riley
Reigning U.S. Champion
The 2007 runner-up at the NCAA championships
She was the 2005 U.S. junior champion.

Javelin | Dana Pounds
Beat U.S. record-holder Kim Kreiner to win the 2007 U.S. Championship
She was a runner-up in 2006
She was a runner-up in 2005
She won back-to-back NCAA titles for the Air Force Academy in 2006
She won back-to-back NCAA titles for the Air Force Academy in 2005
Sixth at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Heptathlon | Jacquelyn Johnson
She won her fourth consecutive Pac-10 heptathlon championship last month for Arizona State, scoring meet-record 6,307 points.
She was fifth at the 2007 U.S. championships while a college junior.

Modern Day Slavery

Beyond the 2008 Olympics: How to Help Modern Day Slavery

Introduction

As millions of international spectators watch the 2008 Summer Olympics, there are millions of people who are depressed around the globe. Currently, there are more than 27 million slaves in the world, more than the number of people extracted from Africa throughout the 400 years of the slave trade. Modern human slavery includes trafficking which generates profits in excess of 12 billion dollars a year. As a matter of fact, individuals are rewarded in the black market for selling others into slavery and sexual bondage. According to International Justice Mission (IJM) statistics, more than two million children are trapped in forced prostitution and many others are forced to become child soldiers. Forcing individuals into slavery involves aggressive behaviors such as intimidation, torture, rape, abandonment, and murder. Those victims entangled in these lifestyles often exist in subhuman environments which can result in forced enlistment into the military, drug trafficking, prostituting, and other amoral endeavors.

Refocused Living

Many people cannot bear to listen to such horrible stories. Therefore, they often avoid this reality and look the other way. However, some US citizens are taking a stand on this matter. Recently, the Redemptive Film Festival (RFF) formed a strategic alliance with the human rights activist agency, IJM to use legal means to help to rescue and empower modern day slaves. Virginia Beach resident Dr. Christopher Cunningham founded RFF; he has worked in the media for more than twenty two years. He explains, “We don’t want to merely have a popular festival that shows redemptive films; we want to help in the process of redeeming our brothers and sisters who for one reason or the other have fallen victims to slavery.” The following are possible ways that individuals and organizations can get involved: (a) educate yourself on the issue of modern day slavery from websites such as RFF’s website (www.redemptivefilms.com), (b) encourage your friends and family to do the same, (c) develop anti-slavery groups or clubs at work and at home, (d) donate to organizations specifically for this cause, and (e) write articles and speak out in your local area to support this effort. In fact, there are many other ways to act. The key is to act.

The Path Forward

Will the world continue to ignore this terrible slave trade market? Changing hearts and minds about this plight continues to be a global challenge. Therefore, progress must be made in baby step increments. Partnerships like RFF and IJM are a good start. However, personal involvement is critical. Dr. Cunningham agrees. His organization is donating 60% of all profits from the 2008 season to support this effort. Dr. Cunningham adds, “As I watch the Olympics, I am reminded of what we can achieve if we all set aside our differences and work together. Our brothers and sisters who are victims of modern day slavery need our help and through the use of film and the support of others, we believe we can make a tangible contribution to change the world.” Yet, there is a call for many other individuals from the international community to get involved. Although the slave trade industries while probably continue well beyond the 2008 Olympics, citizens of the world can’t afford to forget these oppressed victims. Let us pray that it won’t be too late.