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The 100-day countdown to the Beijing Olympics started on Wednesday. (Image: China News Service)
Latest world viewpoints
100 days to go
"With 100 days to go before the curtain rises on the 2008 Olympic Games, the organizers are busy fine-tuning for perfect staging of the world's sporting spectacle." CRI Nordic
"The biggest, most expensive and most controversial Olympics in history are coming to the capital of the most populous country on the planet in just 100 days." 24hrs.ca
After seven years of preparations and over 40 billion dollars spent on new sports venues and improved infrastructure, the curtain at the Beijing Olympics is set to rise less than 100 days from now. Is everything on track for the start of what is hailed by some as the most spectacular Olympics to date?
April 30th marked the start of the 100-day countdown to the Beijing Olympic Games. However, what is supposed to be a time of culmination of excitement is now one of suspicion and gloom, according to the Daily Times, as some foreign diplomats report of tightened policies following the protests that took place during the international leg of the Olympic torch relay and the uncovering of terrorist plots targeting the Olympics, the same source continues. The battle to keep politics out of the Olympics has been lost, Yahoo!News Malaysia concludes.
In Beijing earlier this week, all grievances were set aside as the city planned to celebrate the 100-day countdown with songs, mass runs and prayers, as the torch arrived back on Chinese soil after the tumultuous world tour, the Mirror.co.uk writes. As part of the celebration, over ten thousand people were expected to take part in two marathons, and some 2,000 citizens were to perform Taiji and traditional dances at the Olympic Park, according to People's Daily Online. In Nepal, a host of cultural shows and sports demonstrations were also to be staged in support of the Beijing Games, according to Nepal News. According to Mirror.co.uk, preparations for the Games are running on schedule, and in some cases, ahead of schedule. Measures aiming to ease the city's traffic congestion and clean up the air are also right on target for the start of the Games, CRI Nordic writes. As part of air pollution control measures, all construction will be shut down three weeks before the start of the Games, the BBC says. However, despite all the progress China has made, it is still a developing country, which makes it normal for some imperfections to remain, BOCOG spokesman Shao Shiwei told 24hrs.ca. Will Beijing be able to meet its 2008 Olympic goals by August?
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| China | Europe | North-America | From elsewhere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Gathering Held to Mobilize Public to Ensure Successful Olympics CRI Nordic - 30th April 2008 As the countdown reached the 100-day mark, Jia Qinglin called on the Chinese to turn their patriotism into mighty forces to overcome all difficulties. Beijing on Track 100 Days before Games CRI Nordic - 30th April 2008 With 100 days to go before the curtain rises on the 2008 Olympic Games, the organizers are busy fine-tuning for perfect staging of the world's sporting spectacle. Beijing Olympics 2008 100 days countdown ceremony to be held in Nepal Xinhua - 24th April 2008 Nepal will hold a Beijing Olympics 2008 100 days countdown ceremony on April 30 in capital Kathmandu. Beijing to hold Marathon for 100 days countdown to Beijing Olympics People's Daily - 23rd April 2008 Beijing will hold Sport for All Marathon to celebrate the 100 days countdown to the Beijing Olympic Games on April 30. |
Beijing starts 100-day countdown Mirror.co.uk - 30th April 2008 China began counting down 100 days to the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday with songs, a mass run and prayers, as the torch arrived back on Chinese soil after a tumultuous world tour. 100 days until the Olympics - but one family awaits only bulldozers and eviction Guardian - 30th April 2008 Last home on Beijing park site faces demolition, I just can't let them do this, says resident Sun Yonglian. Building ban for Beijing Olympics BBC - 14th April 2008 All building sites in Beijing will be shut three weeks before the start of the Olympic Games, as the city tries to clear its skies of pollution. 100 days to the Olympics! Radio86 - 30th April 2008 Today marks the start of the 100-day countdown to the Beijing Games. |
100 days to Beijing CBCSports, Canada - 29th April 2008 Canadian athletes bearing down as 2008 Olympic Games draw near. China marks 100 days until start of Beijing Olympics Yahoo!News - 29th April 2008 Shimmering stadiums and billions of dollars spent to remake Beijing into a modern city have been overshadowed by pro-Tibet protests, chaos on the Olympic torch relay, and an anti-Western backlash. Beijing Olympics Reach 100-Day Countdown Amid Mounting Scrutiny Bloomberg - 30th April 2008 Beijing Olympic organizers may not breathe as easy as they'd like when the countdown clock in Tiananmen Square switches to 100 days today, and not just because of the air pollution. Beijing under global spotlight 24hrs.ca - 29th April 2008 The traditional Olympic motto is "higher, faster, stronger," but other superlatives are at play for the 29th Olympiad. |
100 days out, new challenges for Beijing Games Daily Times, Pakistan - 28th April 2008 With 100 days to go, Beijing’s ability to stage a great Olympics in August is facing renewed challenges in the aftermath of the torch relay fiasco. Beijing Olympics 100 days countdown ceremony to be held in Kathmandu Nepal News - 26th April 2008 Nepal is set to organise a 'Beijing Olympics 2008 100 days countdown ceremony' on April 30 in Kathmandu. Beijing starts 100-day Olympic countdown ABC News, Australia - 30th April 2008 Today marks 100 days until the start of the Beijing Olympics and the Chinese capital is getting ready to celebrate. Countdown clock reaches 100 days in politically charged Beijing Olympics Yahoo!Nwes, Malaysia - 30th April 2008 With 100 days to go, the battle has been lost to keep politics out of the Beijing Olympics. |
