Summer Olympics Games Ticket
As the 2008 Summer Olympics approaches, savvy sports spectators begin to ask: 'What are the key things to watch for in this coming Olympic Games?' Well, get your Tivos ready, because with twenty-eight sports, which include over 300 events, it is nearly impossible to keep track of the best moments of history being made. Here are some tips of what to look for when the Games open in Beijing, China in August 2008: Opening Ceremony: The opening ceremony will take place on August 8, 2008 at 8 p.m. The ceremony is an opportunity for the host country to showcase its people, culture and sometimes politics. China is working to enhance its reputation on human rights, and is anxious to prove that it is a progressive country. What to look for in the opening ceremony: 1.) The ever-present question for the opening ceremony is who will light the Olympic torch? The person who lights the torch is usually a beloved athlete of that country. One contender for this honor is former gymnast Sang Lan. In 1998 as a 17-year-old, Lan was being groomed for the 2000 Olympics. Tragically, she was injured during a practice session for the 1998 Goodwill Games and remains paralyzed from the chest down.
2.) The artistic program. The Beijing Olympic committee has drawn on two powerhouse talents to help develop the program. Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou will direct the opening and closing ceremonies, while Steven Spielberg serves as the artistic consultant. This east meets west collaboration should produce a momentous performance. Four things to watch for in the sporting events: 1.) Baseball and softball. This is the last year baseball and softball are scheduled to be part of the Olympics. After failing to qualify for the Olympics in 2004, Team USA will face stiff competition from Cuba, which has won three out of four gold medals since 1992. Japan also presents a rising threat with its team of major leaguers. In addition, the USA team will play under the dark cloud of doping, most recently through the Mitchell Report. In fact, previous reports of steroid use among U.S. baseball players may have been instrumental in the decision by the IOC in 2005 to discontinue baseball and softball from the Games. USA Baseball officials have pledged to fight to get baseball voted back in the 2016 Olympics. 2.) Women's basketball. Lisa Leslie of the WNBA is joining Team USA to add to her three gold medals. If her team wins, she will be the first female basketball player to win gold in four consecutive Olympic Games. 3.) Swimming. How will Michael Phelp's do in this Olympics after winning eight medals in the 2004 Olympics? 4.) Athletics' known as Track and Field. How closely watched will all of the athletes, but particular the track and field participants be watched in the wake of the Marion Jones scandal? As you can see, there is a lot of competition to cover. Get your ticket or your remote, and enjoy.
