The year of 2008 marks the Beijing Olympic Games that attract world attention and the 30th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up.

As the most grand and influential sports pageant in the world, the Olympic Games have provided China a good opportunity to demonstrate its culture and history to the world.

In a bid to realize its three great concepts of “Green Olympics, High-tech Olympics, and People's Olympics, China has confronted and overcame a series of challenges, including venue constructions, environment protection and public safety during its seven years of  preparation for the Games.

It’s been 76 years since China’s One Man Olympics. The saga details Liu Changchun, a sole representative of China at the 1932 Games held in Los Angles. The sprinter from Dalian, Liu entered the 100 and 200 m run, but failed to qualify for the finals.

   During the 2008 Olympics, more than 30,000 journalists and 100 live broadcasting vehicles from across the world gathered in Beijing to broadcast the Games for 4 billion audiences worldwide.  

For the Beijing Olympics, five newly-built rail track lines, including subways and Airport Express have gone into operation, thus making Beijing's rail track extended to more than 200 km.  Photo: Zeng Huang/China Features

In a bid to ease congestion and reduce emissions during the Olympics, Beijing transport authorities take new measures, including the reserved Olympic lanes, and odd-even rule, which is expected to reduce traffic by 70%.  Photo:  Xin Guangli / Xinhua

The Olympic volunteers are a most welcomed “calling card” for Beijing. Photo: Li Yong / Xinhua

Gardeners are laying out turf outside of the Beijing National Stadium, the centrepiece of the 2008 Olympics. The stadium is also nicknamed the Bird's Nest because of its nest-like skeletal structure. The idea of “Green Olympics” has boosted the city greenery and environment. Photo: Luo Xiaoguang/Xinhua

On May 21, 2008, a demonstration on the quick food inspection  designed for the Olympic Games was held in a public safety inspection van . The concepts of the Green and High-tech Olympics help raise the awareness of, and the standard for food safely in China. Photo: Luo Xiaoguang/ Xinhua

Local people and foreign visitors play table tennis on Zhonggulou Culture Square, in east Beijing. Thanks to the Beijing Olympic, public sports facilities become ubiquitous the city.  Photo: Zhang Chuandong/Xinhua

People in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province learn to speak English with a foreign English teacher. The Beijing Olympics furthers English craze in China. Photo: Xu Jianping/Xinhua

On July 2, 2008, the armed policemen were on rehearsal. To ensure the Safe Olympics, the army personnel responsible for the safety and guards, are equipped with new anti-terrorism equipments, Photo: Fan Changguo/Xinhua

On July 2, 2008, the 3rd “Beijing 2008” Olympic Cultural Festival was held in the Peking Man World Heritage Site at Zhoukoudian, Fangshan, Beijing. The Olympics Games arouses people’s interest of rediscovering  Chinese history and traditional culture. Photo: Chen Jianli/Xinhua