2008 Olympics Information

Embassy Olympic Pin design competition

Nathan Towns wins Embassy Olympic Pin design competition

Collecting and exchanging Olympic pins are a fun part of any Olympics. To get in on the fun and to spread the Olympic spirit, the Embassy's Olympic Coordination Office sponsored an Olympic Pin design competition for the U.S. Mission in China's 2008 Olympics Pin. This was open to all U.S. Mission children grades K through 12. The winning pin designer was Nathan Towns, an 11th grader at Western Academy of Beijing. Nathan received a certificate signed by the Ambassador and his own set of the winning design pins. The pins have now been manufactured along with bags, shirts, portfolios, and other items featuring the design.

Embassy Essay Contest

Embassy Essay Contest Winner, Maryam Ahson (right), with her sister Sarah (left)

On April 19,Wyland -- the famous environmental artist -- and Embassy children participated in a gift exchange between the children of the United States and the Children of China to celebrate the Green Olympics in Beijing. 

Wyland painting presented as gift to Chinese children

The children of the U.S. presented a three-story high version of Wyland’s official artwork for the United States Olympic Team that he created with over 1,000 children at Sea World in Orlando, Fl., in January. Chinese children reciprocated by giving the children of the United States a major environmental-themed piece of art of their own.

Embassy children participants were selected from the participants of an essay contest with the theme of "How I see future generations of Americans and Chinese working together for the environment."  The contest winner, Maryam Ahson, read her essay at the event.  Click here to read Maryam's essay.  Other Embassy participants included Lydia Lee, Hannah Chang Lee, and Rachel Lambert.  Click here to read their essays. 

The Olympics in China in 2008

Michelle Kwan in Beijing, Spring 2007

The People’s Republic of China will host one of the largest Olympics in history, with an expected 10,500 athletes, 180,000 accredited staff, 22,000 media, and 230 VIPs.  There are seven major venue sites, six outside of Beijing, including Hong Kong, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Tianjin.  Equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao.  Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Tianjin will host the soccer preliminaries.  There will be 37 competition sites:  14 new construction, 14 renovated sites, and the rest temporary structures.