Beijing 2008: The Hi Tech Olympics

165 Days to go to the Beijing Olympic Summer Games 2008. In 2001, China found out that for the first time, China would be hosting the Olympic Summer Games.


How does one engage with over a billion possible TV viewers.....just in the host country alone? Through mobile technology of course.

"CMMB (or S-TIMI) is the technology developed in China and selected by the State Administration for Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) as the main platform for delivering TV services to mobile devices.

The CMMB network will use both satellite and terrestrial signals to obtain effective coverage both in densely populated cities, including indoor reception, as well as in sparsely populated rural areas. The commercial launch of mobile TV in China is anticipated to coincide with the Beijing Olympic Games." (read further....)

Viewers will be able to catch all of the olympic show through their mobile devices. Once this mobile technology is launched.....what will this communication tool now mean for the mobile market worldwide?

Architecture
The "water cube", (world's largest swimming complex) and the "bird's nest" (the national stadium) are architectural wonders. From the new hi-tech fabrications and methods to the integration of old world Chinese architecture that follows principals of harmony and balance.

Can she loose her reputation for pollution?

One of the most polluted cities in the world....there is some talk that some events may have to be postponed due to the pollution if it can't be controlled by the time the games comes around. 1998 - invested over 16 Billion dollars to fight the pollution....but is still the most polluted cities. News reports state that Capital Steel is one of the biggest problems and contributors to this pollution problem within Beijing. Capital Steel is being closed down and moved out of the city. Employees only 80,000 workers and at the new site there will be jobs for only 7,000. An emotional time. Bringing an environmental consciousness to a culture over night is a difficult task.

Olympic teams worldwide are working through decisions on whether their athletes will be wearing face masks. This is a common sight in the day-to-day of a someone who lives in Beijing (read more on this story....)

Will Beijing city be able to escape the traffic gridlock?
Beijing has over 17million people and there are also millions and millions of cars on the road. How will judges and athletes get around the city and not be late for any of the events? They are working to change and upgrade their underground rail system to one of the longest in the world. There are new lines being added and a special Olympic line that is predicted to carry over 126,000passengers daily.

Controversy....
2008 Beijing has also had share of controversy. Just recently Steven Spielberg rejected the role as artistic adviser to the Olympics. "The film director withdrew on Tuesday on the grounds that China wasn't doing enough to pressure Sudan over the conflict in its western region of Darfur.

China is believed to have influence over the Islamic regime because it buys two-thirds of the country's oil exports while selling it weapons and defending it in the United Nations." (read more on this story....)

Education Resources:

1. Australian Olympic team - 2008 Beijing
2. Teacher Planet: Theme is Olympics
3. VISA Olympics of the Imagination