Unforgettable Olympics

Despite fears over security, pollution and humidity, the 2008 Games will be remembered for some record-breaking achievements.
During the sixteen days of action, there were about 10,000 athletes from 204 nations participating in the many competitions. We saw more than 40 world records and also, more than 100 Olympic records were set. 

Hosts China topped the medals table for the first time, with 51 golds ahead of the United States (36) and Russia (23). 

Money talking, the total cost of the Beijing Olympics may exceeded $44 billion, becoming the most expensive Olympic event in history.

And regarding volunteers and staff members, organizers carefully vetted and trained 1.7 million people who did everything from answering questions to presenting medals.
The most strenuous preparation, though, went to the 800 young women selected as cheerleaders or “ceremony hosts,” and another 400 ceremony hosts, who presented medals to athletes, worked even longer. Exercises in poise include “standing in five- to six-inch heels with jaws tucked in while balancing a 16-page book on their head and keeping a sheet of paper between their knees, for at least an hour. 

Then, in the political-social-controversial side, there was the emotional meeting between two shooting medalists from warring Russia and Georgia.  
And behind all glamour, ceremonies and fireworks, during the event there were 53 detained pro-Tibet activists, at least 50 human-rights activists were expelled, harassed or placed under house arrest, 77 rejected protest applications, at least 15 Chinese citizens arrested for seeking to protest, about 10 dissidents jailed and at least 30 websites blocked, including human-rights sites. 

Into sports or not, the Beijing Olympics are definitely an event to remember. 

Filed Under Events, Human Rights, Media & Society, Politics, Sport