GAMES INFORMATION The Olympic & Paralympic Movement The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was created in 1894 and the fi rst Olympic Games of the modern era opened in Athens on April 6, 1896. The goal of the Olympic Movement is to build a peaceful and bet- ter world by educating youth through sport, by bringing together ath- letes from all countries in sincere and impartial competition, and by sharing with a spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play. No discrimina- tion of any kind is allowed against any country or person on grounds of race, religion, or politics. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) was founded in 1989 and is one of the largest sport organizations in the world. Representing the vast majority of athletes with a disability, it has taken sport to a new and higher level, providing unique opportunities from a developmental to an elite sport level. Today, thousands of athletes participate in more than 300 international competitions every year all over the world. Through its ideals and activities, the IPC seeks the continuous global promotion of the values of the Paralympic Movement, with a vision of inspiration and empowerment. Every person or organization that plays any part whatsoever in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement must accept the supreme authority of the IOC and the IPC and shall be bound by their rules. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are held every four years, at which time athletes of all nations affi liated with the worldwide Olympic Movement are assembled for fair and equal competition. The Olympic Movement celebrates an “Olympiad,” a period of four successive years. The time of the year at which the Games are held is not permanently fi xed, but must be proposed to the IOC by the respective host country’s organizing committee for approval—the IOC has the fi nal decision on this matter. The United States Olympic Committee The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is a nonprofi t organiza- tion that serves as the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) for the United States and coordi- nates the relationship between the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and various internationalCOPYRIGHTED sports federations. Under the TedMATERIAL Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, the Committee is chartered by the U.S. government as a monopoly; however, it receives no direct fi nancial assistance from the U.S. government and competes with other charities for private contributions. 1 As an NOC, the Committee supports American athletes in general and Olympic and Paralympic athletes specifi - cally, and selects and enters athletes for participation in the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Olympic Winter Games, Paralympic Winter Games, and Pan American Games. The Committee provides training centers, funds, and support staff to elite athletes. The USOC also acts as the United States’ representative for all Olympic and Paralympic matters, including the nomination to host an iteration of the Olympic Games; the Committee ultimately submits a bid to the IOC on behalf of a selected city. Beijing Organizing Committee The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) was established on December 13, 2001, fi ve months after Beijing won the right to host the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. BOCOG’s general goal is to host high-level Olympic and Paralympic Games with distinguishing features, to realize the strategic concepts of “New Beijing, Great Olympics,” and to leave a unique legacy for China and world sports. The Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a per- fect occasion to fully display China’s 5,000-year history and its resplendent culture, a grand ceremony that will gather athletes from all over the world and present diverse and brilliant cultures. Venues The events of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be contested in 37 venues in and around Beijing. Olympic Green The Olympic Green will serve as the pulse of the Games and includes 10 venues for 15 Olympic and 8 Paralympic sports. Archery * Olympic Green Archery Field Boccia Olympic Green Fencing Hall Fencing * Modern Pentathlon (fencing, shooting) 2 Field Hockey Olympic Green Hockey Stadium Football (Paralympic) Diving Olympic Green National Aquatics Swimming * Centre Synchronized Swimming Gymnastics Olympic Green National Indoor (artistic/trampoline) Stadium Team Handball Wheelchair Basketball Athletics * Olympic Green National Stadium Football Modern Pentathlon Olympic Green Sports Center (riding/running) Stadium Team Handball Olympic Green Sports Center Gymnasium Tennis * Olympic Green Tennis Court Modern Pentathlon Olympic Green Yingdong (swimming) Natatorium Water Polo * Olympic and Paralympic Other Venues in Beijing Goalball Beijing Institute of Technology Volleyball Gymnasium Shooting * Beijing Shooting Range Hall Badminton Beijing University of Technology Gymnastics Gymnasium (rhythmic) Powerlifting Beijing University of Aeronautics Weightlifting and Astronautics Gymnasium Volleyball Capital Indoor Stadium Volleyball (Beach) Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground Volleyball China Agriculture University (Paralympic) Gymnasium Wrestling Softball Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field 3 Cycling (BMX) Laoshan BMX Course Cycling (Mtn Bike) Laoshan Mountain Bike Course Cycling (Track) * Laoshan Velodrome Triathlon Ming Tomb Reservoir Table Tennis * Peking University Gymnasium Canoe/Kayak Shunyi Olympic Rowing- Rowing * Canoeing Park Swimming (open water) Wheelchair Beijing Science and Technology Basketball University Gymnasium Wheelchair Rugby Judo Taekwondo Cycling (Road) * Road Cycling Course Judo (Paralympic) Workers’ Gymnasium Boxing Football Workers’ Stadium Baseball Wukesong Sports Center Baseball Fields Basketball Wukesong Indoor Stadium * Olympic and Paralympic Venues outside of Beijing Equestrian * Hong Kong Equestrian Venues (Shatin and Beas River) Sailing * Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center Football Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports (Preliminaries) Center Stadium Football Shanghai Stadium (Preliminaries) Football Shenyang Olympic Stadium (Preliminaries) Football Tianjin Olympic Stadium (Preliminaries) * Olympic and Paralympic 4 The Flame & Torch Relay The fl ame is the very symbol of the Olympics, harkening back to the Games of ancient Greece, when athletes competed in a relay race, pass- ing the torch from one to another. According to Greek mythology, Prometheus stole the sacred spark of fi re from the gods and brought it to earth, where it soon became the symbol of human reason, freedom, and creativity. The idea of a great relay was revived in 1936 for the Berlin Games; for the occasion a relay took place from ancient Olympia to the German city, passing through seven countries and a total of 3,050km (1,895 miles). Over the course of 12 days and 13 nights, 3,331 torchbearers took part. From then on, the torch relay became an essential part of the Olympic tradition. Olympic Torch Relay The Olympic Flame was lit in Olympia, Greece, according to tradition, on March 24, 2008. From March 25 to 30, the torch relay traveled across Greece, ending at the Panathinaiko Stadium, the site of the fi rst modern Olympic Games. After the hand-over ceremony in the stadium, the Olympic Flame arrived in Beijing on March 31, 2008. In Beijing, a cere- mony was held for the arrival of the fl ame into China, and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay began. One of the highlights of the route was the arrival of the fl ame to the highest peak in the world, Mount Qomolangma, more commonly known as Mount Everest. During the arrival ceremony for the fl ame into China, one of the lanterns with the Olympic Flame was kept aside. A team of 19 climbers made the fi nal ascent to Mount Everest on May 7, 2008, using a special canister which was used to kindle the torch at the peak. The fl ame from Everest was reunited with the torch relay fl ame in Tibet. A complete map of the torch relay route can be found at http://torchrelay. beijing2008.cn/. Paralympic Torch Relay The Paralympic Torch will be lit on August 28, 2008, at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and the torch relay will continue for 10 days. The relay in China and abroad will proceed at the same time. The planned torch relay route will cross Paralympic host cities from Beijing (XIII Paralympic Games) to Vancouver (X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010) to London (XIV Paralympic Games in 2012) to Sochi (host city of the XI Paralympic Winter Games in 2014) to Hong Kong (co-host city of the XIII Paralympic Games). Two other relays will be occur- ring simultaneously—one through “Modern China” and the other through “Ancient China.” The three torches will fi nally meet in Beijing and light the main cauldron at the Opening 5 Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games on September 6, 2008. A detailed map of the route can be found at http://images.beijing2008.cn/. The Torch The Beijing Olympic Torch boasts strong Chinese charac- teristics, and showcases Chinese design and technical capabilities. It embodies the concepts of a Green Olympics, a High-tech Olympics, and the People’s Olympics. The shape of the paper scroll and the lucky clouds graphic express the idea of har- mony. Its stable burning technique and adapt- ability to the environ- ment have reached a new technical level. The torch of the Beijing Olympic Games was designed, researched, and produced in China. The torch is 72cm (28 in.) high, weighs 985 grams (approx. 2¼ lb.), and is made of aluminum. It has a curved surface, with etching and anodizing being used during its production, and is designed to withstand winds of up to 65kmph (40 mph) and to stay lit in rain up to 50mm (2 in.) an hour. The fl ame is fueled by propane, leaving behind only carbon dioxide and water, eliminating any risk of pollution. Source: http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn The 2008 U.S. Look of the Team The primary 2008 U.S. Look of the Team icon is represen- tative of the triumphant stance of victorious athletes, and of the Olympic Flame that drives them.