Beijing Summer Olympics on Yahoo! Canada News Photos

People walk through a passage inside the Integration Test Lab ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:23:00 GMT

(Reuters) - People walk through a passage inside the Integration Test Lab and Information Technology Operations Centre for the Olympic Games in Beijing July 9, 2008. The International Olympic Committee praised Beijing on Tuesday for setting a 'gold standard for the future' in its preparations for the Games, which begin in a month. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

A worker smokes as takes a break from repairing the ground outside ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:20:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A worker smokes as takes a break from repairing the ground outside the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing July 9, 2008. The International Olympic Committee praised Beijing on Tuesday for setting a 'gold standard for the future' in its preparations for the Games, which begin in a month. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

A worker repairs the ground outside the National Stadium, also ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:20:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A worker repairs the ground outside the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing July 9, 2008. The International Olympic Committee praised Beijing on Tuesday for setting a 'gold standard for the future' in its preparations for the Games, which begin in a month. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

Workers catch fish to reduce its population in a manmade lake ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:17:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Workers catch fish to reduce its population in a manmade lake around the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing July 9, 2008. The workers are doing so as the water has become turbid due to overpopulation of fish in the lake. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

A gardener works next to a street lamp outside the National ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:01:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A gardener works next to a street lamp outside the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing July 9, 2008. The International Olympic Committee praised Beijing on Tuesday for setting a 'gold standard for the future' in its preparations for the Games, which begin in a month. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

A worker installs lights above a sign bearing the Olympic rings ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:50:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A worker installs lights above a sign bearing the Olympic rings at the Worker's Gymnasium, the venue for the preliminary bouts of the Olympic boxing competition, in Beijing July 9, 2008. With less than a month remaining until the opening ceremony of one of the most scrutinised Olympic Games in history, the time has come for Beijing to deliver on seven years of promises and billions of dollars spent. REUTERS/David Gray (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

People work on the 'E' entrance of the National Stadium, also ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:46:00 GMT

(Reuters) - People work on the 'E' entrance of the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing July 9, 2008. The International Olympic Committee praised Beijing on Tuesday for setting a 'gold standard for the future' in its preparations for the Games, which begin in a month. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

Chinese military band members play during the opening of the ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:43:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Chinese military band members play during the opening of the 'Beijing Olympics and Paralympics Games-time Work Mobilisation Rally' at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing July 9, 2008. Security is the most important factor in hosting a successful Olympic Games, China's Vice-President Xi Jinping told a mobilisation rally on Wednesday, 30 days before the Beijing Games open. China has identified terrorism as the biggest threat to the Games and state media on Wednesday said police had shot dead five people who wanted to wage 'holy war' in the troubled western region of Xinjiang. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

A Chinese military band conductor beats during the opening of ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:36:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A Chinese military band conductor beats during the opening of the 'Beijing Olympics and Paralympics Games-time Work Mobilisation Rally' at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing July 9, 2008. Security is the most important factor in hosting a successful Olympic Games, China's Vice-President Xi Jinping told a mobilisation rally on Wednesday, 30 days before the Beijing Games open. China has identified terrorism as the biggest threat to the Games and state media on Wednesday said police had shot dead five people who wanted to wage 'holy war' in the troubled western region of Xinjiang. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

A Chinese military band plays during the opening of the 'Beijing ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:20:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A Chinese military band plays during the opening of the 'Beijing Olympics and Paralympics Games-time Work Mobilisation Rally' at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing July 9, 2008. Security is the most important factor in hosting a successful Olympic Games, China's Vice-President Xi Jinping told a mobilisation rally on Wednesday, 30 days before the Beijing Games open. China has identified terrorism as the biggest threat to the Games and state media on Wednesday said police had shot dead five people who wanted to wage 'holy war' in the troubled western region of Xinjiang. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

China's Vice-President Xi Jinping delivers a speech during the ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:01:00 GMT

(Reuters) - China's Vice-President Xi Jinping delivers a speech during the 'Beijing Olympics and Paralympics Games-time Work Mobilisation Rally' at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing July 9, 2008. Security is the most important factor in hosting a successful Olympic Games, Xi told a mobilisation rally on Wednesday, 30 days before the Beijing Games open. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

Models pose with a 10kg (22 pounds) limited edition of Beijing ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:34:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Models pose with a 10kg (22 pounds) limited edition of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games memorabilia gold coin during a news conference in Taipei July 9, 2008. The coin which has a starting price of TWD 17,500,000 (around $575,828), officially went on auction on Wednesday in Taipei. REUTERS/Nicky Loh (TAIWAN)

A man holds up a 10kg (22 pounds) limited edition of Beijing ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:31:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A man holds up a 10kg (22 pounds) limited edition of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games memorabilia gold coin during a news conference in Taipei July 9, 2008. The coin which has a starting price of TWD 17,500,000 (around $575,828), officially went on auction on Wednesday in Taipei. REUTERS/Nicky Loh (TAIWAN)

Robert Foerstemann of the German national cycling team receives ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:21:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Robert Foerstemann of the German national cycling team receives his uniform during the official outfitting of the German team for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games in Mainz July 9, 2008. REUTERS/Alex Grimm

Thomas Bach, president of the German Olympic Sports Federation ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:17:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Thomas Bach, president of the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB), Stefan Nimk of the German national cycling team and Michael Vesper (L-R), Germany's Chef de Mission pose during the official outfitting of the German team for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, in Mainz July 9, 2008. REUTERS/Alex Grimm

Members of the German national cycling team receive their uniforms ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:10:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Members of the German national cycling team receive their uniforms during the official outfitting of the German team for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, in Mainz July 9, 2008. REUTERS/Alex Grimm (GERMANY)

Robert Foerstemann of the German national cycling team poses ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:08:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Robert Foerstemann of the German national cycling team poses in front of a mirror during the official outfitting of the German team for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games in Mainz July 9, 2008. REUTERS/Alex Grimm

A paramilitary policeman stands guard next to a security fence ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:33:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A paramilitary policeman stands guard next to a security fence in the Beijing Olympic Green area July 9, 2008. With just under one month to go before the opening ceremony for the most scrutinised Olympic Games in history, China, says it has already cracked domestic terror plots targeting the Olympics and has taken sweeping steps to secure the Games against protests or attacks. By relying on its armed forces Beijing hopes to pay less than a third of the US$1.8 billion previous-host Athens paid for security. REUTERS/David Gray (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

Workers using blowtorches remove dirt that has accumulated on ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:26:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Workers using blowtorches remove dirt that has accumulated on tiles outside the Beijing Olympics Main Press Centre (MPC) located in the Olympic Green area July 9, 2008. With just under one month to go before the opening ceremony for the most scrutinised Olympic Games in history, two key measures of pollution in China have fallen slightly in what the country's environmental regulator cast as a victory in the fight for more sustainable development, state media reported on Tuesday. Beijing has demanded factories in surrounding provinces stop work or cut production to clean the city's air, which has caused health concerns for a number of Games athletes. REUTERS/David Gray (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

A woman walks through the Forbidden City in Beijing July 9, ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:12:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A woman walks through the Forbidden City in Beijing July 9, 2008. Beijing's main tourist attractions are gearing up for the expected influx of tourists ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

Police walk through a doorway in the Forbidden City in Beijing ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:10:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Police walk through a doorway in the Forbidden City in Beijing July 9, 2008. Beijing's main tourist attractions are gearing up for the expected influx of tourists ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

A worker sweeps near a door in the Forbidden City in Beijing ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:05:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A worker sweeps near a door in the Forbidden City in Beijing July 9, 2008. Beijing's main tourist attractions are gearing up for the expected influx of tourists ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

Workers carry cleaning supplies past scaffolding inside the ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:03:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Workers carry cleaning supplies past scaffolding inside the Forbidden City in Beijing July 9, 2008. Beijing's main tourist attractions are gearing up for the expected influx of tourists ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

Women chat while sitting at a pagoda overlooking the Forbidden ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:00:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Women chat while sitting at a pagoda overlooking the Forbidden City, in Jinshan park in Beijing July 9, 2008. Beijing's main tourist attractions are gearing up for the expected influx of tourists ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

People ride their bicycles near a gate to the Forbidden City ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:59:00 GMT

(Reuters) - People ride their bicycles near a gate to the Forbidden City in Beijing July 9, 2008. Beijing's main tourist attractions are gearing up for the expected influx of tourists ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

Netherland's Albert Zoer riding Sam jumps over an obstacle during ...

(The Canadian Press) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:05:00 GMT

(The Canadian Press) - Netherland's Albert Zoer riding Sam jumps over an obstacle during the Grand Prix of Aachen jumping competition of the World Equestrian Festival CHIO in Aachen, western Germany, on Sunday, July 6, 2008. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Hermann J. Knippertz

One month before the start of the Olympics, the ...

(AFP) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:09:00 GMT

(AFP) - One month before the start of the Olympics, the stadiums are complete and the city's new transport systems are coming online. One of the few things organisers can't control is the city's heavy pollution. Duration: 01:47 Photo:/AFP

Visitors walks past martial arts poster inside the Beijing Olympics ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:56:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Visitors walks past martial arts poster inside the Beijing Olympics Main Press Centre (MPC) during its opening in Beijing July 8, 2008. With 62,000 square meters of working space, the MPC in Beijing is the biggest press centre in Olympic history. It will be the central work place for the 5,600 accredited journalists and photographers covering the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

An employee displays a commemorative bank note with a face value ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:53:00 GMT

(Reuters) - An employee displays a commemorative bank note with a face value of 10 yuan ($1.46) to mark the Beijing Olympic Games, at a bank in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province July 8, 2008. REUTERS/Steven Shi (CHINA)

A wide shot of the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) during ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:51:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A wide shot of the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) during its opening in Beijing July 8, 2008. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

Visitors buy lunch at a food court inside the International ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:50:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Visitors buy lunch at a food court inside the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) during its opening in Beijing July 8, 2008. With 62,000 square meters of working space, the MPC in Beijing is the biggest press centre in Olympic history. It will be the central work place for the 5,600 accredited journalists and photographers covering the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

Volunteers chat outside the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:50:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Volunteers chat outside the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) during its opening in Beijing July 8, 2008. With 62,000 square metres of working space, the MPC in Beijing is the biggest press centre in Olympic history. It will be the central work place for the 5,600 accredited journalists and photographers covering the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

A girl rests outside the Forbidden City in a haze in Beijing ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:48:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A girl rests outside the Forbidden City in a haze in Beijing July 8, 2008. Two key measures of pollution in China have fallen slightly in what the country's environmental regulator cast as a victory in the fight for more sustainable development, state media reported on Tuesday. Persistent smog over Olympic host Beijing's skies and a massive algae bloom in sailing venue Qingdao have highlighted China's environmental concerns a month ahead of the Games. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

A journalist looks at books at a library inside the Beijing ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:44:00 GMT

(Reuters) - A journalist looks at books at a library inside the Beijing Olympics Main Press Centre (MPC) during its opening in Beijing July 8, 2008. With 62,000 square meters of working space, the MPC in Beijing is the biggest press centre in Olympic history. It will be the central work place for the 5,600 accredited journalists and photographers covering the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

Workers prepare at a travel agency office inside the Beijing ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:43:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Workers prepare at a travel agency office inside the Beijing Olympics Main Press Centre (MPC) during its opening in Beijing July 8, 2008. With 62,000 square meters of working space, the MPC in Beijing is the biggest press centre in Olympic history. It will be the central work place for the 5,600 accredited journalists and photographers covering the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)

Workers prepare at a hair salon inside the Beijing Olympics ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:43:00 GMT

(Reuters) - Workers prepare at a hair salon inside the Beijing Olympics Main Press Centre (MPC) during its opening in Beijing July 8, 2008. With 62,000 square meters of working space, the MPC in Beijing is the biggest press centre in Olympic history. It will be the central work place for the 5,600 accredited journalists and photographers covering the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)