Particulate air pollution during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing constantly exceeded levels considered excessive by the World Health Organization, was far worse than other recent Olympic Games, and was about 30 percent higher than has been reported by Chinese environmental experts – even though some favorable weather conditions helped reduce the problem.

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad has released the details of live colverage of the Olympic Closing Ceremony on its' website.

AFP reports that International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Jacques Rogge has declared the Beijing Olympics officially closed, bringing down the curtain on a glittering 16-day long sports extravaganza. However, this is not news here in the United States yet, as NBC using its exclusive coverage rights will show the Olympic Closing Ceremony from Beijing only this evening at 7PM.

S. Wansiru of Kenya wins men's Marathon Gold Medal at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at 2:06:32.

NBC will air the Olympic Closing Ceremony on August 24, 2008 at 7 PM ET. The airing schedule is not a live coverage and we found complaints on internet that NBC's actions are business driven vs championing the talents and events. More people call on NBC to provide 2009 Olympic Closing Ceremony live coverage.

If she did not win gold in the Olympics Balance Beam tonight, Shawn Johnson of the United States would have taken four silver medals back to her home state of Iowa. However, Johnson, the sprightly 16-year-old gymnast did not miss her last chance of Olympic gold in Balance Beam.

Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain won the gold medal in the Women's 400m on August 19, at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

In the biggest upset of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games for host country China, world and Olympic champion Liu Xiang stumbled at the start of his qualifying heat in round one of the Men's 110m Hurdles on Monday morning. He later withdrew entirely from the event.

Rebecca Romero of Great Britain became the first British female athlete to win medals in two different Summer Olympic Games sports with a gold medal ride in the Women's Individual Pursuit on Sunday.

Michael Phelps won his record eighth gold medal in the Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay final on Sunday but this time needed some help from his friends.

World No. 3 Novak Djokovic of Serbia won the second medal of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games for Serbia with a 6-3, 7-6(4) win over James Blake of the United States at the Olympic Green Tennis Center on Saturday, August 16.

After an ugly but exciting fight, the basketball team of China secured a quarterfinal spot by beating Germany 59-55 in their group B clash on August 16.