Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Olympics Close in Beijing, Head to London in 2012
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 25, 2008
Modified Aug 25, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Gothamist
View all 13
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 25, 2008
Modified Aug 25, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The Beijing Olympics ended after a memorable 16 days of competition and world record-breaking. The opening was massive and lavish, focused on China's history, and the finale was another extravagant display of modern, fanciful performances and fireworks.
The ceremony also marked as the hand-off to the 2012 Olympics in London, with Britain's prime minister Gordon Brown and London mayor Boris Johnson on hand. But it's unlikely that London will be able to match the $44 billion spent by the Chinese for these 2008 games--and that doesn't include being able to raze neighborhoods and keep migrant workers out of sight. Perhaps it's lucky NYC didn't win the bid.
The NY Times reported, "Some political analysts say Beijing placed too much importance on the Games, and others said the country failed to live up to its promises to open up and undertake political changes that would improve the country’s human rights record," but still International Olympics Committee president Jacques Rogge said, “The world has learned about China, and China has learned about the world, and I believe this is something that will have positive effects for the long term.”
Tagged
2008 Beijing Olympics
2008 olympics
2012 olympics
beijing
beijing olympics
china
london olympics
olympics
summer olympics
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
Mid-October through mid-December is deer mating season, which can be a danger to drivers as the sex-seeking creatures cross roadways throughout the Garden State.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 16, 2026 at 4:22 p.m. ET
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
News
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
Inside the plan to fix the nearly collapsed Pfizer Building, 1/64th of an inch at a time
By
David Brand
School bus carrying autistic students got lost in Brooklyn for 4 hours last year
By
Jessica Gould
NYC’s bridges can last 'forever,' if we take care of them
By
Clayton Guse
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .