Bindaaspoll.com News : Beijing Olympic

The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, will be celebrated from August 8, 2008 to August 24, 2008, with the opening ceremony commencing at 08:08:08 pm CST (12:08:08 UTC) at the Beijing National Stadium in Beijing, People's Republic of China. Some events, including football (soccer), sailing, and new 10 km marathon swimming events will be held in other cities of China. With the equestrian events being held in Hong Kong, this marks the second time the same edition of the olympic Games has been hosted by two National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

The Olympic games were awarded to Beijing, People's Republic of China 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 stylized calligraphic character jing (?, meaning capital), referencing the host city. The mascots of Beijing 2008 are the five Fuwa, each representing one color of the Olympic rings. The Olympic slogan, One World, One Dream, calls upon the world to unite in the Olympic spirit. Athletes will compete in 302 events in 28 sports, just one event more than was on the schedule of the Athens games of 2004. Several new NOCs have also been recognized by the IOC.

The Chinese government sees the games as a chance for China to highlight its economic rise and emergence as a world power. Despite the efforts of the Communist Party to tightly manage press coverage of the event, there will likely be issues over the environment, human rights violations, and Tibetan independence. This being so, former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch has still boasted that the Beijing games will be "the best in Olympic history."

Host selection process
Beijing was elected the host city on July 13, 2001, during the 112th IOC Session in Moscow, beating Toronto, Paris, Istanbul, and Osaka. Prior to the session, five other cities—Bangkok, Cairo, Havana, Kuala Lumpur, and Seville—submitted bids to the IOC but failed to make the shortlist in 2000. The voting distributions were as follows.

2008 Summer Olympics bidding results
City NOC Round 1 Round 2
Beijing China 44 56
Toronto Canada 20 22
Paris France 15 18
Istanbul Turkey 17 9
Osaka Japan 6 —

After the first round of voting, Beijing held a significant lead over the other four candidates. Osaka received only six votes and was eliminated. In the second round, Beijing was supported by an absolute majority of voters, eliminating the need for subsequent rounds.[5]

Previously, Beijing had bid to host the 2000 Summer Olympics. It led the voting over the first three rounds, but ultimately lost to Sydney in the final round in 1993

Development and preparation

Venues
Main articles: 2008 Summer Olympic venues and Olympic Park
By May 2007, construction of all thirty-one Beijing-based Olympic Games venues had begun. The Chinese government is also investing in the renovation and construction of six venues outside Beijing as well as fifty-nine training centers. Its largest architectural pieces will be the Beijing National Stadium, Beijing National Indoor Stadium, Beijing National Aquatics Centre, Olympic Green Convention Centre, Olympic Green, and Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center. Almost 85 percent of the construction budget for the six main venues is being funded by US$2.1 billion (RMB¥17.4 billion) in corporate bids and tenders. Investments are expected from corporations seeking ownership rights after the 2008 Summer Olympics. Some venues will be owned and governed by the State General Administration of Sports, which will use them after the Olympics as facilities for all future national sports teams and events.

It was announced on July 8, 2005 that the equestrian events are to be held in Hong Kong because of "uncertainties of equine diseases and major difficulties in establishing a disease-free zone." The five venues outside Beijing will be located in Qingdao, Hong Kong, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Qinhuangdao.

Beijing National Stadium

Main stadium Beijing National StadiumMain article: Beijing National Stadium
The centerpiece of the 2008 Summer Olympics will be the Beijing National Stadium, nicknamed the "Bird Nest" because of its nest-like skeletal structure.[8] Construction of the venue began on December 24, 2003. The Guangdong Olympic Stadium was originally planned, constructed, and completed in 2001 for the Games, but a decision was made to construct a new stadium in Beijing. Government 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 National Stadium will feature a lattice-like concrete skeleton forming the stadium bowl and will have a seating capacity of 80,000 people. Architects originally described the overall design as resembling a bird's nest with an immense ocular—an opening with a retractable roof over the stadium. However, in 2004, the idea of retractable roof was abandoned for economic and safety reasons. The Beijing National Stadium will be the site of the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the athletics events and soccer finals. The stadium's designer Ai Weiwei has since withdrawn his support for China's Olympic games, saying "he wants nothing to do with them anymore".

Marketing

Emblem
Dancing Beijing emblem depicted in a flower garden.The 2008 Summer Olympics emblem entitled "Dansing Beijing" (Chinese:?????) was unveiled in August 2003 in a ceremony attended by 2,008 people at Qi'niandian (???) — the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in Beijing's Temple of Heaven (?? or ??). The emblem combines elements of traditional Chinese society—a red seal and a calligraphic word for jing (?) ("national capital") with athletic features. The open arms of the calligraphic word symbolizes the invitation of China to the world to share in its culture. IOC president Jacques Rogge was very happy with the emblem, saying, "Your new emblem immediately conveys the awesome beauty and power of China which are embodied in your heritage and your people."

Mascots
Officially branded merchandise is sold at special storesMain article: Fuwa
The Fuwa (Chinese: ??; pinyin: Fúwá; literally "good-luck dolls") were unveiled as the mascots of the games by the National Society of Chinese Classic Literature Studies on November 11, 2005, at an event marking the 1000th day before the opening of the games.

The Fuwa consist of five members that incorporate fish, giant panda, fire, Tibetan antelope, and swallow designs. They correspond with the five elements of Chinese philosophy: water, metal, fire, wood, and earth. The Fuwa each have as their primary color one of the colors of the five Olympic Rings. The five Fuwa are named Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini. When the first syllable of each of the five names are said together, the result is the phrase ????? (Beijing huanyíng ni) which means "Beijing welcomes you ".

Tickets
The Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee publicized in early August 2006 that it will sell over 7 million tickets for various sporting events and ceremonies to the general public. The chief of the committee expressed her hopes that all Chinese people would have a chance to come to the games. The committee has, therefore, set low ticket prices so as to encourage the Chinese people to become more involved in the Olympics.

On April 14, 2007, tickets to the general public went on sale through the Beijing Organizing Committee for domestic tickets (which will account for 75% of the sales) and through each nation's NOC for overseas ticket sales. By June 2007, 2.2 million tickets—about a third of the supply volume—had already been sold.

Slogan
Both the 2008 Olympic emblem and slogan appear side by side in this image.On June 26, 2005, The Beijing Olympic Committee announced that the slogan for the 2008 Olympics will be "One World, One Dream" (simplified Chinese: ????? ?????; traditional Chinese: ????? ?????; pinyin: Tóng Yíge Shìjiè Tóng Yíge Mèngxiang.) The slogan calls upon the whole world to join in the Olympic spirit and build a better future for humanity. It was chosen from over 210,000 entries submitted from around the world.

Merchandising
The Beijing logo as displayed on a can of Coca-Cola.Since early 2007, licensed Olympics merchandise stores have been in business throughout China. More than 800 official stores were in operation at the end of July 2007. Since August 2007, Olympic merchandise has been made available online, with more than 5000 products available via the official merchandising website, which include apparel, mascot dolls, key-chains and commemorative chopsticks.

Olympic lawmaking
The Beijing municipal authority has declared that more than 70 local laws and decrees would be made before the 2008 Summer Olympics which would banish local people who don't have hukou (residency permits) of Beijing. It would also banish vagrants, beggars, and people with mental illness from the city. The municipal authority also made it clear that it would strengthen border control, call for a "special holiday", or forcible shutout, to make Beijing citizens stay at home during the Olympics. It also seeks to strengthen controls over Chinese and foreign NGOs and forbid any protests during the games. The government has also strengthened its laws relating to prosecution of those deemed to be disseminating material not beneficial to the state.

The Geneva-based group, Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions has claimed that 1.5 million Beijing residents will be displaced from their homes for the Olympics event. Beijing's Olympic organizing committee and China's Foreign Ministry have put the number at 6,037.[19] As of May 2005, 300,000 residents have been evicted in preparation for the games. Police in Beijing placed many people under arrest for protesting against the evictions.

The Beijing government has issued new mandates that require police officers in the city to act more appropriately. The government has circulated pamphlets urging officers to desist from using foul language, lose their arrogance, and not hang up on people who call to report crimes. They have been told that violators will be reprimanded. By doing this, Beijing hopes to clean up its image in time for the games.

A drive has also been launched to improve the poor English translations common on Chinese signage, labeling etc. in readiness for the Olympics.

Public transport
Further information: Beijing Subway

This is a map of the Olympic venues in Beijing. Several expressways encircle the center of the city, providing for quick transportation around the city and between venues.Anticipating a huge rush during the games, Beijing's subway system is currently undergoing a major expansion which will increase its capacity to more than twice its existing size. The system currently is composed of four lines and 64 stations. An additional seven lines and more than eighty new stations are being constructed, including a direct link to Beijing Capital International Airport. In the airport itself, eleven unmanned trains, each transporting a maximum of 83 passengers, will expedite the movement of people throughout the new terminal building. Most of them are scheduled to operate from June 30, 2008, one month before the beginning of the games. In January 2007, the BOCOG announced that the Metro cars will be fitted with video screens showing the latest news and events during the games. Additionally, cellphone signals would be made available, so that people can use their communication devices in the metro stations or underground.

According to the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, a new five-level emergency alert system for extreme weather and security threats will be implemented in the airport. This system is designed to ensure smooth and safe transportation for the estimated three million domestic and overseas visitors who will flock to Beijing for the games in August 2008.

On the ground, Beijing is set to designate thirty-eight official public transit routes that will link the Olympic venues. During the games, 2,500 large-size buses and 4,500 minibuses will be operated by a total of 8,000 drivers to transport people across various venues. Prior to the games, public transport will be optimized in order to reduce the existing 110 overlapping routes.

Smoking is banned in the 66,000 cabs, the violation of which would lead to a fine of 100 to 200 yuan (13 to 26 USD). Beijing authorities are thus trying to make the event a non-smoking event.

Sports
Decorative flower garden in Tiananmen Square depicting various Olympic sports.The programme for the Beijing 2008 Games is quite similar to that of the Athens Games held in 2004. The 2008 Olympics will see the return of 28 sports, and will hold 302 events (165 men’s events, 127 women’s events, and 10 mixed events), one event more in total than in Athens.

Overall nine new events will be held, which include two from the new cycling discipline of BMX. Women will compete in the 3000m steeplechase for the first time. In addition, marathon swimming events for men and women, over the distance of 10 kilometers, will be added to the swimming discipline. Team events (men and women) in table tennis will replace the doubles events. In fencing, women's team foil and women's team sabre will replace men's team foil and women's team epee.

This pictogram depicts Athletics.In mid-2006, video gamers held talks with the Chinese government in hopes of allowing video games to be a demonstration sport at the games. Demonstration events have not been held at any Olympic Games (Summer or Winter) since 1992.

On August 7, 2006, a day before the 2-year countdown to the Beijing Games, the Beijing Organizing Committee released pictograms of the 35 Olympic disciplines. Each pictogram is designed so that people of nations around the world can recognize the different sports being played at the Olympic Games. This set of sport icons is named the beauty of seal characters, due to each pictogram's likeness to Chinese seal script.

The following are the sports to be contested at the games. The Olympic sport of aquatics has been split into its constituent disciplines of diving, swimming, synchronized swimming, and water polo. The number of events to be contested in each sport is indicated in parentheses.

Archery
Athletics
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Boxing
Canoeing
Cycling
Diving
Equestrian
Fencing
Field Hockey
Football/Soccer
Gymnastics
Handball
Judo
Modern pentathlon
Rowing
Sailing
Shooting
Softball
Swimming
Synchronized swimming
Table tennis
Taekwondo
Tennis
Triathlon
Volleyball
Water polo
Weightlifting
Wrestling

Torch relay
2008 Olympic Torch Relay.Main article: 2008 Olympic Torch Relay
The plans accepted by the IOC for the Olympic torch relay were announced on April 26, 2007, in Beijing. The relay, with the theme "Journey of Harmony", will last 130 days, carrying the torch 137,000 km (85,100 mi.) – the longest distance of any Olympic torch relay (though most of it is by air). The relay will begin on March 25, 2008, in Olympia, Greece. From there, it will travel across Greece to Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, and then to Beijing, arriving on March 31. From Beijing, the torch will follow a route passing through every continent except Antarctica. The torch will visit cities on the Silk Road, symbolizing ancient links between China and the rest of the world. A total of 21,880 torchbearers will be selected from around the world by various organizations and entities.

The BOCOG also plans to carry the flame to the top of Mount Everest. In June 2007, construction began on a 108 km (67 mi) long "highway" scaling the Tibetan side of the mountain. The $19.7 million blacktop project will span from Tingri County of Xigazê Prefecture to the Everest Base Camp. Environmental concerns about the effects of the road on the fragile Himalayan region have been expressed by the media, but denied by the Chinese government.

The original scheduled route agreed in April included a stop in Taipei just before heading for Hong Kong. Taiwan's government, however, later rejected this proposal, claiming that such arrangement would make the Taiwan relay be seen as part of China's domestic route, rather than the international route.[35] Recent negotiations have led the IOC to officially take Taipei off the torch relay. Both China and Taiwan have blamed each other for injecting politics into the event.

The Olympic Torch is based on traditional scrolls and uses a traditional Chinese design known as the "Cloud of Promise" (??). The torch is designed to remain lit in 65 kilometer-an-hour winds, and in rain of up to 50 millimeters-an-hour.

Participating NOCs
This map depicts the NOCs that competed at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. A vast majority of these nations are expected to return for the 2008 games.Whilst qualifying competitions in various disciplines are well underaway, it is not yet completely certain which National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will participate. Most NOCs participate regularly, although various circumstances could cause a nation to be absent from the games, as was the case for six NOCs at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Nevertheless, placements in various qualifying races can help predict which nations and how many athletes will be at the games; for example, Steven Roush, chief of sport performance for the United States Olympic Committee expects the United States to bring about 600 competitors to the games, their largest Olympic team thus far.

North Korea and South Korea are considering sending a united team to the 2008 Olympics. In the past, the two nations have walked together in the parade of nations during the opening ceremonies, but have never competed as one team. The two NOCs met with IOC president Jacques Rogge on September 5, 2006, to discuss the possibility of creating such a combined team. In early 2007, Korean Olympic Committee President Kim Jung-kil and North Korean Olympic Committee President Mun Jae-duk met to further discuss the logistics of sending a unified team. South Korea advocates selection of athletes based on performance, while North Korea hopes for equal representation of athletes if the two indeed send a joint team. The NOCs failed to reach an agreement on representation, but said they would have further discussions in the future.

The Marshall Islands gained NOC status in February, 2006, and is expected to participate in the Games.[43] Tuvalu representatives met with IOC president Jacques Rogge in 2005, who indicated that Tuvalu was likely to be voted a full-fledged Olympic member at the IOC meeting in 2007. At the 119th IOC session, the Tuvalu Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee was accepted as a new National Olympic Committee.

In May 2006 (just after the 2006 Winter Olympics), the citizens of Montenegro voted in a referendum to sever their political union with Serbia. The states of Serbia and Montenegro, which participated at the 2004 Games jointly as Serbia and Montenegro, will now compete separately. The Montenegrin Olympic Committee was accepted as a new National Olympic Committee at the 119th IOC session along with Tuvalu. A dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles was to have taken place in July 2007, giving Curaçao and Sint Maarten—like Aruba—a status aparte. This status would have permitted the new nations to create NOCs, allowing them to compete separately at the games. However, the dissolution was postponed until December 2008, four months after the scheduled 2008 Olympics. Even if the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles takes place in December 2008, any newly formed NOCs will have to wait until the 2012 Olympics to participate in the Summer Games.

Figure skating aces Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo said Thursday they planned to get married next year after the pairs world champions temporarily left the national team.
Shen and Zhao, bringing China the first figure skating world championships title in 2002, put their 15-year partnership on the ice to a stop early this year and prepared to start a life together.

Figure skating aces Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo demonstrates their present diamond rings at a Chengdu's photography exhibition, southwest China's Sichuan Province April 25,2007.The pairs said Thursday they planned to get married next year after the pairs world champions temporarily left the national team.[China Foto Press]
"We plan to get married after the Beijing Olympic Games next year. We have received so many suggestions on where my wedding should be held," said a smiling Zhao who showed up with Shen to be named the Honorary Embassadors for Pyeong Chang's bid for the 2014 winter Olympics.

"This year we are going to be very busy and we also want to devote some of our energy to the Beijing Games," said the 34-year-old Zhao.

Shen and Zhao clinched their third world title in Tokyo in March when Zhao made an unexpected proposal to Shen in the pairs' final.

Zhao knelt on one knee, holding Shen's hands to make the proposal when they finished their free skate routine in the final on March 21 amid thunderous applause of the spectators. A few seconds later, a surprised Shen lowered to her knees too.

"I had not known that was a proposal until he told me later that night," recalled Shen, 29. "That's why I knelt down too."

With three world titles and two Olympic bronzes to their names, Shen and Zhao decided to leave the national team for a while.

"We may return for the 2010 winter Olympics. After all an Olympic gold medal is what we want the most," said Zhao.

"Even if we quit skating, our life will always be involved with the sport. We will try our best to promote it in China," said Shen.

When Tom Maher, head coach of the Chinese women's basketball national team, was sitting at the lobby of the Jinqiang Hotel, he knew that nothing but a podium finish of his team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games could satisfy the fans.

"I know everybody wants us to win a medal at the Beijing 2008, even a gold medal, but it's different to set an achievable goal from what you hope for," the Australian said while his team was playing at the international warm-up at Wenjiang, about 20 kilometers away from the downtown of the Southwest city of Chengdu.

The Chinese women's team has a better history in the international competitions than their men peers, led by Houston Rockets' star center Yao Ming, who is aiming for another entry in the last eight in the Olympics.

China won the silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and finished second at the World Championships in 1994, both the best results for the women's team on the world level.

In 2004, China finished only 9th after losing 79-77 to New Zealand in the preliminary round in Athens, and lost to Cuba 71-68 in the 11-12th placing finals at the World Championships in 2006, also the two worst results for them.

"We need more quality players for the goal. We do have some talented players, like Ye Li, (Sui) Feifei and Wang Ling. But they are too vulnerable to be healthy," Maher said.

Center Ye, Yao's girlfriend, is still nursing her knee injury which parred her from international competitions more than a year, and forward Sui Feifei has been resting for about the same length long for constant injuries.

Without these top choices, Maher had to build up his team with current active players for a potential medal team at the Beijing 2008.

"Chen Nan is the most improved player. She is a great player and the leader of the team," Maher said.

Chen was an established pivot before Maher took the post three years ago after he led New Zealand into the last eight on the sacrifice of China in Athens 2004.

"Chen was a star player before I came here, but now she is great. The great player is willing to do everything that she could get credit for. That's the difference between a great player and a star player," Maher added.

"Miao Lijie is a better defender now. She could not defend, and that's the reason why she couldn't get enough playing time when she was in the Los Angeles Sparks.

"Bian Lan is one of the top scorers and Song Xiaoyun, the most emotional player of the team, is getting better on her point guard position," Maher said.

China crushed New Zealand 88-46 on Wednesday at the four-nation internationals and will face Cuba on Friday.

"Nothing but the result of the Beijing 2008 could speak my work and my future with the China's team," Maher vowed.

Canada will send about 300 athletes to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and it hopes to finish among the top 16 in the overall medal table.

The remarks were made by Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) President Michael Chambers Monday in Ottawa.

Chambersl also announced the establishment of the Athlete Excellent Fund, which will award cash prize to Olympics medalists for the first time in Canadian history.

Starting from Beijing Olympics, Canadian athletes will receive 20,000 Canadian dollars (20,600 U.S. dollars) per gold medal won at any Olympic Games, said Chambers.

Silver winners will be compensated 15,000 Canadian dollars (15,450 U.S. dollars) per medal and bronze winners will earn 10,000 Canadian dollars (10,300 U.S. dollars).

"This program demonstrates our commitment to athlete performance and rewarding excellence," he said.

The awards will apply to all Olympic athletes, including those playing in a team sport.

In the three non-Olympic years of the four-year cycle, athletes who place in the top five in years one or two, or top four in year three, will receive 5,000 Canadian dollars (5,150 U.S. dollars), according to Chambers.

He looks well-groomed, and like a professional, wearing a suit and walking down the street in the middle of the day.

His head turns slightly and there's a slight hoicking sound from the back of his mouth. Then, he spits on the street.

It's a flagrant violation of the law that occurs thousands --possibly hundreds of thousands -- of times each day in the Chinese capital, but as Beijing tries to spruce up its image for the 2008 Olympics, the city government and the civic-minded have the practice in their sights.

During the week-long Labor Day holiday this year, which began on May 1, more than 100,000 paper bags were handed out to the public for people to spit into. The local authorities also meted out fines ranging from 20 yuan (2.7 U.S. dollars) to 50 yuan (6.7 U.S. dollars) to 89 people for spitting in public.

A most recent official campaign against spitting in public was in 2003 to raise the public awareness of the spread of SARS.

But spitting is proving difficult to eradicate. Beijing's dusty climate and high levels of pollution mean many people consider it necessary to spit in the streets just to clear their throats.

Wang Tao, 35, who works at the Xicheng District Health Bureau, decided to do something about it.

He started his first battle to fight spitting in the streets in May 2006. At weekends Wang and his growing band of Green Woodpeckers, formed mainly of student volunteers, patrol on Beijing's streets, trying to show spitters the error of their ways.

"We give tissues to the people who spit and ask them to wipe up the spittle," he says. "If they refuse, we do it in front of them. This kind of action is effective on most people."

He is not alone. With less than a year to the opening of the 2008 Olympics, Beijing continues its endeavors to improve the character of the city as residents are on the alert to mind their manners.

"Hosting the Games means a lot more than building grand stadiums," says Zhang Huiguang, director of Beijing's Capital Ethics Development Office, the official etiquette watchdog.

An official estimate of 500,000 visitors and athletes will come to China for the Games. "Both China's positive and negative sides will be amplified -- and bad impressions last," she says.

Changing bad habits ahead of the Games is "crucial in providing a cultural and historical legacy to China and the world as a whole", says Zhang.

Dubbed the "Ms. Manners" of the Beijing Games, Zhang Huiguang is racing against time to improve the city's decorum. She and her team use daily TV commercials, newspaper cartoons and street posters to try to change the ingrained habits of the 15 million people living in and around the city.

"Promoting civilized behavior among Chinese travelers and residents is a long-term task. For the Games, we need to focus our resources on the main problems," Zhang says, citing spitting, queue-jumping, swearing and smoking as the four "new pests" against the "four pests" of rats, flies, mosquitoes and sparrows during Mao's era.

One measure to "eliminate the four new pests" is the "promote queuing" campaign, which was launched in February 2007, and is held on the 11th day of each month as "11" has come to symbolize "one after one".

Uniformed queuing inspectors, waving flags, appear at bus stops and subway stations on "queuing day" to ensure people line up. The traditional swarming mobs at the doors of trains and buses are less common these days.

"In March, we focused on bus stops and subway stations. In April, we focused on hospitals," says Zhang. "We gave flowers to patients standing in line to show our appreciation for their good behavior."

Beijing has also issued 2.8 million pamphlets about daily etiquette to local households and offered polishing courses to all civil servants and 870,000 people working in the service sector, such as cab drivers, waiters and waitresses, and bus conductors.

"Sentences like 'No means no, it doesn't need an explanation' and 'We can't help you. Go ask someone else' are strictly prohibited," says Zhao Guiling, a 36-year-old cab driver.

Yao Kuo, vice-director of the municipal transport management bureau, says his bureau has devised a 12-point evaluation chart for taxi drivers, which includes no smoking while driving, no overcharging, no spitting and no littering.

"Cab drivers must remember that their service is a window on China's capital, and they contribute powerfully to the city's image," Yao says.

Progress is being made. A survey released by Renmin University of China at the end of January found that in 2006, 4.95 percent of people still spat, down by 3.5 percentage points from 2005.

From November 2005 to November 2006, the poll covered 10,000 local residents and 1,000 foreigners who had lived in Beijing for more than two years. The survey team also gathered observations from 230,000 people at 320 public venues and 180,000 automobiles.

The survey revealed that the occurrence of littering in public had dropped from 9.1 percent in 2005 to 5.3 percent in 2006 and queue-jumping dropped from 9 percent to 6 percent.

The "civic index" of Beijing residents scored 69.06 in 2006, 3.85 points higher than 2005. The index takes into account public compliance with rules in public health and public order, attitudes towards strangers, etiquette in watching sports events and willingness to contribute to the Olympic Games.

However, the "civic index" still fails to meet the standard required for the 2008 Olympics, says Sha Lianxiang, professor of the Department of Sociology, Renmin University. She expected the index to rise to 72 to 78 during the Games.

"On the one hand, we are developing and making progress now, while on the other, we still have many problems. Raising public etiquette and civility is not something we can do in one or two months, or even one or two years," she says.

Zhang Faqiang, vice-chairman of the China Olympic Committee, agrees. "We are still away from meeting the standards of a really civilized Olympic Games, so we will continue to do important work on this."

"The Olympics is an opportunity to learn, but this is not just for the Olympics. We are trying to get the public to be more civilized in the long run. Ultimately, China's modernization restson the quality of its citizens."

Tickets for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games are now available to Olympic fans worldwide through various channels depending on their country of residence.

Chinese residents wishing to obtain Beijing 2008 Olympic tickets should visit the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) website.

Olympic fans from other countries looking for information regarding Beijing 2008 Olympic tickets should contact the National Olympic Committee (NOC) in their territory of residence. Some NOCs may have designated an Official Ticket Agent in order to assist the general public to obtain tickets and services related to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

To find out where you can purchase tickets for the Games please visit the official BOCOG ticketing website.

Fans are reminded that only tickets purchased from or obtained through official/authorised sources will enable entry to venues. Detailed information on official/authorised ticket sources, in particular a list of authorised ticket resellers (in China and internationally) is available on the official Beijing 2008 ticketing website. Fans having purchased or obtained tickets from unofficial or unauthorised sources run the risk of having those tickets cancelled, being refused entry and/or being asked to leave the venue, without receiving a refund or qualifying for an exchange of ticket. Neither the International Olympic Committee nor BOCOG nor any NOC may be held liable for any consequence (such as, without limitation, any loss or damage) related to a ticket purchased from or obtained through an unauthorised or unofficial source.

A fire broke out on Monday at the nearly completed table tennis venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but damage appeared limited and there were no casualties, officials and witnesses said.

Firemen extinguish a fire at the Peking University gymnasium, which is under construction to host the table tennis tournament at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, in Beijing July 2, 2007. [Reuters]

Flames could be seen coming from the roof of the building on the campus of the elite Peking University, and thick black smoke billowed into the air as firefighters battled the blaze in the northwest university district of the Chinese capital.

The western side of the building was blackened by smoke but the rest of the structure appeared intact. A policeman at the scene said there had been no casualties.

Seventeen fire engines were involved in fighting the fire, and Xinhua news agency quoted the Beijing fire department as saying the main fire had been put out at around 10:40 a.m.

They were investigating the cause of the blaze. Preliminary inquiries indicated it had been caused by construction activity.

A construction worker, who did not want to be named, said the fire had been caused by someone using an electric welder.

"I was heading to a classroom building when I saw flames and black smoke coming from the roof of that building at about 9 o' clock," said a student surnamed Li of the university. "But fortunately no student was there because the neighboring classroom buildings have been under reconstruction," she said.

"Everything on campus remains in order now," Li added, "Graduate students are shooting photos of themselves in graduation gowns."

Officials from the university said the fire burned the insulation materials at the surface of the building but the steel girders and the structure remain unaffected, Xinhua reported.

They said the accident wouldn't affect the "Good Luck Beijing" venue-testing table tennis tournament kicking off there this December.

Still, they said further examination of the damages would be needed.

The table tennis venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympics based in Peking University will be completed in August and be able to hold nearly 8,000 spectators.

Construction of the glass domed 26,900-sq metre (289,600-sq ft) gymnasium started in September 2005 and was scheduled for completion next month, in time to host an Olympic test event in December.

One of 11 new venues being built in the city for next year's Games, the gymnasium will have a capacity for 8,000 spectators.

The building of the venues for the first Olympics to be held in China has progressed smoothly with none of the major delays which marked the preparations for the last Summer Games in Athens.

All 31 venues are due to be completed by the end of this year with the exception of the National Stadium, or Bird's Nest, which has been delayed until March 2008.

The Olympics open on August 8, 2008.

CBNNews.com - Organizers for the 2008 Olympics in China have released their list of items banned from the Olympic village where the athletes will stay.

Among the "prohibited objects" -- Bibles.

The Catholic News Agency reports that the committee behind the Beijing games cited "security reasons" for the ban.

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China's Bible Debate Heats Up

Athletes are also prohibited from bearing any kind of religious symbol at Olympic facilities.

The ban seems to undermine comments released by the country's top religious affairs official. Last month, Ye Xiaowen acknowledged that he expected large numbers of religious faithful among the athletes, coaches and tourists to be swarming into the officially atheist nation during the Olympics.

Xiaowen, director-general of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, said on Oct. 17 that China plans to offer religious services for foreigners. He recognized that religion will play a positive role "in promoting economic and social development" in the future, Reuters reported.

"We are learning from practices in past Games to make sure that their demands for religious worship are met," Ye said on the sidelines of the ruling Communist Party's 17th Congress.

"Here I can promise that religious services we offer will not be lower than the level of any previous Games," Ye said. He did not say if proselytizing would be allowed.

The number of Chinese believers in Buddhism, Taosim and Christianity have been on the rise in recent years, Ye added.

Striking a Balance or Banning Religion?

But striking the balance between providing religious services for the faithful and banning personal religious materials outright may prove more difficult than safeguarding against possible security threats.

The Olympic charter says "no kind of political propaganda, religious or racial hatred is allowed in the Olympic areas."

The Spanish daily La Razon called the standard one of many "signs of censure and intolerance" towards religious objects, particularly those used by Christians in China.

There are some 10 million Catholics in China, divided between an "underground" church loyal to the Vatican and the state-approved church that respects the Pope as a spiritual figurehead but rejects effective papal control.

Currently in China, five bishops and 15 priests are in prison for opposing the state-approved church.

Other items banned from the Olympic village include video cameras and cups.

Sources: The Catholic News Agency, Reuters

Australian athletes will stay away the Beijing Olympics until the last minute, hoping to avoid air pollution and food problems in the Chinese capital.

Australian IOC member John Coates, after meeting Tuesday with heads of other Olympic delegations and Beijing organizers, called Beijing's choking pollution "a prevailing worry for most of us."

"We will be not recommending a long period in China before the games," Coates said, a day before the countdown clock reaches one year until the games open. "That only is going to increase the possibility of respiratory or gastric illness -- particularly if you are not living in the village."

Coates, also president of the Australian Olympic Committee, said his athletes would be going to China four or five days before their first events.

"They (Chinese organizers) are very, very conscious of it," Coates said. "They knows it's a concern to the IOC. All we can do is trust that they will do everything possible."

He said Beijing officials told him that plans were in place to ban vehicles from Beijing's streets, perhaps as early as next week. That would coincide with several weeks of test events in Beijing.

"They said cars will be coming off the road for a trial period," Coates said.

Tuesday was another smog filled day in the Chinese capital, greeting IOC president Jacques Rogge and hundreds of Olympic officials on hand for Wednesday night's celebration in Tiananmen Square.

"It certainly doesn't look too good here in downtown Beijing," Coates said.

Coates said he was less concerned about food safety next year.

On Monday, Beijing officials said global positioning satellites and other high-tech devices would be used to ensure food safety at the Beijing Olympics.

"The IOC pays very special attention to the quality of food in the Olympic Villages," Coates said. "We don't expect that to be a problem, but we will still be advising our athletes to eat in the village, not in local food stores. Be careful with bottled water and take every precaution."

Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace -- and good wishes from China -- to children all over the world.

Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic Flame.

Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow.

When you put their names together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.

Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky -- all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.

In the ancient culture of China, there is a grand tradition of spreading good wishes through signs and symbols. Each of Fuwa symbolizes a different blessing -- and will honor this tradition by carrying their good wishes to the children of the world. Prosperity, happiness, passion, health and good luck will be spread to every continent as Fuwa carry their invitation to Beijing 2008 to every part of the globe.

At the heart of their mission -- and through all of their work -- Fuwa will seek to unite the world in peace and friendship through the Olympic spirit. Dedicated to helping Beijing 2008 spread its theme of One World, One Dream to every continent, Fuwa reflect the deep desire of the Chinese people to reach out to the world in friendship through the Games -- and to invite every man, woman and child to take part in the great celebration of human solidarity that China will host in the light of the flame in 2008.

In China's traditional culture and art, the fish and water designs are symbols of prosperity and harvest. And so Beibei carries the blessing of prosperity. A fish is also a symbol of surplus in Chinese culture, another measure of a good year and a good life.

The ornamental lines of the water-wave designs are taken from well-known Chinese paintings of the past. Among Fuwa, Beibei is known to be gentle and pure. Strong in water sports, she reflects the blue Olympic ring.

Jingjing makes children smile -- and that's why he brings the blessing of happiness wherever he goes. You can see his joy in the charming naivety of his dancing pose and the lovely wave of his black and white fur. As a national treasure and a protected species, pandas are adored by people everywhere. The lotus designs in Jingjing's headdress, which are inspired by the porcelain paintings of the Song Dynasty (A.D.960-1234), symbolize the lush forest and the harmonious relationship between man and nature. Jingjing was chosen to represent our desire to protect nature's gifts -- and to preserve the beauty of nature for all generations. Jingjing is charmingly naïve and optimistic. He is an athlete noted for strength who represents the black Olympic ring.

Like all antelopes, Yingying is fast and agile and can swiftly cover great stretches of land as he races across the earth. A symbol of the vastness of China's landscape, the antelope carries the blessing of health, the strength of body that comes from harmony with nature. Yingying's flying pose captures the essence of a species unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, one of the first animals put under protection in China. The selection of the Tibetan Antelope reflects Beijing commitment to a Green Olympics. His head ornament incorporates several decorative styles from the Qinghai-Tibet and Sinkiang cultures and the ethnic design traditions of Western China. Strong in track and field events, Yingying is a quick-witted and agile boy who represents the yellow Olympic ring.

Every spring and summer, the children of Beijing have flown beautiful kites on the currents of wind that blow through the capital. Among the kite designs, the golden-winged swallow is traditionally one of the most popular. Nini's figure is drawn from this grand tradition of flying designs. Her golden wings symbolize the infinite sky and spread good-luck as a blessing wherever she flies. Swallow is also pronounced "yan" in Chinese, and Yanjing is what Beijing was called as an ancient capital city. Among Fuwa, Nini is as innocent and joyful as a swallow. She is strong in gymnastics and represents the green Olympic ring.