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2008 Olympics
No Gold: Visits to China Down in 2008 Despite Olympics
The number of visitors to China dropped by two million last year to 130 million, despite the enormous fanfare and draw of the 2008 Olympics. It was the first decline in visitor numbers since 2003, when an outbreak of SARS knocked the country off desired vacay location lists.
The slump has been attributed to the weak economy, which hasn't been kind to the tourism industry as a whole, stricter visa restrictions before the Beijing Olympics, as well as a May earthquake in the southwest of the country.
Biggest Headlines of 2008: China Hosts the Olympics
Hosting the Olympics was a huge deal for the Chinese government and people. While protesters put their feet down around the world, the Games were a source of pride for the controversial country. Take a look at the biggest stories to come out of China hosting the 2008 Games.
Favorite Olympic Moment: Michael Phelps Breaks Record
While the opening ceremony and women's gymnastics nearly tied for silver, Michael Phelps's record-breaking performance won him yet another gold. With 54 percent of your votes, he easily dove into the Best of 2008 on both our poll and Pop's poll.
He's still soaking in the gold light while promoting his book, posing for magazine covers, and appearing on talk shows like the Colbert Report.
What Is Your Favorite Olympic Moment?
Oh, the Olympics. They come; they go. We wait two years for another season.
Front Page: Bush Defends Economic Measures, China's Media Freedoms to End, US Pushes for Iraq Security Deal
- Bush Defends Measures: In a speech at the US Chamber of Commerce moments ago, President Bush defended the government's recent intervention in the financial crisis as measures of "last resort," saying that it will "take a while" for the credit system to thaw and that Americans can be confident it will. He said of the intervention, "Had the government not acted. .
Beijing Brings Back Olympics Car Rules to Cut Smog
While the medals and finish lines from the Olympics are becoming a distant memory — so was the hard-fought clean air that Beijing enjoyed during the Games. Residents have been discussing just how to keep the measures in effect, and now they might have won. A partial victory at least.
Front Page: Senate to Vote on Bailout, Chinese Gymnasts Win Age Fight, Spain Arrests 121 For Child Porn
- Senate to Vote on Bailout: Senate leaders have scheduled a vote today on the $700 billion bailout proposal after adding tax breaks and a higher insured bank deposits limit in an attempt to win House approval and send the bill to President Bush by the end of the week. Senator Harry Reid said, “It has been determined, in our judgment, this is the best thing to move forward," when he announced the unexpected move.
- Chinese Gymnasts Win Age Fight: International gymnastics officials closed a five week investigation in to the ages of the Chinese gymnasts competing at the Beijing Olympics, ruling that documentation rules that the gymnasts were old enough to compete. The scrutiny has not yet cleared gymnasts who won the team bronze in Sydney eight years ago saying, "The FIG does not consider the explanations and evidence provided to date in regards to these athletes as satisfactory.''
- Spain Arrests 121 For Child Porn: In what's described as Spain's largest operation against child internet porn, Spain's authorities say they have arrested 121 people and millions of images.
China Hosts Massive Post-Olympics Job Fair
When a country spends seven years getting ready for the Olympics, a whole lot of jobs must be created along the way. In fact, Chinese officials estimate that since 2001, 600,000 Olympic-associated jobs were created each year. Now that the big games are over, China's labor force wants to use the skills to transition into new employment.
Briefing Book! Olympic Medalist Calls Chinese "Scum"
- Diplomacy: Can one stupid comment hurt the countries' relations? Israel's lone medalist calls the Chinese "scum." — Shanghaiist
- VPs: How do you debate a woman and win?
The Chinese Got Used to Clean Air — Can They Make It Stay?
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Now that the torch has been shelved for another four years and the birds' nest stadium is empty, Chinese residents are hoping to keep one benefit of the Games — increased air quality. During the Olympics, officials enacted strict measures to try to clear out the perpetually smoggy air, including limiting traffic and curbing factory production. The measures are set to stay in place until Sept.
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