These Olympic Games (August 8-24) might go down as the most controversial ever. The environmentalists, “Save Darfur” protesters, “Free Tibet” advocates and human rights lobbyists have all screamed to the tops of their lungs for boycotts in Beijing. Chinese organizers exhausted themselves fanning the bruising flames, yet still somehow assured the world’s best athletes of a marvelous experience in Asia. And they may very well succeed—even amidst the latest rumors circulating that the Chinese government is strong-arming bars near Olympic facilities to refuse service to darker-skinned patrons for fear they may stir up drug and prostitution issues. Of course, no one really knows how it’ll all shake out. But hey, at least we can promise you some informed viewing to the XXIX Olympiad if you keep our nifty A-Z guide handy.
A- Ai Weiwei is the mind behind the Games’ centerpiece, the National Stadium. Take a casual glance at the $500 million structure aptly nicknamed “Bird’s Nest” and you’ll think you’re looking at something constructed by wrens. In actuality, it’s where the opening and closing ceremonies, track and men’s soccer final will take place.
B- Bicycle motocross (men’s, women’s), the 3000-meter steeplechase (women’s), 10K marathon swimming (men’s, women’s), team table tennis (men’s, women’s), women’s team foil (fencing) and women’s team saber (fencing) are the nine new events in the ’08 Games.
C- California colleges dominate the U.S. team landscape. Four of the top five colleges –Stanford, UCLA, USC and Cal- to produce members on the national team are found in The Golden State. The University of Texas is the only foreigner on the list.
D- Dara Torres is a 41-year-old mom, but she can swim faster than you and your younger brother. She’s won nine medals since the ’84 L.A. Games. But if the way she swam at the U.S. trials a few months ago is of any clue, she’ll easily add to that total.
E- Equestrian events have never been deemed all that cool by casual Olympic followers. That may change this year once they hear the story of Hiroshi Hoketsu, a Japanese rider who is the Games’ oldest participant at 67!
F- Fleet-footed Americans Allyson Felix, Muna Lee and Tyson Gay will have to outpace their neighbors from Jamaica, namely Kerron Stewart and Usain Bolt, if they’re to capture gold in the coveted 100- and 200-meter sprints.
G- Going for his first medal in the Olympics is tennis’ top-rated player Roger Federer, though the Swiss has participated in two previous Games. Spanish rival Rafael Nadal, presumably, is the only thing standing in his way.
H- Historic advertising dollars are being spent by the Barack Obama team. The democratic hopeful has paid $5 million for ads during the Games. Advertising Age calls it the first “significant” commercial buy for a presidential candidate in over 16 years.
I- Iraqi teams have been officially banned from the Beijing Games. The International Olympic Committee said the country’s government missed the deadline to address accusations of political interference.
J- Jones, Cullen Jones. The name may not ring any bells now but it will soon. The swimmer set a U.S. 50-meter free record at the U.S. trials this year. Not impressed? Well, he’s also just the second African-American to qualify for an individual swim event.
K- Coach K leads an unbelievable squad in China. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony remember the bitter taste of bronze from Athens. It would be the shock of the Games if they didn’t win Gold this time. Same goes for the ladies.
L- Live from Beijing… Live from Beijing... NBC Universal is counting on its worldwide audience never tiring of hearing that statement. 75% of the planned coverage across its platforms (NBC, USA, MSNBC, Telemundo, Universal HD, CNBC, Oxygen, NBCOlympics.com) will be broadcasted live, even though there’s a 12-hour time difference.
M- Miracles do happen. And two of them will be participating in the Summer Olympics. South Africa’s Natalie du Toit, is the first Paralympian to compete in the Olympics. Amazingly, Poland’s Natalia Partyka has no right forearm yet she’s one of the world’s finest table tennis players.
N- Norway is a quiet Olympic power. If you were to tally the combined gold medals countries have won in all the Summer and Winter Games, guess who would be No. 1? The U.S., silly, with 973. But guess who’d be No. 10? That’s right, Norway, with 149.
O- “One World, One Dream” is the slogan for the ’08 Games. It was chosen from a list of 210,000 entries. The official mascot of the Olympics is Fuwa, a collection of five good-luck dolls that represent the sturgeon, giant panda, Olympic flame, Tibetan antelope and the swallow.
P- The Philippines government and private investors are offering $220,000 to the athlete that can win the Asian country its first-ever gold medal at the Games.
Q- The quest for eight golds begins August 8-10 weekend for America’s most-popular Olympian, Michael Phelps. The four-time World Swimmer of the Year took home six golds in ’04, but has his gills set on passing the seven Mark Spitz won in ’72 this time.
R- Russia earned 92 medals in Athens, second to the U.S.’s 103. Russia has earned the second-most total Summer Games medals of all-time. Russia has also earned the second-most total medals if you combine the Summer and Winter Games.
S- The Sichuanprovince, about 960 miles from Beijing, was devastated with a 7.9-magnitude earthquake on May 12. 70,000 people died. Another 354,000 were injured. Over five million were left homeless. A tribute will be paid to the victims at the opening ceremony.
T- Tiananmen Square is situated right in the center of Beijing. Famous for a host of political demonstrations over the years, the 100-acre site is also well-known for being the largest open-urban square in the world.
U- U.S.A. facts and figures: The United States Olympic Committee will pay athletes bonuses of $25,000 for every gold medal they win… With 175, California produced the most athletes… 310 men and 286 women make up the U.S. Olympic team… The only sports the U.S. will not participate in are men’s field hockey and team handball.
V- Vancouver will host the 2010 Winter Games. London will welcome the 2012 Summer Games. Folks will congregate in Sochi (which is in southern Russia) for the ’14 Winter Olympics. Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janiero are vying for the ’16 Summer Games.
W- The Water Cube, formally named the Beijing National Aquatics Center, looks like something from a Spongebob cartoon. Says a Venetian architect: “The project demonstrates in a stunning way, how the deliberate morphing of molecular science, architecture and phenomenology can create an airy and misty atmosphere for a personal experience of water leisure.”
X- Xiang Liu is China’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist in any track and field event. The exciting hurdler is also the country’s biggest sports star not named…
Y- Yi Jianlian, Yao Ming or Zhang Yining. The first two, of course, are seven-foot basketball players that give the Chinese team a great wall in front of the hoop. Yining is beloved for being the world’s finest female table tennis player.
Z- Zycki, as in standout Polish sailor Dominik Zycki, is the last name on the alphabetical list of 10,000+ athletes participating in the Beijing Games.
