The Olympic tradition

Around 10,500 athletes, 20,000 journalists, broadcasters and photographers, and more than two million domestic and international visitors are expected at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Games are about challenge, victory and competing for the ultimate athletic prize. They’re also a celebration of humanity, equality, peace and dignity.

“The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity,” says the Olympic Charter.

China declared the human rights situation in its country would improve if the Olympics came to Beijing – but that’s yet to happen. And as the games approach human rights abuses are actually on the increase.

Let’s help make the legacy of this year’s Games, the 29th of the modern era, one that the world will be proud of.

From Olympia to Beijing

The Summer Olympics will bring together athletes from 203 countries competing in 302 events in 28 different sports. From synchronised swimming to table tennis, from the high jump to the weightlifting. And this year for the first time ever BMX will be an Olympic sport.

The Olympics will run from 8 to 24 August and will be followed by the Paralympics, which run from 6 to 17 September.

The Olympic Flame was lit in Olympia, Greece on March 25 this year, and arrived in China on March 31 for the start of a torch relay around the world. It’s due in Canberra, Australia on 24 April.

China has chosen five Games mascots which together are referred to as The Friendlies or Fuwa – a fish, Panda, Tibetan antelope, swallow and the Olympic flame. The first syllable of each mascot put together spells “Welcome to Beijing” in Chinese.

Want to know more?

The Australian Olympic Committee’s website has a great section called the Beijing Interactive Explorer. It has information, photos and maps of the venues, the sports and the city’s cultural highlights.

For more information check out the official websites of Olympic Movement and the International Olympic Committee, the Chinese Olympic Committee, as well as the rest of the Australian Olympic Committee website.

There's also fact sheets from the International Olympic Committee covering topics from the history of the Games to medal records.