By March or April 2008, the 6000 gold, silver and bronze medals for Beijing 2008 will be ready. Mining giant BHP Billiton says the raw materials for making the medals have arrived in China recently. China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation in Shanghai, China, will be the maker of the medals.

The raw materials for creating the medals are from BHP’s mines in Chile and Australia. Escondida mine in Chile provides the copper concentrate which contains gold for the gold medals. Spence mining operation, also in Chile, supplies copper cathode which can turn into bronze medals. Cannington mine in Queensland, Australia, supplies silver and lead for crafting silver medals.

The 6000 Olympic medals will be expected to use up 1 tonne of gold and silver and advanced technologies are used to craft the medals, especially the gold one.

By the way, the Olympic gold medal is not made up of 100% pure gold…

How must the Olympic medals be made?

Each Olympic medal must be at least 68mm across and 3mm thick. The gold and silver medals must contain at least 92.5% silver, and at least 6 grams of 24-carat gold must coat each gold medal. Bronze medals contain copper, zinc, tin and a very small amount of silver.

Besides the 6000 official Olympic medals, the Beijing Olympic Committee has to come up with 40 thousand more commerative Olympic medals for coaches, empires and participating parties of Beijing 2008 by next April.

Via 鏂囩患澶╁湴

Sand sculptures depicting the Olympic history were in full force at Zhujiajian Island, East China’s Zhejiang Province. These magnificent masterpieces were made by 30 sculptors from 10 different countries. US, Russia and the host country, China, were among the countries that use sand and art to tell the Olympic history and welcome Beijing 2008. China’s Liu Xiang and Fuwa mascots were some of the sand “models” in this one-of-a-kind exhibition.

I want to see Olympic ice sculptures.

More photos

Beijing Olympic Broadcasting Co Ltd (BOB), together with China Central Television (CCTV), Beijing TV station and other Chinese TV stations will use state-of-the-art technologies for Beijing Olympics 2008 broadcasting. High definition production and broadcasting are expected for Beijing 2008. Viewers can also see Olympic broadcasts on the Internet and mobile phones. This means that Beijing 2008 will be broadcasted everywhere in the world, old and new medium alike.

“New technologies will be used in the broadcasting of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games with broadcasters able to produce high definition signals for the Games, ” said Manolo Romero, general manager of the Beijing Olympic Broadcasting Co, Ltd (BOB).

I haven’t bought one HDTV yet, maybe it’s time.

Via China Daily

On 26th September 2007, Wednesday, 7 Guinness world records are set in Zhaoyang Stadium, Zhaoyang, Zhaotong city, Yunnan province, China. Using 341969 red and green apples, 730 youth volunteers have helped to piece a gigantic Beijing 2008 logo with the words “Zhaoyang Apples Welcome Olympics” (鏄�闃宠嫻鏋滆繋濂ヨ繍).

The masterpiece is 50m by 30m, an area of 1500m虏, consisting of 70-tonne of the healthy fruit. Another “Green Olympics” effort.

Via 瀹佹触淇℃伅娓�

The soccer legend, David Beckham, has to sing in Chinese in a music video (MV) that is meant for the Beijing Olympics. The celebs to star in the video are Jay Chou and Lin Chiling, a Taiwanese top model. Shanghai EE Media Co Ltd, the company behind this glam activity, has spent millions of yuan to gather such star powers. However, nothing is heard about how much Beckham is getting.

Beckham is expected to sing some of the lyrics in Chinese, Lu said. But the length of his Chinese singing depends on how quickly he can pick up the language, the report said.

I wanna Victoria to sing Chinese.

Via CriEnglish

If you want to train your soccer skills in your own backyard or the outdoors, you do not have to bring out two rubbish bins and use them as soccer posts or soccer goals.

Heard of portable soccer goals? They are just like easy-to-carry and mobile soccer posts that can be set up easily on any field. With peg hooks provided, you can be sure they would not be blown away by the irritating wind. It also includes a carry backpack to keep everything neat and tidy.

There are two types of portable soccer goals. One is for the kids (probably for 12 years and below) and the other one is the closer-to-the-real-thing type.

The Pop-Up Portable Junior Target Soccer Goal is suitable for children. Assembled size is 4′3″W x 3′2″H. This Franklin Mini Soccer Goal is perfect for a quick game of soccer and ideal for to occupy your kids (usually the boys). Of course, it can be broken down in a swift.

On the other hand, the Portable Backyard Tournament Soccer Goal is more heavy duty and is suitable for youth training (adults can use too). It is 6 feet high by 12 feet wide and complete with heavy-duty galvanized steel tubing.

Care for some soccer mania at your own backyard?