Beijing 2008
Much criticism from human rights organizations regarding the situation in Tibet overshadowed the first Olympics in Beijing, but in the end, the games went ahead.
More than 11,000 athletes from around the world participated in the games, which opened with the most spectacular ceremony the Olympics has ever seen, at eight minutes past eight in the evening.
This Olympics will perhaps be remembered because of two great athletes, one from the USA and the other from Jamaica.
The American swimmer Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals, broke 7 world records, and even surpassed the record of the Jewish swimmer Mark Spitz, who had “only” 7 gold medals.
The Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt, proved that he is the fastest man in the world. Bolt broke the world record in the 100 meters (9.69 seconds) and later also broke Canadian Michael Johnson’s record from the Atlanta Olympics in the 200 meters, setting a time of 19.30 seconds. The Jamaican relay team also won gold, and Bolt, who was part of it, broke the world record.
A new record was also set in the women’s pole vault by the Russian Yelena Isinbayeva, who cleared a height of 5.05 meters.
China finished first in the medal table with 51 gold medals. The United States came in second with 36 gold medals, and Russia settled for third place with 23 gold medals.
The Israeli delegation to the Beijing Games consisted of 43 athletes.
The windsurfer, Shahar Tzuberi, won a bronze medal. The 470 sailing duo, Vered Buskila and Nika Kornitsky, finished just a hair’s breadth away from a medal in fourth place.
Gal Yekutiel (Judo) finished in fifth place in his weight category.