Torchbearer AA

It's indeed very interesting. In the Athens relay there were only 4 restdays, now there are a lot more. That's I think also a recommendation. But about the costs, if BOCOG asked a NOC if they can come with the flame to their country and they say yes, they know they will pay the price. If the IOC can think about rules for the costs, and if they begin to plan very early maybe it's an idea for next time. And maybe only a relay as Sydney had, a few countries of the own continent. Less large, but a international part in it.

Because they did'nt know just one week before the torch relay started there were protests in Tibet. Maybe there were only less large protests during the torch relay.

Why less than a night?

I'd like the pictures.. I wish I knew where I sit when I visit the Olympics. A few months to wait

I'd like the oval I hope to see some speed skating competitions during the Games there... and see some Dutch win

Until now many questions but no answers

I still think it's a beautiful idea to let the torch visit all continents during the torch relay for the games of the olympiad and a different theme every time. But if with regards to the costs etc. it will be also a good idea, that's the question. When the bidbooks for the candidate cities of 2016 are published (January next year I believe??) we'll see what the plans are for those cities.

In London's bidbook there's the plan bringing the Torch through all countries where winners live of Nobel price of Peace. It's a wonderful idea. But is they actually are going to do it, maybe we know more if the IOC had decided about the future of the international leg.

Thanks for the pictures. I think it's a very special stadium, it's just like it's only inside. But so much red... the colour of the communist party, National Stadium, maybe a little bit too national? I hope the 'look of the Games' will bring some more colour to the stadium.

What kind of position do you have? What department?

I trust the Canadians it will be good at Games-time. Or the spectators have to sit with umbrellas during the opening and closing ceremonies.. nice idea;)

I have a book about the 1988 Torch Relay Calgary 1988, beautiful relay. Canada is a beautiful country. I think it will be a great Relay, a lot of nature, snow, ice, forests. First a few days in Greece, but that's tradition. Only Lillehammer had more countries in winter games relay I think?

Digital? Maybe to show the flame inside the stadium:P But there was a picture, I don't know where I saw it, where the cauldron was hanging between the roof in the middle of the stadium. Could be an interesting idea.

Page 518, part 2 of the official report of Athens 2004. I think you know where you could find it? website AAFLA

I talked with some Greek girls when I was waiting to carry the torch. It was a very busy trip to go to all cities indeed. Two airplanes, nearly every day another city. In Beijing they have a lot more restdays. So I think it was a recommendation in the TOK of Athens to do so. Only the fuel for the airplanes was a high cost I think. The total costs for Torch relay, opening and closing ceremonies, culture programma and other ceremonies was 133,4 million euros according to the Athens official report. Sydney 2000: ceremonies 68,5 million Aus$, torch relay 11,4 million Aus$ and 38,6 million Aus$ for the cultural programma. In Atlanta $26,647 for all ceremonies. Salt Lake the Torch Relay costst: 25 million$ Athens was very expensive with the ceremonies, I think most of the money will go to the Torch Relay. But all NOC's had costs to organize the Relay in her own city. I don't know the exact costs because I cannot read the Transfer of Knowledge Programme.

Germany qualified this morning. So the men hockey tournament is complete. The drawing is next month after all women qualification tournaments, according to Sportsworld, the official ticket agent of Great Brittain.

Sorry, but I know what I'm saying. 3.30 Recommendation: Limit the Torch Relay to the host country and to a maximum duration of 100 days from the lighting in Olympia. You know this report from the IOC? It was accepted by the 115th IOC session in Prague July 2003. And yes the the IOC president said after the Athens Games it was a great Torch Relay and he'd like it when in future there could be more relays like that. That's why all 2012 bids also had a international torch relay plan. But also before the Athens Olympics the IOC was saying it was a fantastic idea, but only inside the olympic movement.

Before Athens the IOC had a recommendation in a report to have the torch relay only 100 from the lighting in Olympia and only in Greece and the host country. After the worldwide relay of Athens they say it was fantastic to do it more. Now there are three cities with a dissapointing torch relay and they don't want to do it anymore? I think it's too soon to say. The executive board Friday said they will decide after the Games. But I think because Athens torch relay was great. And in the United Kingdom they don's have Tibet. I don't think there will be protests in a London torch relay. What's more important? The Olympic spirit and world coming togehter this way and giving some countries the oppurtunity to have a part of the olympic torch relay or don't use the olympic values anymore and be scared there are some protesters who don't respect the olympic values? I choose the first one. And the Winter Games never had an international part in the torch relay, and a half year ago in Canada they already said they only go through Canada.. so that's no news:P

But they even not use the core patterns. For every games they use the identity of that Games, here we can only see a small picture of the Emblem at the front. And there is even not a text with Beijing 2008 or the Games of the XXIX Olympiad on it. The olympic identity is always very important. Further, all is secret until the moment BOCOG publish it in China. Why not with this? End of Juny we know how they are because first week of July they will be distributed. They want to be it like a secret until that moment because the chance of copying them. This could be something to misled them.

Actually all permanent seats are installes yet. http://en.beijing2008.cn/cptvenues/venues/...214242098.shtml

Why don't they use the official sport pictograms but this kind of strange singns? Where does this come from?

Don't think you could buy any tickets in Beijing at Games-time. Maybe for hundreds of dollars, but not at official ticket agents. In Athens 570,000 tickets have been sold to the other countries, in Beijing it is already 1 million. Between 500,000 and 600,000 is normal. Also Sydney, Atlanta, Barcelona, Seoul and Los Angeles had such results. But they allocated 1 million and there are enough tickets who were not sold. In Beijing all are sold out. Maybe you could buy some tickets for team sports, because we don't know the drawings. In Beijing there are 9 million tickets altogether. 7.2 million of them is for the general public and 1.8 million is for the officials, athletes, guests, sponsors, suppliers, hotels and the media. Of the 7.2 million for the general public 1 million is for foreigners and 6.2 million for the Chinese people. They expect 400,000-600,000 foreigners are travelling to Beijing. There are many more foreigners who want to go to Beijing thean normal. That's because there are a lot of people who think this is he oppurtunity to visit China. In Athens 100 countries requested tickets for the Games, now there are 150 countries. That's a lot more. So you see it's almost impossible to get tickts, maybe the black market is an option. But I don't know what the Chinese authorities will do because they know the buyer from each ticket and they will control it at the entrance of each venue.

Heej, I am going to Beijing next year during the Olympics. I already ordered some tickets to a lot of events.. I am still waiting for the allocation. The latest news is the allocation is coming mid-December. Next week or at the end of this week I am going to buy the airplane ticket. I am searching for someone who also wants to go. I cannot find someone becaude they al think it's too expensive. Maybe I can get accommodation in private home, so it's not expensive or maybe free.

Does anyone know when they are going to present the route, the torch and the logo of the Olympic Torch relay? Any suggestions for the route of the Torch relay?

I have information about all venues, it's in Chinese, but you can see the pictures. Here's the link: http://www.beijing-2008.org/46/76/blank211667646.shtml