a week away from the games heres a looks at the venues on offer

The Chinese have shut all the critics. When the critics come to China and see the years of preparations, venues etc. they are simply left astonished.

And people are still complaing!

Its soooooooooooo annoying to see people still complaing about the weather, smog, censorhip etc

Just wait till the opening cermony world will be amazed! Its Chinas comming out party!


On a side note I feel really sorry for the Iraqi olympic team IOC banned them from attending! Politics and sport should never mix, why punish the atheltes they havnt done anything wrong all that hard training is lost! :-(

I think the ban has been overturned just yesterday.

Are you seroius! I know the girl was awaiting decision but thee rowers?> have u got a link? i would really appreciate it!

Guys you would be amazed how much china has developed! I have just spent 3 weeks travelling throughout China and I was simply blown away! Some of the cities are just like any other major western city , though with asian touch :) .

I even met a chinese lady who thanked me for the help Pakistan provided during the sichuan earthquake. I was very humbled. She said that Pakistan was a great friend of China and chinese would never forget the help Pakistan provided.

I can truly say that I really love China ! ;)

I was at the olympic village and its awesome. very neat and clean. well organised.

Good luck to China!

Iraqis thrilled over lifting of Olympic ban

By SELCAN HACAOGLU – 2 days ago

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's Olympic team was thrilled Wednesday at the news that the International Olympic Committee revoked a ban on its participation in the Beijing games, allowing four of the original seven athletes to compete.

The IOC decision came late Tuesday after last-minute talks during which an Iraqi government delegation pledged to hold free elections for its national Olympic committee under international observation.

IOC officials said Iraq would be able to send two track and field athletes to the games, as the deadline for their entry into competitions had not yet passed.

Iraq missed last week's deadline to enter athletes for the rowing, judo, archery and weightlifting competitions.

But on Wednesday, the International Rowing Federation announced that the Iraq men's rowing double will be permitted to participate in Beijing after all.

"We called the IOC and asked if we could have the rowers back and the answer just came through. We're very happy," said Matt Smith, the rowing federation's executive director.

The two rowers, Haidar Nozad and Hamzah Hussein Jebur, were allowed back in the men's double sculls because their places had not been given to competitors from other countries, Smith said.

"We were overwhelmed with pleasure over the news," Jebur said.

Dezso Dobor, a spokesman for the International Weightlifting Federation, said an Iraqi competitor might be placed on standby should an athlete from another country drop out.

Ali Adnan, an Iraqi athlete in archery, potentially has a chance to compete as well.

"If someone withdraws from the competition for whatever reason, then Ali will be the first person to get the place," said Tom Dielen, secretary-general of the International Archery Federation.

Iraq has only one bronze medal since its first appearance at the Summer Olympics in 1948.

But in a country where violence has claimed the lives athletes, coaches and staff, the IOC's rescinding of the ban amounted to an invaluable gift.

"Yesterday's decision is an upbeat one. ... It brought Iraq back to the international sports gathering," said Dr. Talib Faisal, head of the Iraqi Track and Field Association. "We are looking forward to take part in the Olympics."

The IOC suspended Iraq in May citing political interference in the country's national Olympic committee, which the government had dissolved over allegations of corruption.

"We hope that there will be no more black days for the Iraqi sports," said Samir Sadiq al-Moussawi, head of the Iraqi Judo Association on Wednesday.

Pere Kutee, head of the IOC's department for relations with national Olympic committees, said Tuesday that Iraq's national Olympic Committee will hold "fair elections" before the end of November.

Until then, Iraq's Olympic organization will be run by an interim committee proposed by its national sports federations and approved by the IOC, Kutee said.

ah you're back from China , nice :)

Which Chinese cities did you travel through ? Please share more of your experiences :D

Thanks.

Thanks bojangles!

The only two competitions I'll probably keep track are basketball, football, and maybe baseball while watching the occasional badminton match. USA IS GOING TO WIN GOLD IF FOOTBALL!

China doesn't stand a chance in basketball. Can't wait to see the faces of the Chinese after they see their team get raped by the almighty power of NBA Superstars under the guidance of a legendary college basketball coach.

yeah I am back :) .

I was in beijing, Tianjin , Xian , Guilin, Hangzhou and Shanghai. It was a great trip. Planning on going back to china soon :) . Its fantastic and the people are super friendly. We even met an english teacher in Guilin who spent two days with us showing us around . That was indeed very nice of him! :) . And I should say that chinese people love to practise their english and they are very curious about you. Especially they like take pictures with you :) And if u can speak chinese they will go crazy happy :D . Once two chinese girls said hi to me in english and i responded by saying nihao , they started to jump in the air and said oh you speak chinese!!!!! and started to say all kinds of thigns to me in Chinese :D I had to disappoint them alittle by saying that I didnt speak much chinese ....though I said that in chinese so they were amazed haha.

PM me if u want to know anything :)

Very impressive--hats off you China!!

This is also a big slap in the face of idiotic morons sitting in Islamabad and Delhi!! These loosers should learn a lesson from the sincerity of Chinese leaders towards their people!! China doesn't listen to US/Western cheats, it doesn't compromise on its national security and intersts unlike the A-holes leadership in these countries!!

i'll be keeping a close eye on the ammature boxing

National Stadium


National Aquatics Center


Laoshan Velodrome


Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium


Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium


Beijing Olympic Green Hockey Stadium


Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Court

Mind boggling pics marchpole. Thanks for sharing these.

China Agricultural University Gymnasium


Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium


Beijing Workers' Gymnasium


Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground


Beijing Olympic Green Archery Field


Beijing Wukesong Sports Center Baseball Field



Other New Venues in Beijing

National Indoor Stadium
Beijing Shooting Range Hall
Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park
Peking University Gymnasium
Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium

Existing Venues in Beijing

Olympic Sports Center Stadium
Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium
Beijing Workers' Gymnasium
Capital Indoor Stadium
Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field
Yingdong Natatorium of National Olympic Sports Center
Laoshan Mountain Bike Course
Beijing Shooting Range CTF
Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium

Temporary Venues in Beijing

Fencing Hall of National Convention Center
Laoshan Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX) Venue
Triathlon Venue
Road Cycling Course


Venues in Other Cities

Qingdao
Hong Kong
Tianjin
Shanghai
Shenyang
Qinhuangdao

Holy smokes! The Chinese are amazing.The amount of work that has been done is simply mind boggling.

Thanks for the compliment . I hope one day Pakistan can hold the Olympics too.

thanks but that one day will probably take another 1000 years the way things r goin!!

China is great. The Chinese are amazing.
The piece of work done in limited time frame as compare to this type of job in other country is amazing.
Great job for sport.

China is ready to shock the world with number of medals too.
I have no doubt in predicting that China will beat USA in # of golds. be prepared for the moment of truth.

Harrypotter that can only be possible if you use your magic wand. Because Pakistan right now is very very far from being capable of holding the biggest event in the world which is the Olympics.

Did that new Beijing Soccer Stadium plan ever come to be?

Do not say so.
Chinese people grateful our Pakistan brothers.
China supports Pakistan held big event
If necessary, we are willing to help you.

Wow, extremely impressive to say the least!!! Congratulations to china!

Thankyou brother. I am sorry I was just joking about that. But we all Pakistanis know that our Chinese brothers are always ready to help us as you all have done in the past. Pakistan will always remain greatful for that. And we are always ready to assist our brothers in any way that we can. I wish InshAllah that the Beijing Olympics will be the most successful games ever held and China emerges with the highest medals.

that can only be possible if you use your magic wand. Because Pakistan right now is very very far from being capable of
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Guys what you need is a right leader with a right national policy. 100 years ago no one will believe or can even imagine what China can achieve today.