2008 Beijing facts
While investigating facts about 2008 Beijing, I found out little known, but curios details like:
For the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the Chinese government announced that people could apply for permits to protest in designate areas. None of the permits were granted, and many of those who applied disappeared or were arrested.
Usain Bolt ate 1,000 Chicken McNuggets over 10 days during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 39 of the best facts about 2008 Beijing I managed to collect.
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Branches from a 3000 year old, still living, Greek olive tree were used to weave victors' wreaths for the winners of the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics
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1.5 million people were evicted from their homes in preparation for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
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Over 2 BILLION people watched the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony
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Around 1.5 million people were evicted in Beijing in preparation for the 2008 Olympics
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During Beijing 2008 Olympics opening ceremony, the little girl in red actually lipsynced to another girls recording because the girl who actually sang it was deemed not good looking enough.
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A museum in Iceland has casts of the 15 erect penises of the Icelandic National Handball team, sculpted in silver to commemorate their 2008 silver medal in the Beijing Olympic Games.
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Many athletes were unable to train in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics due to the air quality, and instead had to train in South Korea or Japan.
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In preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China told bars to ban or at least not serve alcohol to black people and Mongolians, for "safety reasons" in an attempt to rid the city of drugs and crime. They even arrested the son of a Caribbean Diplomat.
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During the 2008 Beijing Olympics Michael Phelps was eating roughly ~12,000 calories a day.
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Before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China officials guaranteed that there would be no rain during the opening ceremony, by using 1104 rain dispersal rockets from 21 different sites.
2008 Beijing data charts
For your convenience take a look at 2008 Beijing figures with stats and charts presented as graphic.
What is true about 2008 beijing?
You can easily fact check it by examining the linked well-known sources.
Every Olympic Games since 1960—whether Summer or Winter—has exceeded its budget, with an average cost overrun of 156%. The worst was Montreal 1976, which overspent by 720%. The best was Beijing 2008 (2%). Other big projects (roads, bridges, rail, etc.) are much better at expense control.
Beijing approved North Korea as a destination for Chinese citizens in June 2008. One travel brochure says: “Let us visit the world’s most insurmountable frontier! Let’s head to the world’s happiest and safest country, North Korea, to discover a China we were once familiar with” - source
Babies born in Beijing during the summer of 2008 weighed on average 23 grams more than other babies due to the vast pollution reduction schemes enacted for the Beijing Olympics - source
Beijing was host to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. That year Chinese athletes won the most gold medals of any country.
China forcefully evicted 1.5 million people from centuries-old houses in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. - source
Tourism to North Korea from China has boomed since Beijing approved North Korea as a destination for its citizens in June 2008. China-North Korean tourism officially began in April 2010 when more than 400 people rode on the first Chinese tourist train to enter North Korea for a four-day tour
China has built over 16,000 miles (25,000 km) of high speed rail within the past 11 years - the first tracks were laid down just before the 2008 Beijing Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing is the most watched television event of all time, having been watched by over 70% of the world's population (over 5 BILLION people).
After Beijing lost its bid to host the Olympics in 2000, it did not resubmit a bid for 2004, and instead waited for 2008, which it won. Tetraphobia is serious in the business culture of China, "4" sounds like "death," while "8" sounds like "luck."
Countries at the 2008 Beijing Olympics marched in their name orders based number of strokes in the first character of their Chinese name
