2008 Summer Olympics Fun Facts, Party Ideas & Recipes

Summer Olympics 2008 Trivia Games

Who are this year's official mascots? Where were the first Summer Olympic Games held? Which country has hosted the Summer Games the most?

With more and more fun facts as we get in shape for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Trivia Games...

Olympic fun facts What are the official Olympic sports competitions at the Summer Games?

There are over two dozen distinct competitions in the 2008 Summer Olympics. They include traditional swimming, wrestling, boxing and cycling competitions, as well as newer sports that are of keen interest to younger viewers, such as beach volleyball!

For more detailed information, click over to our main 2008 Summer Olympics subject pages which will take you to more information about each sport - with more links to tops sites actively involved in reporting all the Olympics action as Summer 2008 draws near...

Where do the 2008 Summer Olympic Games take place?

Beijing Travel Guide

Home to the world's biggest population at over 1 billion people China is also home to the Great Wall, the Forbidden City - and now for the first time in China's history, the 2008 Olympics.

A natural choice to host the 2008 Summer Games, China's capital city of Beijing lost its Olympic hosting bid by only a few votes to Sydney, Australia in 2004.

Now it's Beijing's chance to shine on the world's stage as a major international sports venue, as the Summer Olympic Games kick off August 8, 2008 and end with Olympic closing ceremonies on August 24.

Of the 1.2 billion people who live in China, about 400 million are under 18, so there will be plenty of interest in watching the games within China itself, along with millions more who will be tuning in worldwide.

Who are the mascots for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games?

In the same colors as those found in the five Olympic rings, "The Friendlies" serve as the official mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Their purpose is to bring a message of friendship and peace — and China' s blessings — to children worldwide.

They are, from left : Beibei the fish, Jingjing the panda, Huanhuan the Olympic flame, Yingying the Tibetan antelope, and Nini the swallow.

Fu Niu Lele, a strong young calf, is the mascot for the Paralympic Summer Games.

Summer Olympics Party Ideas

Chinese food All of the above can be employed for a fun Olympics trivia game at a party hosted by you with a Summer Olympics theme.

Make your own invitations decorated with international flags, Olympic mascots, or use Chinese motifs in colors of red and gold. Decorations may include Olympic posters, or a vases filled with Olympic flags as a party centerpiece.

Party food might include health salads, high-protein energy bars and fruit drinks, or go for Olympic glory with a memorable Chinese banquet in honor of the Summer Games host country:

Beijing Summer Olympics Party Recipes

Spring Rolls	Steamed Dumplings	Fortunate Lemon Chicken
Pork & Chicken Egg Rolls	Roasted Duck Salad	Shrimp with Cashew Nuts

For dessert, try a batch of custom homemade fortune cookies!

Summer Olympic Host Cities— past, present, future

Host City	Year
London	2012
Beijing	2008
Athens	2004
Sydney	2000
Atlanta	1996
Barcelona	1992
Seoul	1988
Los Angeles	1984
Moscow	1980
Montreal	1976
Munich	1972
Mexico City	1968
Tokyo	1964
Rome	1960
Melbourne	1956
Helsinki	1952
London	1948
Berlin	1936
Los Angeles	1932
Amsterdam	1928
Paris	1924
Antwerp	1920
Stockholm	1912
London	1908
St Louis	1904
Paris	1900
Athens	1896

More Olympics Trivia & Fun Facts:

Olympics history & traditions

Random olympics trivia

also see -> Beijing Travel Guide

Winter Olympics Trivia