Discovery channel is running a series called "Ultimate Olympics" every Monday at 9 PM IST. The program tells about the Beijing 2008 olympics and the preparations that are being done in Beijing for the games. Dubbed as the greatest sporting event in the planet, China has literally over-hauled Beijing for the games and its leaving no stones unturned to make the games a grand success. For the games, Beijing has got a new state of the art airport, an underground railway system that is one of the fastest in the world, art-inspired stadiums, sophisticated face-recognition systems for security and the much required greenery. The full city is under CCTV surveillance and lakhs of plants/trees are grown to control pollution in the city. There are tourist guide volunteers almost every where in the city and the Chinese govt has even arranged special English classes for them. The tourist guides say they chose to be volunteers as they are proud to be part of the games. With almost everything ready, China is now facing the last major obstacle in the form of pollution. The pollution in Beijing has come under severe criticism and the authorities are doing all they can to bring down the pollution level. All the industries in and around Beijing have scaled down their operations and there is also a temporary closure for 2 months for many of the industries. The vehicular pollution in Beijing is being drastically reduced for the games. China has reported, 'blue-sky' days of late, but we will have to wait and see if the pollution has actually come down to acceptable limits as the games begin.
The program also takes us into the training-centers in China, US, Australia etc. For the first time, we get to see how the athletes are preparing and getting ready for what is undoubtedly the-event-of-their-life. The preparation done by these athletes for the games is simply stunning. They have given their life for the games and use latest medical and computer technologies to improvise. Their preparation for the games is actually being called a "Science". Seeing the way they prepare for the games, it feels like our sportsmen are decades behind.
China as a country has been making rapid progress in all fields, and hosting the games seems like their way of saying to the world that "they have arrived".
The program also takes us into the training-centers in China, US, Australia etc. For the first time, we get to see how the athletes are preparing and getting ready for what is undoubtedly the-event-of-their-life. The preparation done by these athletes for the games is simply stunning. They have given their life for the games and use latest medical and computer technologies to improvise. Their preparation for the games is actually being called a "Science". Seeing the way they prepare for the games, it feels like our sportsmen are decades behind.
China as a country has been making rapid progress in all fields, and hosting the games seems like their way of saying to the world that "they have arrived".
