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1 more day to go before the 2008 Beijing Olympics kicks off. About 10,500 athletes from around the world will gather in this quadrennial event to compete in 302 events in 28 sports and to promote Pierre de Coubertin’s ideals:

 
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

But how did the olympics become the olympics we know today?
Olympics started in Olympia, Greece in 776 BC which was considered the 1st year of olympiad(a period of 4 years) and during this ancient times, only young men are allowed to participate. Competitors were usually nude as it was held on a summer season, that is why it was also called Summer Olympics. The victor will be given honor and prestige for being in first place and would also be presented with a crown of olive leaves. The olive branch is a sign of hope and peace. The same tradition is being practice today but instead of olive branch, they give gold (1st place), silver (2nd place) and bronze (3rd place) as recognition to the best 3 contenders of every event.

The first modern olympics was held in Athens, Greece in 1896 and tomorrow, August 08, 2008, Beijing China, with a total of 37 venues (including 12 newly constructed venues) will be the 40th city to host the events (2010 Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver, Canada). The centrepiece of the 2008 Summer Olympics will be the Beijing National Stadium, nicknamed the “Bird’s Nest” because of its nest-like skeletal structure.

I am not an olympics fanatic but this time around i will try to spare time to watch some of the sporting events not in Beijing but in a 40″ LCD TV (courtesy of my friend) at the comforts of our sofa in our humble domicile to see how well and glamorous this prestigious event is.. But why am i writing this blog? naah! This is just to inform u guys that come November of this year, i will be on a plane together with 3 of my friends en route to Beijing for a vacation trip… And by watching the olympics, we will have an idea on what other places we can visit aside from the historical wonders of Beijing… Well, this is more of a pre-Beijing trip blog.. hehehe… (so pls watch out for it)

anyways, goodluck to all athletes, especially my fellow pinoys.. hope we can win our first gold… may all of us adhere the universal values of the olympic spirit not just during every olympics but everyday - unity, friendship, progress, harmony, participation and dream..

 
Citius, Altius, Fortius.