Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING, July 8 -- As Beijing on Tuesday marks the one-month countdown to the start of the Olympics, here are 30 reasons which make the Games special:

    1. Volunteers

Liu Qi (C), president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad, confers the flag to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics Volunteer Service Group at the mobilization gathering of the volunteers for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, at the Workers' Gymnasium in Beijing, capital of China, May 4, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The 100,000-strong army of Beijing Olympic volunteers is the largest in Olympic history.

    Each of the 70,000 Olympic and 30,000 Paralympic volunteers has undergone months of training.

    The good Samaritans from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Europe, the U.S. and Australia will join 400,000 city volunteers who will help visitors on Beijing's streets.

    Volunteers were honored with the song, "I Am a Star."

　　2. Double the responsibility

    2008 is the first time one organizing team will oversee both the Olympics and Paralympics.

    The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) is the first organization to shoulder such a formidable responsibility and BOCOG has promised the two events will be of equal splendor.

    3. First digital broadcast

    High-definition technology will be used for all TV broadcast operations, with all events and ceremonies enjoying 5.1 surround sound, a first for the Olympics.

    Clearer screen pictures and scenery will be a feature of the Beijing Games.

    4. Biggest TV audience ever

    A record 4 billion people are set to watch the Beijing Games.

    Beijing Olympic Broadcasting (BOB), the official broadcaster of the Games, will produce about 5,400 hours of programs during the 17-day gala, 2,000 more than in Athens four years ago.

    5. Multimedia for the first time

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has, for the first time, separately sold broadcasting rights for television and new media such as Internet and mobile networks.

    CCTV acquired the TV rights for the Beijing Games, while CCTV.com was awarded the domestic Internet and mobile platform license. CCTV.com recently signed an agreement with Sohu.com, the Games' Internet content services sponsor, to share content.

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