The World Competes

The 2008 Beijing Olympics were definitely one that you did not want to miss. The two-week event started off with an unforgettable opening ceremony. China, with a population of over a billion people, was able to amass a huge number of volunteers and put together an event that you would never forget.

Some of the highlights of the Beijing Olympics include Michael Phelps achieving a record-setting eight gold medals in one Olympics, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin’s performances in gymnastics, and Usain Bolt, with his insanely fast runs.

What would a good Olympics be without a little controversy? In 2008, there were several. Many questioned the Chinese gymnast’s ages. Although one googler found documents to prove otherwise, the IOC accepted the girl’s passports, which said they were 16 (they need to maintain this facade for the rest of their lives, or they might find themselves losing their medal, even eight years from now). Usain Bolt showboated at the end of a run and caused an uproar. Both the men’s and women’s US relay teams dropped their batons (argh!).

In all, the 2008 Beijing Olympics were quite memorable. While the athletics are likely to be good in 2012, London is unlikely to be able to produce the same kind of spectacle that Beijing did. They are already having financially difficulties, mainly due to the recession.