About The 2008 Summer Olympics

Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. The 2004 Athens Games had accommodated new sports, equipment and athlete management issues that China, in bidding for the XXIX Olympiad, would have to further develop. As interpreted by the International Olympics Committee's then-president Jacques Rogge, China's task was to promote not only the games but also Beijing's cultural resources and developing political openness. The games' ceremonies, events and athletes fulfilled the IOC's intent and set memorable markers along the way.

Opening Ceremonies

The opening ceremonies on August 8 are remembered as the most spectacular on record. NBC's 34.2 million viewers made the opening ceremonies the highest Olympics television viewership, according to "The New York Times." In comparison, NBC audiences for the opening ceremonies in Athens and in Sydney, Australia -- the 2000 host -- averaged only 26 million. IOC members emphasized the importance of the world's most populous country's hosting these games, given China's cultural and political differences. In addition to European and North American government leaders' interest in improving relations with China, IOC committee members took note when China narrowly lost the 2000 Summer Olympics bid to Sydney; awarding Beijing the 2008 Games signaled cautious welcome with expectations of political improvements, according to "USA Today."

Women's Participation Improves

More female athletes participated in the Beijing Summer Olympics than in any other games. The IOC reports that of all 11,196 athletes, 4,746 were women, representing 42 percent female participation. This reveals a huge increase since 1960, when Rome's Olympics had only 11.5 percent female participation. In 2000, Sydney's 4,069 females comprised more than 38 per cent of the total athletes, while Athens' 4,306 females represented 40 per cent. In Beijing, women competed in the same number of sports -- 137 -- as did the men.

Men's Marathon Unequalled

The men's marathon, the last event of the Beijing Games, showcased a runner whose performance is rated by Science of Sport as the finest all-time performance in marathon history. Sammy Wanjiru, Kenya's first Olympic marathon champion, set an Olympic record of 2:06:32 on one of Beijing's hottest and most humid days that summer. Oppressive heat at the start did not prevent near world-record pacing for the first 13 miles, after which all but one runner significantly slowed. Wanjiru simply slowed the least.

Bolt Dominates Sprints; Controversy Dominates Swimming

Another runner, the Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, sent shock waves through track and field. Bolt -- taller than any other sprinter there -- broke the world record for the 100 meters, his 9.58 seconds beating American Tyson Gay's 9.71; broke his own record in the 200 meters; and ran on the record-breaking 400-meter men's relay team. World records in swimming were broken daily, drawing vast scrutiny to the extremely controversial high-tech speed suits worn during races. In January 2010, these full-body polyurethane and neoprene high-performance speed suits were banned from all ensuing competition.

Closing Ceremonies and Paralympics

Beijing's closing ceremonies on August 24 were spectacular and technically ornate. However, the Summer Olympics were not quite over; the Paralympic Games unfolded September 6-17, when world-class disabled athletes competed in 20 sports, including archery, track, equestrian, cycling, boat sports, judo and wheelchair tennis, fencing and team sports. Medal events numbered 262 for men, 176 for women.