Jump to content
Main menu
Main menu
move to sidebar
hide
Navigation
Main page
Recent changes
Random page
Help about MediaWiki
Special pages
Niidae Wiki
Search
Search
Appearance
Create account
Log in
Personal tools
Create account
Log in
Pages for logged out editors
learn more
Contributions
Talk
Editing
2008 Summer Olympics
(section)
Page
Discussion
English
Read
Edit
View history
Tools
Tools
move to sidebar
hide
Actions
Read
Edit
View history
General
What links here
Related changes
Page information
Appearance
move to sidebar
hide
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
== The Games == {{Further|Chronological summary of the 2008 Summer Olympics}} === Participating National Olympic Committees === [[File:2008 Summer Olympic games countries.svg|thumb|center|upright=2.8|Participating nations<br /><span style="color:#1e90ff;">Blue</span> = Participating for the first time. <span style="color:#00ff7f;">Green</span> = Have previously participated. Yellow square is host city ([[Beijing]])]] [[File:2008 Summer olympics team numbers.gif|thumb|center|upright=2.8|Team sizes]] All but one of the 205 recognized [[National Olympic Committee]]s (NOCs) that existed {{as of|2008|lc=y}} participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics, the exception being [[Brunei at the Olympics|Brunei]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/noc/index_uk.asp |title=National Olympic Committees |publisher=International Olympic Committee |access-date=11 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225174713/https://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/noc/index_uk.asp%20 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Three countries participated in the Olympic Games for their first time: the [[Marshall Islands]], [[Montenegro]] and [[Tuvalu]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Beijing 2008 |work=Olympic Games |publisher=International Olympic Committee |url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=2008 |access-date=6 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090526073745/http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=2008 |archive-date=26 May 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> While not a full member recognized by the IOC and thus not allowed to compete formally in the Olympics, the [[Macau Sports and Olympic Committee]] sent a delegation to participate in the [[Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008]], being the only unrecognized [[National Olympic Committee]] to have taken part in the 2008 Summer Olympics. It also coordinated efforts with the [[Chinese Olympic Committee]] to organize the torch relay through Macau. The Marshall Islands and Tuvalu gained National Olympic Committee status in 2006 and 2007 respectively, and 2008 was the first Games in which they were eligible to participate.<ref name="Tuvalu">{{cite news |title=Robert Meets IOC President |url=http://www.oceaniasport.com/tuvalu/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051018032511/http://www.oceaniasport.com/tuvalu/ |archive-date=18 October 2005 |publisher=[[ONOC]] |date=2 April 2005 |access-date=17 December 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="New NOCs accepted">{{cite news|url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2237 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112130845/http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2237 |archive-date=12 November 2007 |title=Two new National Olympic Committees on board! |publisher=[[International Olympic Committee]] |date=6 July 2007 |access-date=8 July 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The states of [[Serbia]] and [[Montenegro]], which participated at the 2004 Games jointly as [[Serbia and Montenegro]], competed separately for the first time since Serbia last participated in [[1912 Summer Olympics|1912]]. Montenegro made its debut appearance, as the Montenegrin Olympic Committee was accepted as a new National Olympic Committee in 2007.<ref name="New NOCs accepted" /> Neighboring [[Kosovo]], however, did not participate. After the declaration of independence in Kosovo, the IOC specified requirements that Kosovo needs to meet before being recognized by the IOC; most notably, it has to be recognized as independent by the [[United Nations]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=4306795 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205124500/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=4306795 |archive-date=5 February 2009 |title=IOC: Kosovo Olympic Team 'Unlikely' |agency=Associated Press |date=18 February 2008 |access-date=20 February 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="USOC Delegation">{{cite web|title=2008 United States Olympic Team Entered Into XXVIV Olympic Games in Beijing, China |publisher=United States Olympic Committee |date=24 July 2008 |url=http://teamusa.org/news/article/2744 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503065123/http://teamusa.org/news/article/2744 |archive-date= 3 May 2009 |access-date=15 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Host China announces biggest-ever Olympic team of 639 athletes |publisher=Xinhua News |date=25 July 2008 |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/25/content_8767561.htm |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907021534/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/25/content_8767561.htm |archive-date=7 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, it has since been recognised by the IOC in 2014 without fulfilling these criteria and made its debut in the [[2016 Summer Olympic Games|2016 games]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-grants-provisional-recognition-to-kosovo-olympic-committee|title = IOC grants provisional recognition to Kosovo Olympic Committee|date = 13 July 2021}}</ref> More than 100 sovereigns, heads of state and heads of government as well as 170 Ministers of Sport attended the Beijing Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite web|title=IOC President to meet with world leaders |url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2698 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907020146/http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2698 |archive-date=7 September 2008 |url-status=live |access-date=9 September 2009 }}</ref> {| class="wikitable collapsible" style="width:100%;" |- ! Participating [[:Category:Nations at the 2008 Summer Olympics|National Olympic Committees]] |- | {{div col|colwidth=18em}} * {{flagIOC|AFG|2008 Summer|4 athletes}} * {{flagIOC|ALB|2008 Summer|11}} * {{flagIOC|ALG|2008 Summer|56}} * {{flagIOC|ASA|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|AND|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|ANG|2008 Summer|32}} * {{flagIOC|ANT|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|ARG|2008 Summer|132}} * {{flagIOC|ARM|2008 Summer|25}} * {{flagIOC|ARU|2008 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|AUS|2008 Summer|432}} * {{flagIOC|AUT|2008 Summer|70}} * {{flagIOC|AZE|2008 Summer|44}} * {{flagIOC|BAH|2008 Summer|25}} * {{flagIOC|BRN|2008 Summer|14}} * {{flagIOC|BAN|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|BAR|2008 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|BLR|2008 Summer|177}} * {{flagIOC|BEL|2008 Summer|94}} * {{flagIOC|BIZ|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|BEN|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|BER|2008 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|BHU|2008 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|BOL|2008 Summer|7}} * {{flagIOC|BIH|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|BOT|2008 Summer|11}} * {{flagIOC|BRA|2008 Summer|268}} * {{flagIOC|IVB|2008 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|BUL|2008 Summer|70}} * {{flagIOC|BUR|2008 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|BDI|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|CAM|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|CMR|2008 Summer|32}} * {{flagIOC|CAN|2008 Summer|332}} * {{flagIOC|CPV|2008 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|CAY|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|CAF|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|CHA|2008 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|CHI|2008 Summer|26}} * {{flagIOC|CHN|2008 Summer|599}} '''(host)''' * {{flagIOC|COL|2008 Summer|67}} * {{flagIOC|COM|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|CGO|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|COD|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|COK|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|CRC|2008 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|CRO|2008 Summer|99}} * {{flagIOC|CUB|2008 Summer|158}} * {{flagIOC|CYP|2008 Summer|17}} * {{flagIOC|CZE|2008 Summer|134}} * {{flagIOC|DEN|2008 Summer|84}} * {{flagIOC|DJI|2008 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|DMA|2008 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|DOM|2008 Summer|24}} * {{flagIOC|ECU|2008 Summer|25}} * {{flagIOC|EGY|2008 Summer|100}} * {{flagIOC|ESA|2008 Summer|11}} * {{flagIOC|GEQ|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|ERI|2008 Summer|10}} * {{flagIOC|EST|2008 Summer|47}} * {{flagIOC|ETH|2008 Summer|27}} * {{flagIOC|FIJ|2008 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|FIN|2008 Summer|57}} * {{flagIOC|FRA|2008 Summer|309}} * {{flagIOC|GAB|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|GAM|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|GEO|2008 Summer|35}} * {{flagIOC|GER|2008 Summer|420}} * {{flagIOC|GHA|2008 Summer|9}} * {{flagIOC|GBR|2008 Summer|304}} * {{flagIOC|GRE|2008 Summer|152}} * {{flagIOC|GRN|2008 Summer|9}} * {{flagIOC|GUM|2008 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|GUA|2008 Summer|12}} * {{flagIOC|GUI|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|GBS|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|GUY|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|HAI|2008 Summer|7}} * {{flagIOC|HON|2008 Summer|25}} * {{flagIOC|HKG|2008 Summer|34}} * {{flagIOC|HUN|2008 Summer|171}} * {{flagIOC|ISL|2008 Summer|27}} * {{flagIOC|IND|2008 Summer|53}} * {{flagIOC|INA|2008 Summer|24}} * {{flagIOC|IRI|2008 Summer|54}} * {{flagIOC|IRQ|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|IRL|2008 Summer|55}} * {{flagIOC|ISR|2008 Summer|43}} * {{flagIOC|ITA|2008 Summer|333}} * {{flagIOC|CIV|2008 Summer|21}} * {{flagIOC|JAM|2008 Summer|50}} * {{flagIOC|JPN|2008 Summer|332}} * {{flagIOC|JOR|2008 Summer|7}} * {{flagIOC|KAZ|2008 Summer|130}} * {{flagIOC|KEN|2008 Summer|46}} * {{flagIOC|KIR|2008 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|PRK|2008 Summer|58}} * {{flagIOC|KOR|2008 Summer|265}} * {{flagIOC|KUW|2008 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|KGZ|2008 Summer|20}} * {{flagIOC|LAO|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|LAT|2008 Summer|47}} * {{flagIOC|LIB|2008 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|LES|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|LBR|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|LBA|2008 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|LIE|2008 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|LTU|2008 Summer|71}} * {{flagIOC|LUX|2008 Summer|13}} * {{flagIOC|MKD|2008 Summer|7}} * {{flagIOC|MAD|2008 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|MAW|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|MAS|2008 Summer|32}} * {{flagIOC|MDV|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|MLI|2008 Summer|17}} * {{flagIOC|MLT|2008 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|MHL|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|MTN|2008 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|MRI|2008 Summer|11}} * {{flagIOC|MEX|2008 Summer|83}} * {{flagIOC|FSM|2008 Summer|5|name=Micronesia}} * {{flagIOC|MDA|2008 Summer|29}} * {{flagIOC|MON|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|MGL|2008 Summer|28}} * {{flagIOC|MNE|2008 Summer|19}} * {{flagIOC|MAR|2008 Summer|47}} * {{flagIOC|MOZ|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|MYA|2008 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|NAM|2008 Summer|10}} * {{flagIOC|NRU|2008 Summer|1}} * {{flagIOC|NEP|2008 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|NED|2008 Summer|237}} * {{flagIOC|AHO|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|NZL|2008 Summer|178}} * {{flagIOC|NCA|2008 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|NIG|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|NGR|2008 Summer|74}} * {{flagIOC|NOR|2008 Summer|84}} * {{flagIOC|OMA|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|PAK|2008 Summer|21}} * {{flagIOC|PLW|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|PLE|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|PAN|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|PNG|2008 Summer|7}} * {{flagIOC|PAR|2008 Summer|7}} * {{flagIOC|PER|2008 Summer|13}} * {{flagIOC|PHI|2008 Summer|15}} * {{flagIOC|POL|2008 Summer|257}} * {{flagIOC|POR|2008 Summer|77}} * {{flagIOC|PUR|2008 Summer|22}} * {{flagIOC|QAT|2008 Summer|20}} * {{flagIOC|ROU|2008 Summer|101}} * {{flagIOC|RUS|2008 Summer|454}} * {{flagIOC|RWA|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|SKN|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|LCA|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|VIN|2008 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|SAM|2008 Summer|6}} * {{flagIOC|SMR|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|STP|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|KSA|2008 Summer|14}} * {{flagIOC|SEN|2008 Summer|15}} * {{flagIOC|SRB|2008 Summer|87}} * {{flagIOC|SEY|2008 Summer|9}} * {{flagIOC|SLE|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|SIN|2008 Summer|25}} * {{flagIOC|SVK|2008 Summer|57}} * {{flagIOC|SLO|2008 Summer|61}} * {{flagIOC|SOL|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|SOM|2008 Summer|2}} * {{flagIOC|RSA|2008 Summer|134}} * {{flagIOC|ESP|2008 Summer|283}} * {{flagIOC|SRI|2008 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|SUD|2008 Summer|9}} * {{flagIOC|SUR|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|SWZ|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|SWE|2008 Summer|123}} * {{flagIOC|SUI|2008 Summer|83}} * {{flagIOC|SYR|2008 Summer|7}} * {{flagIOC|TPE|2008 Summer|79}} * {{flagIOC|TJK|2008 Summer|15}} * {{flagIOC|TAN|2008 Summer|9}} * {{flagIOC|THA|2008 Summer|47}} * {{flagIOC|TLS|2008 Summer|1}} * {{flagIOC|TOG|2008 Summer|4}} * {{flagIOC|TGA|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|TRI|2008 Summer|28}} * {{flagIOC|TUN|2008 Summer|26}} * {{flagIOC|TUR|2008 Summer|67}} * {{flagIOC|TKM|2008 Summer|10}} * {{flagIOC|TUV|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|UGA|2008 Summer|11}} * {{flagIOC|UKR|2008 Summer|243}} * {{flagIOC|UAE|2008 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|USA|2008 Summer|588}} * {{flagIOC|URU|2008 Summer|12}} * {{flagIOC|UZB|2008 Summer|56}} * {{flagIOC|VAN|2008 Summer|3}} * {{flagIOC|VEN|2008 Summer|108}} * {{flagIOC|VIE|2008 Summer|13}} * {{flagIOC|ISV|2008 Summer|7}} * {{flagIOC|YEM|2008 Summer|5}} * {{flagIOC|ZAM|2008 Summer|8}} * {{flagIOC|ZIM|2008 Summer|13}} {{div col end}} |} === Number of athletes by National Olympic Committees === {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable" !IOC Letter Code !Country !Athletes |- | CHN || {{flagIOC|CHN|2008 Summer}} || 599 |- | USA || {{flagIOC|USA|2008 Summer}} || 588 |- | RUS || {{flagIOC|RUS|2008 Summer}} || 467 |- | GER || {{flagIOC|GER|2008 Summer}} || 463 |- | AUS || {{flagIOC|AUS|2008 Summer}} || 433 |- | ITA || {{flagIOC|ITA|2008 Summer}} || 333 |- | CAN || {{flagIOC|CAN|2008 Summer}} || 332 |- | JPN || {{flagIOC|JPN|2008 Summer}} || 332 |- | FRA || {{flagIOC|FRA|2008 Summer}} || 323 |- | GBR || {{flagIOC|GBR|2008 Summer}} || 312 |- | ESP || {{flagIOC|ESP|2008 Summer}} || 283 |- | BRA || {{flagIOC|BRA|2008 Summer}} || 268 |- | KOR || {{flagIOC|KOR|2008 Summer}} || 265 |- | POL || {{flagIOC|POL|2008 Summer}} || 257 |- | UKR || {{flagIOC|UKR|2008 Summer}} || 243 |- | NED || {{flagIOC|NED|2008 Summer}} || 237 |- | NZL || {{flagIOC|NZL|2008 Summer}} || 178 |- | BLR || {{flagIOC|BLR|2008 Summer}} || 177 |- | HUN || {{flagIOC|HUN|2008 Summer}} || 171 |- | CUB || {{flagIOC|CUB|2008 Summer}} || 158 |- | GRE || {{flagIOC|GRE|2008 Summer}} || 152 |- | CZE || {{flagIOC|CZE|2008 Summer}} || 134 |- | RSA || {{flagIOC|RSA|2008 Summer}} || 134 |- | ARG || {{flagIOC|ARG|2008 Summer}} || 132 |- | KAZ || {{flagIOC|KAZ|2008 Summer}} || 130 |- | SWE || {{flagIOC|SWE|2008 Summer}} || 123 |- | VEN || {{flagIOC|VEN|2008 Summer}} || 108 |- | ROU || {{flagIOC|ROU|2008 Summer}} || 101 |- | EGY || {{flagIOC|EGY|2008 Summer}} || 100 |- | CRO || {{flagIOC|CRO|2008 Summer}} || 99 |- | BEL || {{flagIOC|BEL|2008 Summer}} || 94 |- | SRB || {{flagIOC|SRB|2008 Summer}} || 87 |- | DEN || {{flagIOC|DEN|2008 Summer}} || 84 |- | NOR || {{flagIOC|NOR|2008 Summer}} || 84 |- | MEX || {{flagIOC|MEX|2008 Summer}} || 83 |- | SUI || {{flagIOC|SUI|2008 Summer}} || 83 |- | TPE || {{flagIOC|TPE|2008 Summer}} || 79 |- | POR || {{flagIOC|POR|2008 Summer}} || 77 |- | NGR || {{flagIOC|NGR|2008 Summer}} || 74 |- | LTU || {{flagIOC|LTU|2008 Summer}} || 71 |- | AUT || {{flagIOC|AUT|2008 Summer}} || 70 |- | BUL || {{flagIOC|BUL|2008 Summer}} || 70 |- | COL || {{flagIOC|COL|2008 Summer}} || 67 |- | TUR || {{flagIOC|TUR|2008 Summer}} || 67 |- | SLO || {{flagIOC|SLO|2008 Summer}} || 61 |- | PRK || {{flagIOC|PRK|2008 Summer}} || 58 |- | FIN || {{flagIOC|FIN|2008 Summer}} || 57 |- | SVK || {{flagIOC|SVK|2008 Summer}} || 57 |- | ALG || {{flagIOC|ALG|2008 Summer}} || 56 |- | UZB || {{flagIOC|UZB|2008 Summer}} || 56 |- | IRL || {{flagIOC|IRL|2008 Summer}} || 55 |- | IRI || {{flagIOC|IRI|2008 Summer}} || 54 |- | IND || {{flagIOC|IND|2008 Summer}} || 53 |- | JAM || {{flagIOC|JAM|2008 Summer}} || 50 |- | EST || {{flagIOC|EST|2008 Summer}} || 47 |- | LAT || {{flagIOC|LAT|2008 Summer}} || 47 |- | MAR || {{flagIOC|MAR|2008 Summer}} || 47 |- | THA || {{flagIOC|THA|2008 Summer}} || 47 |- | KEN || {{flagIOC|KEN|2008 Summer}} || 46 |- | AZE || {{flagIOC|AZE|2008 Summer}} || 44 |- | ISR || {{flagIOC|ISR|2008 Summer}} || 43 |- | GEO || {{flagIOC|GEO|2008 Summer}} || 35 |- | HKG || {{flagIOC|HKG|2008 Summer}} || 34 |- | ANG || {{flagIOC|ANG|2008 Summer}} || 32 |- | CMR || {{flagIOC|CMR|2008 Summer}} || 32 |- | MAS || {{flagIOC|MAS|2008 Summer}} || 32 |- | MDA || {{flagIOC|MDA|2008 Summer}} || 29 |- | MGL || {{flagIOC|MGL|2008 Summer}} || 28 |- | TRI || {{flagIOC|TRI|2008 Summer}} || 28 |- | ETH || {{flagIOC|ETH|2008 Summer}} || 27 |- | ISL || {{flagIOC|ISL|2008 Summer}} || 27 |- | CHI || {{flagIOC|CHI|2008 Summer}} || 26 |- | TUN || {{flagIOC|TUN|2008 Summer}} || 26 |- | ARM || {{flagIOC|ARM|2008 Summer}} || 25 |- | BAH || {{flagIOC|BAH|2008 Summer}} || 25 |- | ECU || {{flagIOC|ECU|2008 Summer}} || 25 |- | HON || {{flagIOC|HON|2008 Summer}} || 25 |- | SIN || {{flagIOC|SIN|2008 Summer}} || 25 |- | DOM || {{flagIOC|DOM|2008 Summer}} || 24 |- | INA || {{flagIOC|INA|2008 Summer}} || 24 |- | PUR || {{flagIOC|PUR|2008 Summer}} || 22 |- | CIV || {{flagIOC|CIV|2008 Summer}} || 21 |- | PAK || {{flagIOC|PAK|2008 Summer}} || 21 |- | KGZ || {{flagIOC|KGZ|2008 Summer}} || 20 |- | QAT || {{flagIOC|QAT|2008 Summer}} || 20 |- | MNE || {{flagIOC|MNE|2008 Summer}} || 19 |- | CYP || {{flagIOC|CYP|2008 Summer}} || 17 |- | MLI || {{flagIOC|MLI|2008 Summer}} || 17 |- | PHI || {{flagIOC|PHI|2008 Summer}} || 15 |- | SEN || {{flagIOC|SEN|2008 Summer}} || 15 |- | TJK || {{flagIOC|TJK|2008 Summer}} || 15 |- | BRN || {{flagIOC|BRN|2008 Summer}} || 14 |- | KSA || {{flagIOC|KSA|2008 Summer}} || 14 |- | LUX || {{flagIOC|LUX|2008 Summer}} || 13 |- | PER || {{flagIOC|PER|2008 Summer}} || 13 |- | VIE || {{flagIOC|VIE|2008 Summer}} || 13 |- | ZIM || {{flagIOC|ZIM|2008 Summer}} || 13 |- | GUA || {{flagIOC|GUA|2008 Summer}} || 12 |- | URU || {{flagIOC|URU|2008 Summer}} || 12 |- | ALB || {{flagIOC|ALB|2008 Summer}} || 11 |- | BOT || {{flagIOC|BOT|2008 Summer}} || 11 |- | ESA || {{flagIOC|ESA|2008 Summer}} || 11 |- | MRI || {{flagIOC|MRI|2008 Summer}} || 11 |- | UGA || {{flagIOC|UGA|2008 Summer}} || 11 |- | ERI || {{flagIOC|ERI|2008 Summer}} || 10 |- | NAM || {{flagIOC|NAM|2008 Summer}} || 10 |- | TKM || {{flagIOC|TKM|2008 Summer}} || 10 |- | GHA || {{flagIOC|GHA|2008 Summer}} || 9 |- | GRN || {{flagIOC|GRN|2008 Summer}} || 9 |- | SEY || {{flagIOC|SEY|2008 Summer}} || 9 |- | SUD || {{flagIOC|SUD|2008 Summer}} || 9 |- | TAN || {{flagIOC|TAN|2008 Summer}} || 9 |- | BAR || {{flagIOC|BAR|2008 Summer}} || 8 |- | CRC || {{flagIOC|CRC|2008 Summer}} || 8 |- | KUW || {{flagIOC|KUW|2008 Summer}} || 8 |- | NEP || {{flagIOC|NEP|2008 Summer}} || 8 |- | SRI || {{flagIOC|SRI|2008 Summer}} || 8 |- | UAE || {{flagIOC|UAE|2008 Summer}} || 8 |- | ZAM || {{flagIOC|ZAM|2008 Summer}} || 8 |- | BOL || {{flagIOC|BOL|2008 Summer}} || 7 |- | HAI || {{flagIOC|HAI|2008 Summer}} || 7 |- | JOR || {{flagIOC|JOR|2008 Summer}} || 7 |- | MKD || {{flagIOC|MKD|2008 Summer}} || 7 |- | PNG || {{flagIOC|PNG|2008 Summer}} || 7 |- | PAR || {{flagIOC|PAR|2008 Summer}} || 7 |- | SYR || {{flagIOC|SYR|2008 Summer}} || 7 |- | ISV || {{flagIOC|ISV|2008 Summer}} || 7 |- | BER || {{flagIOC|BER|2008 Summer}} || 6 |- | BUR || {{flagIOC|BUR|2008 Summer}} || 6 |- | FIJ || {{flagIOC|FIJ|2008 Summer}} || 6 |- | GUM || {{flagIOC|GUM|2008 Summer}} || 6 |- | LIB || {{flagIOC|LIB|2008 Summer}} || 6 |- | LBA || {{flagIOC|LBA|2008 Summer}} || 6 |- | MAD || {{flagIOC|MAD|2008 Summer}} || 6 |- | MLT || {{flagIOC|MLT|2008 Summer}} || 6 |- | MYA || {{flagIOC|MYA|2008 Summer}} || 6 |- | NCA || {{flagIOC|NCA|2008 Summer}} || 6 |- | SAM || {{flagIOC|SAM|2008 Summer}} || 6 |- | AND || {{flagIOC|AND|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | ANT || {{flagIOC|ANT|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | BAN || {{flagIOC|BAN|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | BEN || {{flagIOC|BEN|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | BIH || {{flagIOC|BIH|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | CGO || {{flagIOC|CGO|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | COD || {{flagIOC|COD|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | GUI || {{flagIOC|GUI|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | LES || {{flagIOC|LES|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | MHL || {{flagIOC|MHL|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | FSM || {{flagIOC|FSM|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | MON || {{flagIOC|MON|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | PLW || {{flagIOC|PLW|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | PAN || {{flagIOC|PAN|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | YEM || {{flagIOC|YEM|2008 Summer}} || 5 |- | AFG || {{flagIOC|AFG|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | ASA || {{flagIOC|ASA|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | BIZ || {{flagIOC|BIZ|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | CAM || {{flagIOC|CAM|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | CAY || {{flagIOC|CAY|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | COK || {{flagIOC|COK|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | GAB || {{flagIOC|GAB|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | GUY || {{flagIOC|GUY|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | IRQ || {{flagIOC|IRQ|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | LAO || {{flagIOC|LAO|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | MAW || {{flagIOC|MAW|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | MDV || {{flagIOC|MDV|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | MOZ || {{flagIOC|MOZ|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | NIG || {{flagIOC|NIG|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | OMA || {{flagIOC|OMA|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | PLE || {{flagIOC|PLE|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | RWA || {{flagIOC|RWA|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | SKN || {{flagIOC|SKN|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | LCA || {{flagIOC|LCA|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | SMR || {{flagIOC|SMR|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | SUR || {{flagIOC|SUR|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | SWZ || {{flagIOC|SWZ|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | TOG || {{flagIOC|TOG|2008 Summer}} || 4 |- | BDI || {{flagIOC|BDI|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | CAF || {{flagIOC|CAF|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | COM || {{flagIOC|COM|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | GEQ || {{flagIOC|GEQ|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | GAM || {{flagIOC|GAM|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | GBS || {{flagIOC|GBS|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | LBR || {{flagIOC|LBR|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | AHO || {{flagIOC|AHO|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | STP || {{flagIOC|STP|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | SLE || {{flagIOC|SLE|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | SOL || {{flagIOC|SOL|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | TGA || {{flagIOC|TGA|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | TUV || {{flagIOC|TUV|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | VAN || {{flagIOC|VAN|2008 Summer}} || 3 |- | ARU || {{flagIOC|ARU|2008 Summer}} || 2 |- | BHU || {{flagIOC|BHU|2008 Summer}} || 2 |- | IVB || {{flagIOC|IVB|2008 Summer}} || 2 |- | CPV || {{flagIOC|CPV|2008 Summer}} || 2 |- | CHA || {{flagIOC|CHA|2008 Summer}} || 2 |- | DJI || {{flagIOC|DJI|2008 Summer}} || 2 |- | DMA || {{flagIOC|DMA|2008 Summer}} || 2 |- | KIR || {{flagIOC|KIR|2008 Summer}} || 2 |- | LIE || {{flagIOC|LIE|2008 Summer}} || 2 |- | MTN || {{flagIOC|MTN|2008 Summer}} || 2 |- | VIN || {{flagIOC|VIN|2008 Summer}} || 2 |- | SOM || {{flagIOC|SOM|2008 Summer}} || 2 |- | NRU || {{flagIOC|NRU|2008 Summer}} || 1 |- | TLS || {{flagIOC|TLS|2008 Summer}} || 1 |} ==== National participation changes ==== [[File:Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg|thumb|Flag of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee.]] Athletes from the [[Republic of China]] (Taiwan) competed at the 2008 Games as [[Chinese Taipei]] (TPE) under the [[Chinese Taipei Olympic flag]] and used the [[National Banner Song]] as their official anthem. The participation of Taiwan was briefly in doubt because of disagreements over the name of their team in the Chinese language and concerns about Taiwan marching in the Opening Ceremony next to the special administrative region of Hong Kong. A compromise based at the [[Nagoya Protocol]] about the naming was reached some months before the opening ceremonies, and Taiwan was referred to during the Games as "Chinese Taipei", rather than "Taipei, China," as the mainland China government had proposed. In addition, the [[Central African Republic at the 2008 Summer Olympics|Central African Republic]] was placed between Taipei and [[Hong Kong at the 2008 Summer Olympics|Hong Kong,China]] on protocol order.<ref>{{cite news | last = Callick | first = Rowan | title = Taiwan clears Games hurdle | work = The Australian | date = 4 August 2008 | url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24123163-5013406,00.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120526213717/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24123163-5013406,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 26 May 2012 | access-date = 15 June 2009 }}</ref> Starting in 2005, [[North Korea]] and South Korea held meetings to discuss the possibility of sending a united team to the 2008 Olympics.<ref name="Korea1">{{cite news| title = Koreas 'to unify Olympics teams'| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4396170.stm| publisher = BBC| date = 14 May 2006| access-date = 17 December 2006| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060628082744/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4396170.stm| archive-date = 28 June 2006| url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="Korea2">{{cite news|title=Two Koreas Make Progress in Creation of Unified Team |url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=1893 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029024041/http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=1893 |archive-date=29 October 2007 |publisher=[[International Olympic Committee]] |date=5 September 2006 |access-date=10 September 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> The proposal failed, because of disagreements about how athletes would be chosen; North Korea was demanding a certain percentage representation for its athletes. A subsequent attempt to broker an agreement for the two nations to walk together during the March of Nations failed as well, despite their having done so during the 2000 and 2004 Games.<ref>{{cite news | last = Wilson | first = Stephen | title = North, South Korea Fail To Broker Joint Olympics March | agency = Associated Press | date = 7 August 2008 | url = http://www.nysun.com/foreign/north-south-korea-fail-to-broker-joint-olympics/83398/ | access-date = 15 June 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081205053616/http://www.nysun.com/foreign/north-south-korea-fail-to-broker-joint-olympics/83398/ | archive-date = 5 December 2008 | url-status = live }}</ref> On 24 July 2008, the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) banned [[Iraq at the 2008 Summer Olympics|Iraq]] from competing in the 2008 Olympic Summer Games because of "political interference by the government in sports."<ref>{{cite news | title = Iraq banned from Summer Olympics | publisher = CNN | date = 24 July 2008 | url = http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/24/iraq.olympics/index.html | access-date = 24 July 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080727024900/http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/24/iraq.olympics/index.html | archive-date = 27 July 2008 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Iraq banned from Beijing Olympics |work=BBC Sport |date=24 July 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/7523708.stm |access-date=24 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725001202/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/7523708.stm |archive-date=25 July 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> The IOC reversed its decision five days later and allowed the nation to compete after a pledge by Iraq to ensure "the independence of its national Olympics panel" by instituting fair elections before the end of November. In the meantime, Iraq's Olympic Organization was to be run by "an interim committee proposed by its national sports federations and approved by the IOC."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-07-29-1527812812_x.htm|title=Olympic panel ends ban, says Iraq can go to games|author=Jordans, Frank|work=USA Today|date=29 July 2008|access-date=20 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623190358/http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-07-29-1527812812_x.htm|archive-date=23 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> {{anchor|Brunei}} [[Brunei|Brunei Darussalam]] was due to take part in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. However, they were disqualified on 8 August, having failed to register either of their two athletes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brunei Darussalam excluded from Beijing Olympic Games |publisher=[[Xinhua]] |date=8 August 2008 |url=http://www.china.org.cn/olympics/news/2008-08/08/content_16167337.htm |access-date=8 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813082320/http://www.china.org.cn/olympics/news/2008-08/08/content_16167337.htm |archive-date=13 August 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> The IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said in a statement that "it is a great shame and very sad for the athletes who lose out because of the decision by their team not to register them. The IOC tried up until the last minute, midday Friday 8 August 2008, the day of the official opening, to have them register, but to no avail."<ref>{{cite news | title = Brunei excluded from Beijing Games | work = Reuters | date = 8 August 2008 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Olympics/idUSPEK32791920080808 | access-date =15 June 2009}}</ref> Brunei's Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports issued a press release stating that their decision not to participate was due to an injury to one of their athletes.<ref>{{cite news|author=Thomas, Jason |author2=Begawan, Bandar Seri |title=Brunei not in China because ... |work=The Brunei Times |date=10 August 2008 |url=http://www.bt.com.bn/en/sport/2008/08/10/brunei_not_in_china_because |access-date=15 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201090922/http://bt.com.bn/en/sport/2008/08/10/brunei_not_in_china_because |archive-date=1 December 2008 }}</ref> [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] announced on 9 August 2008, that it was considering withdrawing from the Beijing Olympic Games because of the [[2008 South Ossetia war]], but it went on to compete while the conflict was still ongoing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Olympics2008/0,,2-9-2370_2372929,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080825021441/http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Olympics2008/0%2C%2C2-9-2370_2372929%2C00.html |archive-date=25 August 2008 |title=24.com – Olympics 2008 – Georgia poised to leave Beijing |date=8 September 2008 |access-date=25 August 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ==== Participation of athletes with disabilities ==== South African swimmer [[Natalie du Toit]], whose left leg was amputated following a motor scooter accident, qualified to compete at the Beijing Olympics. The five time gold medalist at the [[2004 Summer Paralympics|Athens Paralympics in 2004]] made history by becoming the first [[amputee]] to qualify for the Olympic Games since [[Olivér Halassy]] in 1936. She was able to compete in the Olympics rather than the Paralympics because she does not use a prosthetic leg while swimming.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hart |first=Simon |title=Dreams carry Natalie Du Toit to Beijing |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=4 May 2008 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/swimming/2299269/Dreams-carry-Natalie-Du-Toit-to-Beijing.html |access-date=15 June 2009 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530170103/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/swimming/2299269/Dreams-carry-Natalie-Du-Toit-to-Beijing.html |archive-date=30 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Polish athlete [[Natalia Partyka]], who was born without a right forearm, competed in Table Tennis in the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2008 Paralympic Games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.london2012.com/blog/2008/06/18/natalia-paralympic-and-olympic-athlete.php |title=Natalia: Paralympic AND Olympic athlete |access-date=15 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906040512/http://www.london2012.com/about-us/our-vision/blog-archive/blog=natalia-paralympic-and-olympic-athlete/ |archive-date=6 September 2012 }}</ref> === Sports === The program for the Beijing Games was quite similar to that of the 2004 Summer Olympics held in Athens. There were 28 sports and 302 events at the 2008 Games. Nine new events were held, including two from the new [[Cycling at the Summer Olympics|cycling]] discipline of [[BMX]]. Women competed in the {{convert|3000|m|ft|0|adj=mid|sp=us}} [[steeplechase (athletics)|steeplechase]] for the first time. [[Open water swimming]] events for men and women, over the distance of {{convert|10|km|mi|sp=us}}, were added to the swimming discipline. Team events (men and women) in table tennis replaced the doubles events.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2008/08/10/2008-08-10_a_2008_summer_olympics_primer.html|title=A 2008 Summer Olympics primer|date=10 August 2008|work=New York Daily News|access-date=8 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225174703/https://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/2008-summer-olympics-primer-article-1.313803|archive-date=25 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[fencing]], the women's team foil and women's team saber replaced men's team foil and women's team [[épée]].{{efn|The fencing program included six individual events and four team events; the [[Fédération Internationale d'Escrime|FIE]]'s rules call for the set of team events to be different from those held in the previous Games and for at least one team event in each weapon to be contested. The fourth event is determined by a vote. In [[Fencing at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004]], the three men's team events ([[Foil (fencing)|foil]], [[saber]], [[épée]]) and the women's épée were held, so in 2008, both the women's foil and saber events, as well as the men's épée, were automatically selected. The fourth event, men's saber, was chosen over men's foil by a 45:20 vote.<ref name="FencingTeam">{{cite web |url=http://www.fie.ch/download/letters/2006/urgent/09/en/decisions%20ANG.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307170803/http://www.fie.ch/download/letters/2006/urgent/09/en/decisions%20ANG.pdf |archive-date=7 March 2008 |title=List of decisions of the 2006 General Assembly |date=8 April 2006 |publisher=[[Fédération Internationale d'Escrime]] |access-date=7 June 2009}}</ref>}} Two sports were open only to men, [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics|baseball]] and [[Boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics|boxing]], while one sport and one discipline were open only to women, [[Softball at the 2008 Summer Olympics|softball]] and [[Synchronized swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics|synchronized swimming]]. [[Equestrian at the Summer Olympics|Equestrian]] and [[Badminton at the Summer Olympics|mixed badminton]] are the only sports in which men and women compete together, although three events in the [[Sailing at the Summer Olympics|Sailing]] allowed the opportunity for both males and female participants. However, only male participants took part in all three events.<ref name="2008programme">{{cite news|url=http://olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=1797 |title=Beijing 2008: Games Programme Finalised |work=[[International Olympic Committee]] |date=27 April 2006 |access-date=7 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914051210/http://olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=1797 |archive-date=14 September 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_1056.pdf |title=Programme of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, Beijing 2008 |publisher=[[International Olympic Committee]] |access-date=25 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723070956/http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_1056.pdf |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The following were the 302 events in 28 sports that were contested at the Games. The number of events contested in each sport is indicated in parentheses (in sports with more than one discipline, as identified by the IOC,<ref name="IOC sports (olypmic.org)">{{cite web | url=http://www.olympic.org/sports | title=Home > Sports | publisher=olympic.org | access-date=24 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225174712/https://www.olympic.org/sports%20 | archive-date=25 December 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> these are also specified). <!--[[File:Michael Phelps 2009.jpg|upright=0.45|thumb|left|[[Michael Phelps]] set a record for number of gold medals at the Olympics.]]--> {|class="wikitable" |- !2008 Summer Olympics Sports Programme |- | {{Col-begin}} {{Col-1-of-4}} *{{GamesSport|Aquatics|Format=d}} **{{GamesSport|Diving|Events=8|Image=No|Format=d}} **{{GamesSport|Swimming|Events=34|Image=No|Format=d}} **{{GamesSport|Synchronized swimming|Events=2|Image=No|Format=d}} **{{GamesSport|Water polo|Events=2|Image=No|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Archery|Events=4|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Athletics|Events=47|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Badminton|Events=5|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Baseball|Events=1|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Basketball|Events=2|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Boxing|Events=11|Format=d}} {{Col-2-of-4}} *{{GamesSport|Canoeing|Format=d}} **Slalom <small>(4)</small> **Sprint <small>(12)</small> *{{GamesSport|Cycling|Format=d}} **BMX <small>(2)</small> **Road <small>(4)</small> **Track <small>(10)</small> **Mountain bike <small>(2)</small> *{{GamesSport|Equestrian|Format=d}} **Dressage <small>(2)</small> **Eventing <small>(2)</small> **Jumping <small>(2)</small> {{Col-2-of-4}} *{{GamesSport|Fencing|Events=10|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Field hockey|Events=2|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Football|Events=2|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Gymnastics|Format=d}} **Artistic <small>(14)</small> **Rhythmic <small>(2)</small> **Trampoline <small>(2)</small> *{{GamesSport|Handball|Events=2|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Judo|Events=14|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Modern pentathlon|Events=2|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Rowing|Events=14|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Sailing|Events=11|Format=d}} {{Col-3-of-4}} *{{GamesSport|Shooting|Events=15|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Softball|Events=1|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Table tennis|Events=4|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Taekwondo|Events=8|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Tennis|Events=4|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Triathlon|Events=2|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Volleyball|Format=d}} **Beach volleyball <small>(2)</small> **Volleyball <small>(2)</small> *{{GamesSport|Weightlifting|Events=15|Format=d}} *{{GamesSport|Wrestling|Format=d}} **Freestyle <small>(11)</small> **Greco-Roman <small>(7)</small> {{col-end}} |} In addition to the official Olympic sports, the Beijing Organizing Committee was given special dispensation by the IOC to run a [[wushu (sport)|wushu]] competition in tandem with the Games. The [[2008 Beijing Wushu Tournament]] saw 128 athletes from 43 countries participate, with medals awarded in 15 separate events; however, these were not to be added to the official medal tally since Wushu was not on the official program of the 2008 Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/official/preparation/n214506999.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808100337/http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/official/preparation/n214506999.shtml|archive-date=8 August 2008|title=Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 to begin August 21|website=en.beijing2008.cn|access-date=5 August 2008}}</ref> === Calendar === In the following calendar for the 2008 Summer Olympics, each blue box represents an event competition, such as a qualification round, on that day. The yellow boxes represent days during which medal-awarding finals for a sport were held. Each bullet in these boxes is an event final, the number of bullets per box representing the number of finals that were contested on that day. On the left, the calendar lists each sport with events held during the Games, and at the right how many gold medals were won in that sport. There is a key at the top of the calendar to aid the reader.<ref name="Calendar">{{cite web|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/cptvenues/schedule/ |title=Olympic Games Competition Schedule |publisher=[[Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games]] |access-date=5 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070618095401/http://en.beijing2008.cn/cptvenues/schedule/ |archive-date=18 June 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> {{#section:Chronological summary of the 2008 Summer Olympics|Calendar}} === Records === {{main|World and Olympic records set at the 2008 Summer Olympics}} 125 [[Olympic record]]s including 37 [[world records]] were set in various events at the Games. In swimming, sixty-five [[List of Olympic records in swimming|Olympic swimming records]] including 25 [[List of world records in swimming|world records]] were broken because of the use of the [[LZR Racer]], a specialized swimming suit developed by [[NASA]] and the [[Australian Institute of Sport]].<ref name="Physorg">{{cite web|url=http://www.physorg.com/news123416635.html=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919084240/http://www.physorg.com/news123416635.html%3Den |archive-date=19 September 2008 |title=Engineering the world's fastest swimsuit |publisher=Physorg |date=28 February 2008 |access-date=30 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Only two swimming Olympic records remained intact after the Games. === Opening ceremony === {{main|2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony}} [[File:Beijing Olympics 2008.jpg|thumb|upright=1.21|Opening Ceremony.]] Before the event started, the [[People's Liberation Army Navy Band]] performed the ''Welcome March'' song as delegations of both IOC and the Chinese government, led by [[Jacques Rogge]] and [[Hu Jintao]], entered [[Beijing National Stadium]] (The ''Bird's Nest'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/n214508163.shtml |title=Opening Ceremony plan released |date=6 August 2008 |publisher=Official website |access-date=8 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808103425/http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/n214508163.shtml |archive-date= 8 August 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The opening ceremony officially began at 8:00 pm [[China Standard Time]] ([[UTC+8]]) on 8 August 2008. The number 8 is associated with prosperity and confidence in [[Numbers in Chinese culture|Chinese culture]], and the ceremonial start comprised a triple eight for the date and one extra for time (close to 08:08:08 pm).<ref name="Eight">{{cite web|url=http://afgen.com/china8.html |title=The Number Eight and the Chinese |access-date=22 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427201943/http://afgen.com/china8.html |archive-date=27 April 2007 |url-status=dead}}{{irrelevant citation|date=April 2023}}</ref> The ceremony was co-directed by Chinese filmmaker [[Zhang Yimou]] and Chinese choreographer [[Zhang Jigang]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/culture/ceremonies/n214143744.shtml |title=Zhang Yimou and his five creative generals |date=23 August 2007 |publisher=Beijing2008.cn |access-date=5 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428200852/http://en.beijing2008.cn/culture/ceremonies/n214143744.shtml |archive-date=28 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and featured a cast of over 15,000 performers.<ref name="Crean">{{Cite book |last=Crean |first=Jeffrey |title=The Fear of Chinese Power: an International History |date=2024 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Academic]] |isbn=978-1-350-23394-2 |edition= |series=New Approaches to International History series |location=London, UK |pages=165}}</ref> The ceremony lasted over four hours and was reported to have cost over US$100 million to produce.<ref>{{cite news|title=China Celebrates Opening of Summer Olympics : NPR |newspaper = NPR.org|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93420251 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122052643/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93420251 |archive-date=22 January 2010 |url-status=live |access-date=9 September 2009 }}</ref> [[UNGA]] President [[Miguel d'Escoto]] and leaders from 105 countries and territories attended this ceremony. [[File:2008 Summer Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Ilias Iliadis (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.86|Ilias Iliadis led the Greek team into the Bird's Nest as the traditional first contingent.]] [[File:Yao Ming 2008 Summer Olympics - Opening Ceremony.jpg |thumb|upright=1.18|Yao Ming and Lin Hao led the host country. China, as the host, enters last among 204 nations with a large vast of participants joining the parade.]] A rich showcase of ancient Chinese art and culture dominated the ceremony cultural segments. It opened with the beating of [[Fou (instrument)|Fou]] drums for the countdown. Subsequently, a giant [[scroll]] was unveiled and became the show's centerpiece. The official song of the 2008 Summer Olympics, titled "[[You and Me (theme song)|You and Me]]", was performed by Britain's [[Sarah Brightman]] and China's [[Liu Huan]], on a large spinning rendition of the globe.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUST29313420080807|title=Fears, foul-ups and triumphs at past Olympic openings|date=7 August 2008|work=Reuters|access-date=5 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080831104338/http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUST29313420080807|archive-date=31 August 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> As the Olympic Charter determines the parade of nations section, is led by the [[Greece at the 2008 Summer Olympics|Greek team]], which hosted the [[2004 Summer Olympics|previous games]], entered first in honour of its status as the Olympic birthplace. They were led by judoka [[Ilias Iliadis (judoka)|Ilias Iliadis]]. Meanwhile, the [[China at the 2008 Summer Olympics|Chinese team]] entered last as the host country, led by the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]'s [[Houston Rockets]] superstar [[Yao Ming]] and [[2008 Sichuan earthquake|earthquake]] survivor Lin Hao, who was just 9 years old. The last torchbearer in the Olympic Torch was the [[gymnast]] legend [[Li Ning]] ignited the [[2008 Summer Olympics cauldron|cauldron]], after being suspended into the air by wires and completing the relay last 400m of the National Stadium at roof height.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=3525418|title=China strides onto Olympic stage|date=8 August 2008|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=5 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106194514/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=3525418|archive-date=6 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Beijing 2008 Olympic cauldron lighting (cropped).JPG|thumb|upright=1.22|The lighting of the Olympic Cauldron.]] [[File:Li Ling during 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.jpg|thumb|upright=1.18|Chinese gymnast Li Ning after igniting the cauldron.]] The opening ceremony was lauded by spectators and various international presses as "spectacular" and "spellbinding".<ref name="AFPGreatestEver" /> [[Hein Verbruggen]], chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for the XXIX Olympiad, called the ceremony "a grand, unprecedented success."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/official/ioc/n214520633.shtml |title=Verbruggen: Opening Ceremony a grand success |publisher=Beijing2008.cn |date=9 August 2008 |access-date=5 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428182913/http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/official/ioc/n214520633.shtml |archive-date=28 April 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> === Closing ceremony === {{Main|2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony}} The 2008 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony concluded the Beijing Games on 24 August 2008. It began at 8:00 pm China Standard Time (UTC+8) and took place at the Beijing National Stadium. The Ceremony included the handover of the Games from Beijing to London. [[Guo Jinlong]], the [[Mayor of Beijing]] handed over the [[Olympic flag]] to the [[Mayor of London]] [[Boris Johnson]], followed by a performance organized by [[London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games]]. This presentation included performances by guitarist [[Jimmy Page]] and recording artist [[Leona Lewis]]. Footballer [[David Beckham]] was also featured during London's presentation.<ref>{{cite news|title=London Takes Over as Olympic Host |date=24 August 2008 |publisher=The BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/7577999.stm |access-date=10 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929000606/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/7577999.stm |archive-date=29 September 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Summary:
Please note that all contributions to Niidae Wiki may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see
Encyclopedia:Copyrights
for details).
Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Search
Search
Editing
2008 Summer Olympics
(section)
Add topic
