Getting ready for the Olympics

The ground plans are now being laid for the greatest sporting event of the world, which comes once in four years. It is showing signs of turning into an exciting venture. Yes. You guessed it right.

The 2008 Summer Olympics is only an year away, and the excitement has already begun. Therefore, let's get to know what it is all about, and be ready for all the surprises that the Games have to offer.

The 2008 Summer Olympics, which is officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, were awarded to Beijing, China after competing with Canada, France, Turkey and Japan. There was the traditional balloting mechanism to choose the host of the games, and China won by a considerable number of votes. The games will be celebrated from August 8, 2008 to August 24, 2008.

You will be surprised to know that the opening ceremony is scheduled to commence at an unusual time, which is 08:08:08 p.m. at the Beijing National Stadium. The official logo of the games is titled as 'Dancing Beijing', which was unveiled in August 2003, and is a reflection of the traditional Chinese society. The mascots of Beijing 2008 are the five Fuwa, each representing a colour of the Olympic rings, and the motto of the Games is One World, One Dream.

The Games will consist of 302 events in 28 sports. Former IOC president, Juan Antonio Samaranch has declared his opinion that 2008 Olympics in Beijing will go down as 'the best in Olympic history.'

This event is planned to be a memorable experience for the native Chinese crowd and low ticket prices have been specified to encourage the Chinese to be part of the huge crowd.

The Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee made the public aware that it will sell over seven million tickets for various sporting events and ceremonies to the general public, with the expectation of all the Chinese having a chance to come to the games.

China is getting ready for this huge event and by May 2007, it had started the construction of all thirty-one of the Beijing-based Olympic Games venues.

The largest buildings used in the Olympics will be the Beijing National Stadium, the Beijing National Indoor Stadium, the Beijing National Aquatics Centre, the Olympic Green Convention Centre, the Olympic Green, and Beijing Wukesong Culture and Sports Center.

The countdown clock with a height of fourteen metres and a width of five metres was erected in the Tiananmen Square, the very heart of the Beijing City and it has been ticking down since its formation in September 21, 2004.

World Championships of the season

FIFA Under 17 World Cup

Football may be one of your favourite sports. The popularity which the sport has gained over the years has given birth to a minor version of the big FIFA World Cup, which is named as the FIFA Under 17 World Cup. By the time you read this article, the event will be taking place in South Korea.

The event which started on August 18 will go on till September 9. The entire tournament will consist of fifty two matches held in eight venues. For this event, the number of teams has been expanded from 16 to 24. Only players born after January 1, 1990 are allowed to participate in this tournament.

FIFA Women's World Cup

Football, which has been a really competitive sport among the males, has grown beyond its bounds and become a sport accepted by the women as well. The FIFA Women's World Cup 2007 will be held in China from September 10 to September 30.

In fact, initially China was to host the 2003 Women's World Cup. But, the outbreak of SARS in that country forced that event to be moved to the United States. Therefore, FIFA immediately granted the 2007 event to China.

This means that no new host nation will be chosen by voting until done so for the 2011 Women's World Cup. The 2007 Championship is considered to be an introduction to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Rugby Union World Cup

Along with two main football events, there is another championship tournament coming up in the field of Rugby Union. The 2007 Rugby World Cup will be held as the sixth Rugby World Cup, and will be hosted by France from September 7 to October 20.

France won the right to host the event, beating England in the competition. Over 90 nations have participated in the regional qualifying competitions that started in 2004.

Portugal is taking part in this World Cup for the first time. This World Cup will have 20 nations competing in forty eight matches over forty four days.

Among the forty eight matches, forty two matches will be spread between ten French cities, while four matches will be held in Cardiff, Wales and the next two matches in Edinburgh, Scotland.