Editing 2008 Summer Olympics (section)

==Organization==
===Bid===
{{Main|Bids for the 2008 Summer Olympics}}
Under the direction of [[Liu Qi (politician, born 1942)|Liu Qi]], Beijing was elected as the host city for the 2008 Summer Olympics on 13 July 2001, during the [[List of IOC meetings|112th]] [[International Olympic Committee|IOC]] Session in Moscow, defeating bids from Toronto, Paris, [[Istanbul]], and [[Osaka]]. Prior to the session, five other cities ([[Bangkok]], [[Cairo]], [[Havana]], [[Kuala Lumpur]], and [[Seville]]) had submitted bids to the IOC, but failed to make the short list chosen by the IOC Executive Committee in 2000. 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 a [[majority]] of voters, eliminating the need for subsequent rounds.<ref name="Election">{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/beijing/election_uk.asp |title=Beijing 2008: Election |publisher=[[International Olympic Committee]] |access-date=18 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205234608/http://olympic.org/uk/games/beijing/election_uk.asp |archive-date=5 December 2006 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Toronto's bid was its fifth failure since 1960 (failed bids for 1960, 1964, 1976 and 1996 Games, losing to Rome, Tokyo, Montreal and Atlanta).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/07/24/toronto-has-made-5-attempts-to-host-the-olympics-could-the-sixth-be-the-winner.html|title=Toronto has made 5 attempts to host the Olympics. Could the sixth be the winner?|author=Peter Edwards|work=[[Toronto Star]]|date=24 July 2015|access-date=7 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910160435/http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/07/24/toronto-has-made-5-attempts-to-host-the-olympics-could-the-sixth-be-the-winner.html|archive-date=10 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Members of the IOC did not disclose their votes, but news reports speculated that broad international support led to China's selection, especially from developing nations that had received assistance from China to construct stadiums. The size of China, its increased enforcement of doping controls, and sympathy concerning its loss of the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] to Sydney were all factors in the decision.<ref name="auto1" /> Eight years earlier, Beijing had led every round of [[2000 Summer Olympics bids|voting]] for the 2000 Summer Olympics before losing to Sydney by two votes in the final round.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/24/sports/olympics-2000-olympics-go-to-sydney-in-surprise-setback-for-china.html | title=Olympics; 2000 Olympics Go to Sydney In Surprise Setback for China | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=24 September 1993 | access-date=5 June 2009 | author=Riding, Alan | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130021127/http://nytimes.com/1993/09/24/sports/olympics-2000-olympics-go-to-sydney-in-surprise-setback-for-china.html | archive-date=30 November 2010 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Human rights concerns expressed by [[Amnesty International]] and politicians in both Europe and North America were considered by the delegates, according to IOC Executive Director François Carrard. Carrard and others suggested that the selection might lead to improvements in human rights in China. In addition, many IOC delegates who had formerly been athletes expressed concern about heat and air quality during the Games, considering the high levels of air pollution in Beijing. China outlined plans to address these environmental concerns in its bid application.<ref name="auto1" />

{| class="wikitable"
|+ 2008 Summer Olympics bidding results
|-
! rowspan=2 | City
! rowspan=2 | Country
! colspan=2 style="background:silver;"| Round
|-
! style="background:silver;"| 1
! style="background:silver;"| 2
|-
| '''[[Beijing]]'''
| '''{{flag|China}}'''
| style="text-align:center;"| '''44''' 
| style="text-align:center;"| '''56'''
|-
| [[Toronto]] 
| {{flag|Canada}} 
| style="text-align:center;"| 20
| style="text-align:center;"| 22
|-
| [[Paris]]
| {{flag|France}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 15 
| style="text-align:center;"| 18
|-
| [[Istanbul]]
| {{flag|Turkey}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 17
| style="text-align:center;"| 9
|-
| [[Osaka]]
| {{flag|Japan}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 6 
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|}

===Costs===
[[File:Beijing Olympic Green.jpg|thumb|[[Olympic Green]], from above]]
[[File:Beijing China Beijing-National-Stadium-02.jpg|thumb|[[Beijing National Stadium]], or "Bird's Nest"]]
[[File:国家游泳中心夜景.jpg|thumb|[[Beijing National Aquatics Center|National Aquatics Center]] or "Water Cube"]]
[[File:Beijing National Indoor Stadium 2019 2.jpg|thumb|[[Beijing National Indoor Stadium|National Indoor Stadium]]]]
[[File:北京五棵松蓝球场 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[Wukesong Indoor Stadium]]]]

On 6 March 2009, the [[Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games]] reported that total spending on the Games was "generally as much as that of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games", which was equivalent to about US$15&nbsp;billion. They went on to claim that surplus revenues from the Games would exceed the original target of $16&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Surplus of Beijing Olympic Games exceeds 16 million USD|url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90884/6608035.html|publisher=[[People's Daily Online]]|date=6 March 2009|access-date=5 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624100914/http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90884/6608035.html|archive-date=24 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Other reports, however, estimated the total costs from $40&nbsp;to $44&nbsp;billion, which would make the Games "far and away the most expensive ever".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Olympics/idUSPEK25823820080805 | title=Beijing Games to be costliest, but no debt legacy | work=[[Reuters]] | date=5 August 2008 | access-date=5 June 2009 | author=Rabinovitch, Simon | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714014915/http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Olympics/idUSPEK25823820080805 | archive-date=14 July 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.pravda.ru/sports/games/06-08-2008/106003-beijing_olympics-0/|title=Beijing Olympics to cost China 44 billion dollars|work=Pravda|date=8 August 2008|access-date=29 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802050026/http://english.pravda.ru/sports/games/06-08-2008/106003-beijing_olympics-0/|archive-date=2 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/jul/28/olympicgames2008.china1|title=The cost of the Beijing Olympics|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=28 July 2008|access-date=5 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902123910/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/jul/28/olympicgames2008.china1|archive-date=2 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Its budget was later exceeded by the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] in [[Sochi]], which suffered from major [[cost overrun]]s; the 2014 Winter Olympics costed roughly US$50&nbsp;billion in public funding.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/did-the-winter-olympics-in-sochi-really-cost-50-billion-a-closer-look-at-that-figure/2014/02/10/a29e37b4-9260-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post|title=Did the Winter Olympics in Sochi really cost $50 billion? A closer look at that figure.|date=10 February 2014|author=Paul Farhi}}</ref> The ''Oxford Olympics Study 2016'' estimates the outturn cost of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics at US$6.8 billion in 2015-dollars. This includes sports-related costs only, such as those incurred by the organizing committee or those incurred by the host city, country, and private investors to build structures required to host the Games. Indirect capital costs—those not directly related to staging the Games—are not included. The Beijing Olympics' cost of US$6.8 billion compares with costs of US$4.6 billion for Rio 2016 and US$15 billion for London 2012.<ref>{{Cite book|ssrn=2804554|title=The Oxford Olympics Study 2016: Cost and Cost Overrun at the Games|last1=Flyvbjerg|first1=Bent|last2=Stewart|first2=Allison|last3=Budzier|first3=Alexander|publisher=Saïd Business School Working Papers (Oxford: University of Oxford)|year=2016|location=Oxford|pages=18–20|doi=10.2139/ssrn.2804554 |arxiv=1607.04484 | issn = 1556-5068 }}</ref>

===Venues===
{{Main|2008 Summer Olympics venues|Olympic Green|Beijing National Stadium}}

By May 2007 the construction of all 31 Beijing-based Olympic Games venues had begun.<ref name="Under construction">{{cite news |url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/01/32/article214073201.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080126161002/http://en.beijing2008.cn/01/32/article214073201.shtml |archive-date=26 January 2008 | title=All Beijing-based Olympic venues under construction | work=[[Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games]] | date=11 May 2007 | access-date=11 May 2007}}</ref> The Chinese government renovated and constructed six venues outside Beijing, and constructed 59 training facilities. The largest structures built were the [[Beijing National Stadium]], [[Beijing National Indoor Stadium]], [[Beijing National Aquatics Center]], [[Peking University Gymnasium]], [[Olympic Green Convention Center]], [[Olympic Green]], and [[Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center]]. Almost 85% of the construction budget for the six main venues was funded by $2.1&nbsp;billion ([[Renminbi|RMB¥]]17.4&nbsp;billion) in corporate bids and tenders. Investments were expected from corporations seeking ownership rights after the Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Beijing Olympics funding exceeds $43 bn |publisher=NDTV.com |date=4 August 2008 |url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/showsports.aspx?id=SPOEN20080060086&ch=8/4/2008%209:09:00%20PM |access-date=10 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818060103/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/showsports.aspx?id=SPOEN20080060086&ch=8%2F4%2F2008%209%3A09%3A00%20PM |archive-date=18 August 2009 }}</ref> Some events were held outside Beijing, namely [[Football at the Summer Olympics|football]] in [[Qinhuangdao]], [[Shanghai]], [[Shenyang]], and [[Tianjin]]; [[Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics|sailing]] in [[Qingdao]]; and, because of the "uncertainties of equine diseases and major difficulties in establishing a disease-free zone", the [[Equestrian at the Summer Olympics|equestrian]] events were held in [[Hong Kong]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue |publisher=Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad |url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/venues/equ/index.shtml |access-date=10 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080809223815/http://en.beijing2008.cn/venues/equ/index.shtml |archive-date= 9 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Some stadiums were built on the former site of [[hutong]] neighbourhoods, including [[Qianmen Subdistrict]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/12/world/asia/12beijing.html |title=Olympics Imperil Historic Beijing Neighborhood |last=Yardley |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Yardley |date=12 July 2006 |access-date=26 March 2023 |work=[[New York Times]]}}</ref>

The showpiece of the 2008 Summer Olympics was the Beijing National Stadium, nicknamed "The Bird's Nest" because of its nest-like skeletal structure. The stadium hosted both the [[2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|opening]] and [[2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|closing]] ceremonies, as well as the [[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics|athletics]] competition.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/supporters-protesters-greet-olympic-torch-s-arrival-in-beijing-1.701340 | title=Supporters, protesters greet Olympic torch's arrival in Beijing | work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC News]] | date=6 August 2009 | access-date=20 June 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231233748/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/supporters-protesters-greet-olympic-torch-s-arrival-in-beijing-1.701340 | archive-date=31 December 2008 | url-status=live }}</ref> Construction of the venue began on 24 December 2003. The [[Guangdong Olympic Stadium]] was originally planned, constructed, and completed in 2001 to help host the Games, but a decision was made to construct a new stadium in Beijing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.architectureweek.com/2002/0501/design_1-1.html |title=China's Banner Stadium |author=Libby, Brian |date=1 May 2002 |work=Architecture Week |access-date=5 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423073050/http://www.architectureweek.com/2002/0501/design_1-1.html |archive-date=23 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2001, the city held a bidding process to select the best arena design. Several criteria were required of each design, including flexibility for post-Olympics use, a [[retractable roof]], and low maintenance costs.<ref name=Syndrome>{{cite news|first= Arthur|last= Lubow|author-link= Arthur Lubow|title= The China Syndrome|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/21/magazine/21bejing.html|work= The New York Times|date= 6 May 2006|access-date= 5 June 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121113083951/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/21/magazine/21bejing.html|archive-date= 13 November 2012|url-status= live}}</ref> The entry list was narrowed to thirteen final designs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bjghw.gov.cn/forNationalStadium/indexeng.asp |title=Presentation of Competation |access-date=28 August 2008 |publisher=Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619150023/http://www.bjghw.gov.cn/forNationalStadium/indexeng.asp |archive-date=19 June 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The bird's nest model submitted by architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron in collaboration with Li Xinggang of China Architecture Design and Research Group (CADG) was selected as the top design by both a professional panel and by a broader audience during a public exhibition. The selection of the design became official in April 2003.<ref name=Syndrome/> Construction of the stadium was a joint venture among the original designers, project architect Stefan Marbach, artist [[Ai Weiwei]], and a group of CADG architects led by Li Xinggang. Its $423&nbsp;million cost was funded by the state-owned corporate conglomerate [[CITIC]] and the Beijing State-Owned Assets Management Company.<ref name=Syndrome/><ref name=AR93>{{cite journal|last= Pasternack|first= Alex|author2= Clifford A. Pearson|date= July 2008|title= National Stadium|journal= [[Archit. Rec.|Architectural Record]]|pages= 92–9|url= http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/portfolio/archives/0807nationalstadium-1.asp|access-date= 5 June 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110612190219/http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/portfolio/archives/0807nationalstadium-1.asp|archive-date= 12 June 2011|url-status= live}}</ref>

===Transport===
[[File:Beijing 2008 olympic venue.svg|thumb|A map of the Olympic venues in Beijing. Several expressways [[Beltway|encircle]] the center of the city, providing for quick transportation around the city and between venues.]]

To prepare for Olympic visitors, Beijing's transportation infrastructure was expanded. [[Beijing Capital International Airport|Beijing's airport]] underwent a major renovation with the addition of the new Terminal 3, designed by architect [[Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank|Norman Foster]].<ref name="Beijing Terminal 3 by Foster">{{cite news |url=http://www.architectureweek.com/2008/0730/design_1-1.html |title=Beijing Terminal 3 by Foster |author=Jo Baker |work=Architecture Week |access-date=16 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815025557/http://www.architectureweek.com/2008/0730/design_1-1.html |archive-date=15 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Within the city itself, [[Beijing Subway|Beijing's subway]] was doubled in capacity and length, with the addition of seven lines and 80 stations to the previously existing four lines and 64 stations. Included in this expansion was a new link connecting to the city's airport. A fleet of thousands of buses, minibuses, and official cars transported spectators, athletes, and officials between venues.<ref name="Transportation">{{cite news |url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/05/25/article214012505.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512000702/http://en.beijing2008.cn/05/25/article214012505.shtml |archive-date=12 May 2008 | title=38 public transit routes to the Olympic venues | work=[[Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games]] | date=22 January 2007 | access-date=29 January 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ausmotive.com/2008/08/02/volkswagen-claims-green-medal-at-2008-olympic-games-in-beijing.html |title=Volkswagen claims 'Green' medal at 2008 Olympic Games |author=AUSmotive.com |date=2 August 2008 |access-date=2 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819044237/http://www.ausmotive.com/2008/08/02/volkswagen-claims-green-medal-at-2008-olympic-games-in-beijing.html |archive-date=19 August 2008 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

In an effort to improve air quality, the city placed restrictions on construction sites and gas stations and limited the use of commercial and passenger vehicles in Beijing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/world/asia/15china.html |title=Traffic Beijing Stops Construction for Olympics |author=Andrew Jacobs |date=14 April 2008 |work=The New York Times |access-date=14 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514130722/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/world/asia/15china.html |archive-date=14 May 2013 |url-status=live  |author-link=Andrew Jacobs (journalist) }}</ref> From 20 July through 20 September, passenger vehicle restrictions were placed on alternative days depending on the terminal digit of the car's license plate. It was anticipated that this measure would take 45% of Beijing's 3.3&nbsp;million cars off the streets. The boosted public transport network was expected to absorb the demand created by these restrictions and the influx of visitors, which was estimated at more than 4 million additional passengers per day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/23/2282484.htm?site=olympics/2008 |title=Beijing to launch Olympic 'odd-even' car ban |agency=Reuters |date=23 June 2008 |work=ABC news |access-date=23 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625095341/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/23/2282484.htm?site=olympics%2F2008 |archive-date=25 June 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

===Marketing===
{{Main|2008 Summer Olympics marketing}}
[[File:Beijing Birds Nest Olympics track .jpg|thumb|Inside [[Beijing National Stadium]] during the Games. [[Olympic cauldron]] in background.]]

The 2008 Summer Olympics emblem was known as [[Dancing Beijing]]. The emblem combined a traditional Chinese red seal and a representation of the [[Chinese calligraphy|calligraphic]] [[Chinese character|character]] for "capital" ([[wikt:京|京]], also the second character of Beijing's Chinese name) with athletic features. The open arms of the calligraphic word symbolized the invitation from China to the world to share in its culture. [[IOC president]] [[Jacques Rogge]] was rather pleased 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."<ref name="Message">{{cite news | url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200308/03/eng20030803_121618.shtml | title=Rogge's Message for Beijing Olympics Emblem Unveiling | work=[[People's Daily Online]] | date=3 August 2003 | access-date=19 December 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011140945/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200308/03/eng20030803_121618.shtml | archive-date=11 October 2007 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The official motto for the 2008 Olympics was "''One World, One Dream''" ({{zh|s=同一个世界 同一个梦想|t=|labels=no|c=|p=}}).<ref name="Slogan">{{cite news |url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/75/66/article211996675.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408065343/http://en.beijing2008.cn/75/66/article211996675.shtml |archive-date=8 April 2008 | title='One World One Dream' selected as the Theme Slogan for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games | work=[[Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games]] | date=25 December 2005 | access-date=5 May 2007}}</ref> It called upon the whole world to join in the Olympic spirit and build a better future for humanity, and was chosen from over 210,000 entries submitted from around the world.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Olympic slogan: One World, One Dream|url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/New-Olympic-slogan-One-World-One-Dream/2005/06/27/1119724547278.html|date=27 April 2005|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=20 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623145939/http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/New-Olympic-slogan-One-World-One-Dream/2005/06/27/1119724547278.html|archive-date=23 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the announcement of the motto, the phrase was used by international advocates of [[Tibetan secession]]. Banners reading "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet" were unfurled from various structures around the globe in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics, such as from the [[San Francisco]] [[Golden Gate Bridge]] and the [[Sydney Opera House]] in Australia.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/13/world/asia/13iht-letter.1.7095421.html|title=Beijing Olympics: Let the politics begin|last=Yardley|first=Jim|date=13 August 2007|access-date=30 November 2012|work=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204153042/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/13/world/asia/13iht-letter.1.7095421.html|archive-date=4 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[mascot]]s of Beijing 2008 were the five [[Fuwa]], each of which represented both a color of the [[Olympic flag|Olympic rings]] and a symbol of Chinese culture. In 2006, the [[Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games]] released [[pictogram]]s of 35 Olympic disciplines (however, for some multidiscipline sports such as cycling, a single pictogram was released).<ref name="pictograms">{{cite web|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/beijing2008/graphic/pictograms/ |title=Pictograms of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games |publisher=[[Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games]] |year=2006 |access-date=22 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822030710/http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/beijing2008/graphic/pictograms/ |archive-date=22 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Pictograms2">{{cite news |url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/37/34/article212033437.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308102735/http://en.beijing2008.cn/37/34/article212033437.shtml |archive-date=8 March 2008 | title=Pictograms of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games unveiled | work=[[Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games]] | date=7 August 2006 | access-date=12 July 2012}}</ref> This set of sport icons was named ''the beauty of seal characters'', because of each pictogram's likeness to Chinese [[seal script]].<ref name="Pictograms2" />

=== Mascots ===
{{Main|Fuwa}}
The mascots of the 2008 Summer Olympics were the Fuwa, created by Han Meilin ({{lang|zh|韩美林}}). The mascots consisted of Beibei, a fish, Jingjing, a panda, Huanhuan, an Olympic flame, Yingying, a Tibetan antelope, and Nini, a sand martin kite. When their Chinese characters are combined, they form {{lang|zh|北京欢迎你}}, or "Beijing Welcomes You". A year before the Games in 2007, the 100-episode [[The Olympic Adventures of Fuwa]] featuring the mascots, was released.

=== Media coverage ===
{{Further|List of 2008 Summer Olympics broadcasters}}

The 2008 Games were the first to be produced and broadcast entirely in [[High-definition television|high definition]] by the host broadcaster.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3358070/The-first-high-definition-Olympics.html | work=Telegraph | title=The first high-definition Olympics | date=1 August 2008 | location=London | first=Claudine | last=Beaumont | access-date=4 February 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624120022/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3358070/The-first-high-definition-Olympics.html | archive-date=24 June 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref> In comparison, American broadcaster [[NBC|NBC broadcast]] only half of the Turin [[2006 Winter Olympics]] in HD.<ref name="BandC">{{cite news|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99656-Beijing_Olympics_NBC_s_Multiplatform_Push.php |title=Network goes to great lengths to pump Beijing Olympic Games action to myriad pipes. |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=4 August 2008 |access-date=17 August 2008 |last=Dickson |first=Glen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214054812/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/99656-Beijing_Olympics_NBC_s_Multiplatform_Push.php |archive-date=14 December 2009 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref name="HDTV">{{cite news |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/2008/2007-07/06/content_911825.htm |title=Seeing clearly: Panasonic ushers in first HDTV Game |work=China Daily |date=6 July 2007 |access-date=24 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617110906/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/2008/2007-07/06/content_911825.htm |archive-date=17 June 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> In their bid for the Olympic Games in 2001, Beijing stated to the Olympic Evaluation Commission that there would be "no restrictions on media reporting and movement of journalists up to and including the Olympic Games."<ref>{{cite web|title=Report of the IOC Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2008 |publisher=International Olympic Committee |url=http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_299.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031229012633/http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_299.pdf |archive-date=29 December 2003 |access-date=10 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, some media outlets claimed that organizers ultimately failed to live up to this commitment.{{efn|''[[The New York Times]]'', for instance, said that "those promises have been contradicted by strict visa rules, lengthy application processes and worries about censorship."<ref name="Networks Fight">{{cite news|last=Stelter |first=Brian |title=Networks Fight Shorter Olympic Leash |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/21/sports/olympics/21nbc.html |work=The New York Times |date=21 July 2008 |access-date=21 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813155823/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/21/sports/olympics/21nbc.html |archive-date=13 August 2011 |url-status=live  }}</ref>}}

According to Nielsen Media Research, 4.7&nbsp;billion viewers worldwide tuned in to some of the television coverage, one-fifth larger than the 3.9&nbsp;billion who watched the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.  American broadcaster NBC produced only two hours of online streaming video for the 2006 Winter Games but produced approximately 2,200&nbsp;hours of coverage for the 2008 Summer Games. [[CNN]] reported that, for the first time, "live online video rights in some markets for the Olympics have been separately negotiated, not part of the overall 'broadcast rights.'" The new media of the [[digital economy]] was said to be growing "nine times faster than the rest of the advertising market."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/07/09/oly.media/index.html |title=Olympics enter the '2.0' era |access-date=25 August 2008 |date=10 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908023843/http://www3.cnn.com/2008/TECH/07/09/oly.media/index.html |archive-date=8 September 2008 |url-status=live |work=CNN  }}</ref>
[[File:2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony 11.jpg|thumb|US President [[George W. Bush]] at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
The international [[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) provided live coverage and highlights of all arenas only for certain territories on their website, Eurovisionsports.tv.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovisionsports.tv/olympics/geoerror/geoerror.html |title=Beijing LIVE |access-date=25 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822214328/http://www.eurovisionsports.tv/olympics/geoerror/geoerror.html |archive-date=22 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Many national broadcasters likewise restricted the viewing of online events to their domestic audiences.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/cycling/7552544.stm |title=Delighted Cooke gets gold medal |date=10 August 2008 |access-date=25 August 2008 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815105838/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/cycling/7552544.stm |archive-date=15 August 2008 |url-status=live  }}</ref> The General National Copyright Administration of China announced that "individual (''sic'') and websites will face fines as high as 100,000 [[Chinese yuan|yuan]] for uploading recordings of Olympic Games video to the internet",<ref>{{cite web |last=Wallace |first=Lydia |url=http://www.danwei.org/2008_beijing_olympic_games/china_copywrites_the_olympics.php |title=100,000 yuan fine for uploading Olympic videos? |publisher=Danwei.org |access-date=29 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611063147/http://www.danwei.org/2008_beijing_olympic_games/china_copywrites_the_olympics.php |archive-date=11 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> part of an extensive campaign to protect the pertinent intellectual property rights.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://olympics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/16/for-olympics-china-ramps-up-copyright-infringement-campaign/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623054529/http://olympics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/16/for-olympics-china-ramps-up-copyright-infringement-campaign/ |archive-date=23 June 2008 |work=The New York Times |title=For Olympics, China Ramps Up Copyright Infringement Campaign – Rings Blog|access-date=4 February 2011 |first=Campbell |last=Robertson |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/newmedia/2008-06/13/content_8359170.htm | script-title=zh:我国启动打击网络侵权盗版专项行动 为期四个月 | publisher=News.xinhuanet.com | access-date=29 November 2010 | language=zh | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821182530/http://news.xinhuanet.com/newmedia/2008-06/13/content_8359170.htm | archive-date=21 August 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The Olympic Committee also set up a separate YouTube channel at Beijing 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/beijing2008#p/a/u/0/uuU-AXa3tYo|title=beijing2008|work=YouTube|access-date=12 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630105117/http://www.youtube.com/beijing2008#p/a/u/0/uuU-AXa3tYo|archive-date=30 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Theme song ===
The theme song of the 2008 Summer Olympics was [[You and Me (Olympic theme song)|"You and Me"]], which was composed by [[Chen Qigang]], the musical director of the opening ceremony. It was performed during the opening ceremony by Chinese singer [[Liu Huan]] and British singer [[Sarah Brightman]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 August 2008 |title=刘欢莎拉布莱曼演唱奥运会主题歌《我和你》 |url=http://2008.163.com/08/0808/21/4IRR3I6U00742QDT.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221534/http://2008.163.com/08/0808/21/4IRR3I6U00742QDT.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=9 September 2024 |website=The 2008 Olympic Report}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044498/beijing-ceremony-introduces-olympic-theme-song|title=Beijing Ceremony Introduces Olympic Theme Song|date=8 August 2008|via=Billboard|access-date=14 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208234251/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044498/beijing-ceremony-introduces-olympic-theme-song|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The theme song was originally going to be a song called "So much love, so far away (Tanto amor, tan lejos)" written by Cuban singer-songwriter [[Jon Secada]] and Peruvian singer-songwriter [[Gian Marco]] under production from Cuban producer [[Emilio Estefan Jr.]] from [[EMI]].<ref name="Sonido">{{cite news|title=El Sonido De Miami|newspaper=[[El Nuevo Herald]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/670743480/?terms=%22gian%20marco%22&match=1|url-access=subscription|page=29|date=7 August 2001}}</ref>