This is Beijing-Beijing English blog

All 2,008 fou drums- which were used during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games- will be auctioned off next month.

The China Beijing Equity Exchange says 10 drum packages should go for around 2,000 U.S. dollars.

They will be available in an online auction and any left-over drums will be sold individually.

On Friday, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games donated almost 600 items used in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics to China. Some will be put in museums- others, like the drums will be sold.

The final accounting of revenues and expenditures for the Beijing Olympic Games is expected to be released in the first half of the year.

Liu Jingmin, Vice Mayor of Beijing and Executive Vice President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), said on January 10 that, as auditing for the Olympic Games’ various expenditures has yet to commence, the release of the final accounting will not be possible for the upcoming “two Conferences”¡ª¡ªthe Beijing People’s Congress and the Beijing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), nor will it be released for the National People’s Congress (NPC) and CPPCC in March. But it is likely that the audited numbers will be announced within the first half of the year.

According to the financial budget created during Beijing’s bid for the 2008 Olympics, spending for the Beijing Games was estimated at US $1.609 billion, while revenue were expected to be US $1.625 billion, with a profit of approximately US $16 million. Subsequently, as spending in security increased and the exchange rate of the RMB fluctuated, the second version of the budget had adjusted expenditures to over US $2 billion. Even so, the BOCOG has reiterated that the operation costs of the Games would not only be lower than the Athens Games of US $2.4 billion, but could also realize the goal of turning a small profit.

According to previous media reports, total spending on venue construction for the Beijing Games was kept under 13 billion yuan. The investment boosted Beijing’s GDP by 1.3% over the past five years. To guarantee the good operation of the Games, projects such as supplementary facilities, expanding transportation networks and building environmental facilities, which totaled around 134.9 billion yuan, were injected into urban planning. In addition, approximately 280 billion yuan were spent on urban construction projects that started ahead of schedule due to the Olympics.

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The number of tourists visiting Beijing’s Olympic Halls from outside Beijing City and enjoying the post-Olympic atmosphere gradually increases after the Olympic Games ends. Some travel agencies predict that the post-Olympics tourism will be a light spot of the tourist market.

The latest online survey indicates that 70 percent of interviewees intend for their trips after Olympic Games. Therefore, Beijing City becomes the tourists’ favorite Olympic Games City. It is known that some Olympic Games Halls such as “Bird’s Nest” and “Water Cube” will open to tourists meanwhile the travel service will provide the tourists with the rich, colorful and post-Olympic Games trip service. Furthermore, Co-Host Cities such as Hong Kong, Qingdao and Shanghai will become the hot sight points targeted by the tourists.

In tourist expert’s opinion, the post-Olympic Games effect produced to drive the development of the tourism will last for 5-10 years at least. According to World Tourism Organization’s forecast, China will globally become the first largest tourist destination country, the fourth largest original tourism country, and the largest domestic tourist market. At that time, the number of tourists entering China and staying over night will attain to 100 million person-times, and the number of the tourists enjoying the domestic travel service will attains to 2.8 billion person-times.

BEIJING – Police reported an eight-year low in crime figures for the Olympic Games period thanks to tight security measures, it was revealed on Wednesday.

Crime figures reported between August 8 and 24 were “the lowest” compared with the same periods in the past eight years, the police said.

The police declined to give figures, but said the numbers of serious cases such as murder, robbery and rape all fell.

A total of 482 suspects, including 40 foreigners, were seized during the period for alleged involvement in robbery, mugging or theft.

But no such cases were reported in the Olympic venues like stadiums, media centers, and designated hotels and hospitals, largely due to tight security checks and massive patrols in those areas. About 35,000 policemen were on patrol duty daily.

Wang Jue had dreamed of becoming an Olympic volunteer for three years, from the day in July 2005 when he learned he had been accepted to a university in Beijing.

After taking 160 hours of classes over five semesters, in subjects ranging from Olympic history to journalism, he at last got the chance to serve during the Beijing Olympics as a professional media volunteer.

Wang says that his training improved his communication skills and gave him the confidence to interact with journalists from around the world.

He was a Help Desk Assistant at the International Broadcast Center, decked out in busy waves of yellow, blue, grey, and white, the official volunteer uniform.

The surrounding desks and tables were stacked high with city maps and brochures in countless languages.

“Working with journalists is quite fun,” he says. “You can always offer somebody something, and this kind of giving can make you happy.”

During his time on the job, Wang and his enthusiastic colleagues have also thought a lot about what it means to be a volunteer.

“For many Chinese students, it’s the first chance to be volunteers. It’s pretty precious and valuable,” says Linna Bie, who was a Transportation Desk Assistant during the Olympics.

Hong Chen, a volunteer director and physics professor at Tsinghua University, puts the experience in perspective. “Organizing work is very tough,” she says. “Getting people from different circles working together at the same time is such a challenge.”

The Beijing Olympics received more than one million volunteer applications, of which 74,715 were accepted, plus 30,000 for the Paralympic Games. However, Zhang Juming, deputy director of the Volunteer Work Department of the Organizing Committee for the Beijing Olympic Games, says that 1 million people in fact volunteered services in various fields, including medical, traffic and security assistance. That’s the equivalent of the entire population of Guatemala helping to run a sporting event.

Many Chinese Olympic volunteers took great pride in their work and their contribution to history. “Without the volunteers, there could be no great Olympics,” says Wang. “Maybe it’s the biggest ever event in China, and maybe the biggest event of my lifetime.”

Linna sees her volunteer job as a win-win situation. “On the one hand I can serve the country,” she explains. “And on the other hand I can improve myself through inner evaluation and inner improvement.”

Even after the Beijing Olympics conclude, the spirit of service will live on in the hearts of many volunteers. “When this Games ends, it’s not ending, but a new beginning,” says Linna.

Drums thundered. Fireworks exploded. Hands held. Arms extended… As the Olympic flame went out at the Bird’s Nest, Beijing turned the closing ceremony into a jolly farewell party.

The closing extravaganza opened at 8:00 p.m. with more than 90,000 audience packing the stadium counting down from the number of “29″, indicating the 29th Olympic Games.Fireworks burst on top of the Bird’s Nest as the countdown ended, forming a great circle in the sky, leaving the audience in raptures.

From “heavenly drums”, silver bell danced to men flying in the air on wires. The host combined folk dances with modern techniques, staging an ebullient show of Chinese pride and imagination.

Amid thundering music and roaring cheers, hundreds of athletes from 204 countries and regions walked into the stadium en masse. They mingled in the center of the stadium, laughing, shouting, jumping, hugging…turning the evening gathering into a fun party.

China’s basketball superstar Yao Ming, easily recognizable in the crowd, was busy shaking hands, taking photos and receiving hugs from other athletes.

A touching moment came when 12 representatives of volunteers, led by 12 children, walked to the center of the stadium and were presented flowers by the new IOC members of the Athletes’ Commission.

“I’ve never expected this. I am glad that our efforts are appreciated,” said Peking University student Tan Yini with a big smile on face, while watching the ceremony from the press tribune.”I enjoyed so much helping journalists and watching them work over the past days. I feel sad that this is all over and I probably will never see them again,” said Tan, a volunteer from the press operations at the Bird’s Nest.

During the Games, about 100,000 Olympic volunteers were working day and night, helping athletes, officials, reporters, spectators and tourists in Beijing and the six co-host cities.Jacques Rogge, the IOC president, paid “particular homage to the thousands of volunteers for their remarkable dedication, patience and endless smiles” in his message to the closing ceremony. “You made the Games,” said Rogge.

After the Olympic flag was lowered and handed over to London, the 2008 Olympic host staged a short ceremony to showcase the British enthusiasm. British famed footballer David Beckham stirred up the audience as he showed up and kicked off a football to mark the start of London’s Olympic journey.

At 21:25, the Olympic flame slowly went out and a huge “memory tower” elevated at the center of the field with nearly 400 performances simulating the flame on it. The audience, waving luminous props in the hands, swung rhythmically and formed a sky with glittering stars.

Spanish tenor Placido Domingo and Chinese singer Song Zuying brought the audience into ecstasy with their emotional performance of the Flame of Love.

The evening pageant ended in a dancing party as audience and athletes swung to the chorus of a group of Chinese singers, chanting “come, come, please stay.. Tonight, guests from afar, please stay…”

As an old Chinese saying says, all good things must come to an end. To many who have come to Beijing with scrutinizing eyes, the Beijing Games ended well.

“There were very few problems in the Beijing Games. Transportation, organizing, logistics, volunteer services… All better than the games I’ve been to,” Al Pryzbylkowski, a staff with the U.S. magazine Newsweek, said at the closing ceremony.

“Every Games has its flavor. China is certainly impressive in its own way,” said the 12-time Olympic participant.

On 2008.08.08, the Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremoney gave the world a big suprise.

And doday, the Closing Ceremony will be held on 18:00, what will it give the people of the world? Nobody knows. But there are two most suspended interest thing. First, what is the method of the flameout; second is the person of the flagman.

There are lots of guess of the suspended interest. but nobody know the truth. Meybe waiting for the final result is the best way. What is confirm is that it will not disppoint the people.

Reuters

World media hails Beijing’s perfect night

Beijing’s Olympic opening extravaganza drew rave reviews on Friday from media around the world awed by rich displays of Chinese culture that eclipsed controversy that has surrounded the city’s hosting of the Games.

For me, I wrote many article about the “negative” impact the Olympic brought to the people, including me. However, I found people are much more emotional than rational. Although the debate, and the concerns will get back, and it must for a really greater and better country, at least at the night of the opening ceremony, I feel very excited, and felt the same way as Reuters reporter.

BBC

BBC expressed the same opinion with this article: Spectators awed as Games begin

Beijing’s big moment has already been dogged with controversy about air pollution, China’s human rights record and media freedom.But the arguments were briefly forgotten during a truly spectacular opening ceremony watched by millions around the globe.

Fair enough. Personally, as I said, the moment is just about happiness and everyone using the common language to communicate, more than anything else. The event cannot solve all the problem (it can hardly solve any) but it is the time for people to temporarily forget it for a while – maybe just 4 hours. It is already very precious gift for the world.

Edmonton Sun

I love the ceremony, but I didn’t get the point when people love it THAT much, and even claiming there will be no better thing than it. At the beginning of the columnist article, Olympic opening ceremonies the best ever, Terry Jones said:

BEIJING – If any future Olympic Games is ever credited with a more awesome, brilliant, inspired, powerful or original opening ceremonies it might have to be because everybody on the planet developed amnesia

I would say the ceremony is great, but I do expect someone to do it better in the future. Just like any memorable event or world record in the sports history, people once thought it is the highest, the strongest, or the fastest, but world record is always broken in the days to come. That is the spirit of Olympics, isn’t it?

Today, just 3 days before the Olympic,  the torch relay finally begin in Beijing. The flame come back to Beijing, that’s all of our voice.

At the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City, the torch was handed over to the first bearer, Yang Liwei, the country’s first astronaut, by Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games (BOCOG).

“Beijing is fully ready for the Olympic Games. The city is opening its arms to guests worldwide,” he said. “We are eagerly waiting for the flame to be lit in the National Stadium.”

 ceremonies, also carried the torch on Wednesday.

After being lit at the birthplace of the Olympic Games in Olympia, Greece on March 24, the 2008 Olympics torch traveled to Beijing on March 31 for a ceremonial kick-off of its global trip.

An Olympic countdown clock reading 9 days before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on Tian’anmen Square in Beijing is seen July 29, 2008. [Xinhua]

The rain, though lasting only 10 minutes, will hopefully help restore confidence in the city’s air quality, according to Guo Hu, Beijing Meteorological Observatory director.

“The rare lack of rain and wind to blow away accumulated emissions contributed to the city’s substandard air quality,” he said, admitting a number of days had failed to meet the local standard for good air quality despite the capital’s car control measures.

“The temperature and humidity will gradually drop and we will have better air quality and more comfortable weather in August.”

His confidence was shared by many as the city goes through every detail to fulfill the dream of billions on its 10-day countdown to the August Olympics.

With the Beijing Olympic Games around the corner, eager Chinese are crossing fingers for a gold spree on home soil. Du Li, a gold medal winner in the women’s 10-meter air rifle at the 2004 Athens Olympics, bears the expectation of millions to score the Game’s first win.

The 26-year-old, who established a new world record for women’s 10-meter air rifle in 2003 just one year after she entered the national team, further impressed the world the following year with her Athens victory.

However, the native of the eastern Shandong Province has struggled of late.

During three World Cup events this year, Du pocketed only one gold medal in the 50-meter rifle three positions, rather than in her speciality event, the 10-meter air rifle. Her second best result was a fourth.

The so-called home advantage at the upcoming Games may turn into a disadvantage for Du in defending as applause and spectators’ cheers might add burden in a sport where psychological stability is most important.

Despite the difficulties, Du is eager for a good result. “Maybe this is the only chance for me to compete in the Olympic Games hosted by my own country.”

Wang Yifu, the national shooting team head coach, said, “The main focus of the shooters at this point of time is the adjustment of their psychological status rather than refining technical skills.”

Du and her teammates will leave for the Olympic Village on August 3.

The Olympic Village officially opened its gates on Sunday. By July 28, delegations and advance teams from more than 70 countries had arrived at the 66-hectare complex.

From Italian lasagna to Beijing roast duck to kosher foods, athletes from more than 200 countries and regions may find their favorite home foods in the village.

The diversity of meals, divided into different zones including Chinese, Asian, international and Mediterranean, underlines the meticulous preparation in the village that houses about 16,000 athletes, coaches and their entourages.

“The food here tastes very good and there are many entertaining facilities, including Internet bars,” 20-year-old Hector Fuentes told Xinhua. The Cuban triple jumper, participating in his first Olympics, said the village had gone beyond his expectation.

Deng Yaping, the Olympic Village deputy director, said the facilities are “a place where the athletes can unwind and get to know Chinese culture. We want to give them a full experience with Chinese culture.”

The table tennis legend, a winner of four Olympic gold medals, said the priority work at the village for the next 10 days was the reception of athletes from around the world.

“All sport delegations will arrive at the village before the Games start. The village is now in 24-hour operation to accommodate the guests. We will try to make every operation as smooth as possible,” she said.

A grand show will be held at 8 p.m. on Tuesday by the China Central Television to mark the 10-day countdown to the Beijing Games.

While the content of the Olympics’ opening ceremony remains a guarded secret, organizers are planning to stage three dress rehearsals over the next 10 days to ensure a grand show for a live audience of 91,000.

The first full dress rehearsal of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games was held, in secret, at the National Stadium on July 16.

Wang Chaoge, a director of the ceremony, disclosed the elements of “Sichuan” and “Wenchuan” will be embodied in tribute to the Chinese spirit manifested after the devastating May 12 earthquake that hit the southwest Sichuan Province.

He said the biggest headache for the organizers of the ceremonies was the weather, for “rain would cause delays in the progress of the event, as it would dampen performers’ costumes and props.”

But Beijing’s meteorological departments said earlier that should there be any unfavorable weather, experts might artificially change it.

Chen Zhenlin, China Meteorological Administration (CMA) vice director, said on July 15 that meteorologists have made preparations for artificial weather modification since 2003, especially on reducing rainfall, but admitted the technology had limitations.

“Artificial weather modification could be useful when a drizzle occurs,” he said. “But in case of a heavy rainfall, no one can help.”

Weather statistics from 1951 to 2007 show there was a 47 percent chance of drizzle on August 8. But the possibility of heavy rain was slim, he said, adding the analysis of historical data was by no means an official weather forecast.

According to meteorologist Guo Hu, the Games opening on August 8 is one day after the first day of autumn on the Chinese lunar calendar. It is expected to be less humid.

“The temperature and humidity will gradually drop and we will have better air quality and more comfortable weather in August.”