Beijing 2008!

The long awaited 2008 Summer Olympic Games are here! The Games are being held in Beijing, China. Opening ceremonies will be held at the Bird's Nest. You can tune in live at 730pm EST, August 8th, on NBC4-New York 4 (or your local NBC affiliate, check NBColympics.com for more info). NBColympics.com has info on competing athletes from all participating countries, sport-specific information, TV and online listings, and MORE. This year's Games will feature 10,500 athletes from 205 countries, competing in 34 different events. Lopez Lomong (a middle-distance runner competing in the 1500 meter race) will carry the United State's flag in the opening ceremonies. Lomong is a former "Lost Boy" (a group of 3,800 refugees of the north-south war in Sudan who escaped the war that killed 2 million and uprooted another 4 million.), originally from Sudan. He escaped the war in Sudan and was relocated to the U.S. in 2005 (Tully, upstate New York!!!), and will proudly represent his country in the coveted ceremony. He graduated from H.S. In NY, and went on to college at Northern Arizona University. "The American flag means everything in my life -- everything that describes me, coming from another country and going through all the stages that I have to become a U.S. citizen," Lomong said in the USOC statement. "This is another amazing step for me in celebrating being an American." (Quote cred: Cnn.com)

Put on for your country!!!

Olympic Fact #1: The oldest member of the United States Women's Gymnastics Team (Alicia Sacramone, Massachusetts) is just 20 years old.

Mack is a gymnastics addict so, expect lot's of updates on the American Women's team and their progress! Go Shawn Johnson! Chick is 16 years old, can perform a vault that only a handful of the world's most elite gymnasts can (Yurchenko w/ 2 and half twists--Youtube that!) and can tumble on an elevated 4-inch beam like she's on a full sized mat. She does that shit 21-7!

www.NBCOlympics.com