The road to Beijing

Time Out recalls the highlights of the Olympic timeline, from the unveiling of the Fuwas, to the latest car restrictions

July 2001

Beijing comfortably beats Toronto for the right to host the 2008 Olympics, with the support of almost 95 per cent of the Chinese population. Early reports suggest that the Games will be the most expensive in history, costing over US$20 billion (a figure that is still cited).

November 2001

The police receive 10,000 copies of the "Police English" textbook. Phrases to be learned include: "Please don’t take too many liberties with the waitress."

December 2001

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) is established, headed by Beijing party secretary Liu Qi, who led the Olympic bid. In early 2008, Liu is replaced by Xi Jinping, who is tipped to be China’s next President.

September 2002

Olympic organizers release the "Olympic Action Plan," which lays out a swathe of initiatives including 400 miles of new roads and commitments to make Beijing an "ecological city."

December 2003

Construction begins on the National Stadium, also known as "The Bird’s Nest," just one of many architectural wonders to be built in time for the Games. The cost of building all of the Olympic venues is estimated at around US$2 billion.

September 2004

The Olympic countdown clock in Tiananmen Square starts ticking.

May 2005

Officials announce that 300,000 Beijing residents have been evicted from their homes to make way for Olympic developments.

November 2005

The Olympic mascots, or Fuwa, are unveiled. The first parts of their names put together spell "Beijing huanying ni" or "Beijing welcomes you."

April 2006

Leaders announce that more than 70 local laws and decrees will be made before the Games. The new laws target, among others, people without Beijing residence permits and those deemed to be disseminating material detrimental to the state.

August 2007

Jackie Chan sings "We Are Ready" with 99 other celebrities to mark the one-year countdown to the Games. It’s the first in a slew of (largely awful) Olympic songs.

November 2007

1,250 potential Olympics hostesses begin training at a special camp. No tattoos or big bottoms are allowed, and aspiring hostesses often train for 12 hours a day. One reports standing for two hours in stilettos whilst balancing a book on her head and clamping chopsticks between her teeth.

March 2008

Officials announce that over 1.2 million people have applied to be "City Volunteers" in Beijing, with the job of helping foreigners navigate the city.

April 2008

Officials announce that there will be over 94,000 security guards at the Beijing Olympics, which is nine times the number of athletes and far more than were used at the Athens Olympics in 2004 (50,000-70,000).

May 2008

The iconic National Stadium, or "the Bird’s Nest," hosts the China Athletics Open, the first big event for Herzog and de Meuron’s beguiling structure.

June 2008

Official announce that over 4,000 Chinese children have been named Aoyun, meaning "Olympics," and that thousands of others have been named after the five Olympic mascots.

Olympic chiefs approve the official Olympic cheer, which involves clapping twice, giving the thumbs-up, clapping twice more, and then punching the air with both arms.

July 2008

In the final stages of Beijing’s beautification, clouds are seeded throughout the month, resulting in consistent heavy rain. On July 20, work stops on Beijing’s construction sites, chemical plants and mines, and restrictions take half of the city’s cars off the road.