Chinese diabled deaf (and maybe mute) girls and guys performing traditional dance: My Dream -- Thousand Arms Guanyin (a goddess), also performed in Athens 2004 Closing Ceremony
Background of 2008 Summer Games
The 2008 Game, officially known as the Games of the XXIX games, will be held in Beijing, China from August 8, 2008 to August 24, 2008, with the opening ceremony to take place at 8 p.m. on August 8, 2008 (08-08-08; the number 8 is associated with prosperity in Chinese culture). Some events, like beach volleyball, sailing, and open water swimming, will be held in the coastal city of Qingdao. On July 8, 2005, the Official Committee announced that Hong Kong will hold the equestrian events at the site of the Hong Kong Sports Institute in Fo Tan, Sha Tin. The facilities of the Sports Institute may be moved to Wu Kai Sha. This will be the second time the same season of Summer Games has been hosted by two National Committees. (A similar arrangement was in place between Melbourne, Australia, and Stockholm, Sweden, for the 1956 Summer s).
The Chinese captital was elected host city on July 13, 2001, during the 112th Session in Moscow, beating out Toronto, Paris, Istanbul and Osaka. Prior to the session, five other cities submitted bids but failed to make the shortlist in 2000: Bangkok, Cairo, Havana, Kuala Lumpur, and Seville. Beijing previously bid to host the 2000 Summer Games, but lost out to Sydney in 1993.
