The Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium, the venue for the Olympic basketball preliminaries and finals, is ready for pre-Olympic events. Covering an area of 168,000 sq m, the gymnasium has three floors underground and four floors aboveground, with capacity for 18,000 spectators. Entering Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium, one first notices the funnel-shaped LED display system. It is the first set of comprehensive displays in China that is able to meet the demands of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Not only are the standards met for basketball games, the LED system is also capable of being used for theatrical performances, real-time broadcasts and background imagery. Furthermore, all audience seats are upholstered for comfort and convenience. On the second floor, there are 45 luxury boxes, with 29 large ones and 16 small ones.

IOC president Jacques Rogge’s message for the year 2008 - A year of challenges and opportunities

With just eight months to go until the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on 8 August at 8pm, it may seem natural to be preoccupied with Beijing. As 2007 came to a close, however, the IOC has not lost sight of future Games to come in great cities around the world, or the challenges that sport continues to face today.

As in sport, challenges can offer remarkable opportunities. Our goal for the International Olympic Committee in 2008 is to achieve as much as possible from these opportunities.

The many high-profile doping revelations in 2007 might make some observers think that we are losing the battle. I disagree. The fact that so many instances of unfair play were revealed, and that more athletes admitted responsibility, tells us that we are on the right track.

Illegal betting presents a formidable threat to the credibility of sport. It must be fought in the same aggressive way in which we are fighting doping. In 2008, zero tolerance towards illegal betting and doping offences has to reach an even higher level.

Fighting against these threats will help create a more level playing field for sport and for the young people who are essential to its future. I was very pleased when the IOC wholeheartedly approved the new Youth Olympic Games last July. The first candidate cities have already been announced, and we are convinced that these new Games will help encourage young people to participate according to best practices and principles as early as possible.

The IOC was honoured to be chosen to receive a United Nations Environment Programme Champions of the Earth Award in 2007. Our achievements to host “green” Olympic Games earned us the recognition of the expert community. The IOC will continue to support new standards for host cities to conduct sustainable Games.

Among the IOC’s challenges ahead in 2008, the dialogue surrounding Beijing will likely increase in volume. A remarkable amount of effort and dedication has been focused on an array of social and political issues in China, as Beijing prepares to host the Games. This, too, is natural. It is positive proof that we live in a world in which citizens are concerned and eager to express what they believe is best for the common good.

The IOC hopes that Beijing 2008 realises its potential as a spectacular Olympic Games. We can be certain that the Games alone are a powerful catalyst, even if to show that challenges often provide opportunities that can have profound potential.

Beijing Youth Camp 2008 - Maltese Olympic Committee launches project competition

The Maltese Olympic Committee is organising a project-based competition on the theme of sport. Students can come up with any sport related project, whether for their school, their community or for their family and friends.

Entered works will have the chance to be short listed for actual implementation. Final projects that are actually implemented will then be judged, and one female and one male student will be in the running to represent Malta at the Beijing OYC2008.

Judging

Projects must show initiative, originality and creativity. There are two judging phases to the Competition.

Initial Judging – in this phase, entries are received and processed. From this initial judging, up to 10 outstanding projects are selected as finalists (5 male/5 female). Students chosen will then have to implement their project within the given time frame.

Final selection – a selection of one boy and one girl will be made at the close of the project and a decision will be taken on the outcome of the actual project.

The experience

Two outstanding Maltese youngsters who successfully implement a sport-related project, will have the opportunity to join 800 teenagers from across the world at the Olympic Youth Camp (OYC) during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

A 21-day camp (6-26 August) will give these youths, aged between 16 and 18, first-hand experience of the Olympic ideals – peace, enterprise, teamwork, sportsmanship, fair play and participation, as well as the unique Chinese culture.

Students will watch the Games, visit the Olympic Village, stay with local families, travel to famous historical sites and learn Chinese Kongfu and calligraphy, among other things. Some of them will participate in the Olympic torch relay, too.

The concept of the youth camp originated at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games, when King Gustav V invited 1,500 Boy Scouts to set up tents near the Olympic Stadium. There were no more camps after that till another Scandinavian city, Helsinki, took up the idea in 1952.

The experience proved so successful that an OYC has been held during every Olympic Games after that, except in Melbourne (1956) and Los Angeles (1984).

All participants will receive a diploma.

Round trip airfare in economy class, lodging, meals and activities at the 2008 OYC for one male and one female (must not arrive before 6 August or leave after 26 August – additional charges will have to be borne by the participants).

The 21-day programme

will cover:

• Opening and closing ceremony

• Olympic Torch relay

• Guided tour in Olympic Village

• Olympic sport competition events

• Forums and workshops

• Continent-oriented day

• Series of courses on Chinese culture

• Sightseeing and excursions

• Exchange activities of sort and arts among campers

• Other Olympic cultural activities.

Location: China Youth Centre for International Exchange

The Beijing OYC2008 Competition is open to 16-18 year-olds who are Maltese citizens.

• Must be conversational in English or French.

• Be good at sports or arts.

• Experience in environment protection, Olympic Movement, or other volunteer activities.

• Must be between the age of 16–18 in 2008

Project eligibility

A student may submit only one project. The Project proposal includes details of how it can be implemented, resources required and indication of possible budget. An abstract/summary of between 100-200 words long should be included. The official application form must be attached to relative proposal. Supporting research should be included in the proposal.

Dates

January 15, 2008: Proposal Submissions

January 21, 2008: Announcement of selected projects

January 21-31, 2008: Project implementation meetings – mentor programme

February-April: Project implementation

2 May: Presentation of projects (internal)

9 May: Question and answer session with judges.

Project evaluation board

14 May: Presentation of projects (Media)

Announcement of winners

Judging

The MOC will assemble a panel of judges to conduct the initial review of all project submissions. Judges are selected by their field of expertise. Judging guidelines will be established, the student(s)' role in the project and ideas extending from the work will be considered.

Finalists will also have to describe further aspects of their projects. Judges will expect to hear concise presentations and responses to their questions during the question and answer session. All aspects of the projects and presentations will be taken into consideration for the final decisions of the judges.

Participants will find it useful to practice their presentations in front of an audience before the official presentation.

MIA Olympic Special – What’s On

Friday, 18 January on E22 at 9pm, Sunday, 20 January on E22 at 10am (RPT) and on TVM at 5:25pm, and Monday, 21 January on E22 at 2.30pm (RPT) will feature the following:

Featured Event – archery

The Malta Archery Association organised a double 18 metre competition on Sunday at the outdoor range situated at the Pembroke Sports Grounds. Though one of the minor sports Archery is fast gaining pace and the commitment shown by the participants can be clearly viewed during this feature.

Highlighted Event – Athletics/hockey

The Malta Athletic Association organised two events over the past weekend. On Saturday a young athletes cross country was held at the Marsa Grounds. On Sunday it was the turn for some running on the rod when the Road Running Challenge was held at Qawra.

The Malta Hockey National League is well under way and during the last days the first round came to an end the matches between Rabat and Qormi and White Hart vs Sliema HS. As usual the games were played at the Corradino Grounds.

MOC section

Since this year is an Olympic year this programme will start featuring interviews with athletes that will probably be in Beijing for this summer’s games. The first athlete to be interviewed by our cameras is Marcon Bezzina.

Olympic archive

A trip down memory lane will make us recall past editions of the Olympic Games.

Schedule available every week on www.nocmalta.org and on The Malta Independent newspaper every Tuesday. Produced in collaboration with E22.