Ten cities submitted bids to host the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics that were recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), five of which made the IOC Executive Committee's shortlist. The games were awarded to Beijing, China on July 13, 2001. The other shortlisted cities were Toronto, Paris, Istanbul and Osaka. Beijing won an absolute majority of votes after two rounds of voting, eliminating the need for subsequent rounds of voting. IOC delegates and the media identified a number of factors in its favor, including the size of the country, improvements in Chinese anti-doping enforcement, and its close loss to Sydney, Australia eight years earlier. In that bidding process, which chose the host city for the 2000 Summer Olympics, Beijing led every round of voting but lost in the final round to Sydney by two votes.
The Marshall Islands took part in the 2008 Summer Olympics, which were held in Beijing, China from 8 to 24 August 2008. The 2008 Summer Olympics were the Marshall Islands' first appearance at the Olympics. The delegation included five athletes, two in athletics, two in swimming, and one in taekwondo. The Marshall Islands failed to win an Olympic medal at these Games.
The 2008 Beijing Wushu Tournament was a wushu competition which was held from August 21 to 24, 2008 at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Beijing, China. The tournament was organised by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG), the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), and the Chinese Wushu Association (CWA), and was held in tandem with the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Norway sent a delegation of 24 competitors, to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, from September 6 to September 17, 2008.
The Beijing barbastelle, also known as the Beijing wide-eared bat, is a species of vesper bat endemic to Beijing Municipality, China. The species was discovered by Chinese zoology students in 2001 in caves of Fangshan District in southwestern Beijing and was identified as a distinct species by zoologists Zhang Shuyi, Gareth Jones, Zhang Jingshuo and Han Naijian in 2007.
The women's heptathlon event at the 2001 Summer Universiade was held at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China between 28 and 29 August.
The men's discus throw event at the 2001 Summer Universiade was held at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China on 28 and 29 August.
The women's 1500 metres event at the 2001 Summer Universiade was held at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China on 28 and 29 August.
The men's 800 metres event at the 2001 Summer Universiade was held at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China between 30 August and 1 September.
The women's 400 metres hurdles event at the 2001 Summer Universiade was held at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China on 30–31 August.
The men's 400 metres event at the 2001 Summer Universiade was held at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China on 27, 28, and 29 August.
The men's 4 × 400 metres relay event at the 2001 Summer Universiade was held at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China between 30 August and 1 September.
The men's 200 metres event at the 2001 Summer Universiade was held at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China on 30–31 August.
The women's 100 metres hurdles event at the 2001 Summer Universiade was held at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China on 27–29 August.
The women's 110 metres hurdles event at the 2001 Summer Universiade was held at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China on 27–28 August.
The men's 100 metres event at the 2001 Summer Universiade was held at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China on 27–28 August.
The women's 4 × 100 metres relay event at the 2001 Summer Universiade was held at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China between 29 August and 1 September.
The men's 4 × 100 metres relay event at the 2001 Summer Universiade was held at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China between 29 August and 1 September.
