Beijing Olympics 2008 – 2nd General Knowledge Update

Last updated: December 16, 2011 by Sarbjit+

In continuation to our Olympics General Knowledge update, today we have details for Olympics 2008 after it closed on August 24, 2008. This is very important topic for Exams like Bank PO, SSC, Clerical, Excise and Taxation Officer etc. Prepare this well.

Beijing Olympic Games 2008 (August 8 - August 24)

16 days, 10,500 athletes, 302 medal events. This was the most successful Olympics ever.

Final Medals Tally (First 5 countries)

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze
China	51	21	28
U.S.A.	36	38	36
Russia	23	21	28
Britain	19	13	15
Germany	16	10	15

Stars from India:

The Indian contingent led by Athens silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was the most successful in the history. Before this 1952 Helsinki Games were the best for India with a Hockey gold medal and wrestling bronze won by K.D. Jadhav

1. Abinav Bindra won first individual gold for India in the history of Olympics
2. Vijender Kumar won a bronze in Boxing. He was also the flag-bearer of the Indian contingent at the closing ceremony.
3. Sushil Kumar's got bronze in Wrestling
4. Saina Nehwal became the first Indian to enter the singles quarters.

Stars of Beijing Olympics

1. Michael Phelp's won amazing eight gold medals breaking Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at one Games.
2. Usain Bolt from Jamaica: He broke his own 100 metres world record (9.69 seconds) to win gold. He won three gold medals.
3. Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva gold breaking her own world record in pole vault jumping 5.05 metres.
4. British cyclist Chris Hoy was the first Briton to strike triple gold in a single Olympics in 100 years.
5. Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele became the first athlete in 28 years to get double medals in long-distance running. (Won both 10,000 m run and 5000 m race)
6. Samuel Wansiru wont the first Olympic marathon gold for Kenya.

Other Records:

1. A record 204 nations participated.
2. A record 87 countries won medals.
3. 43 world records were broken at Beijing while it was only 33 at 2004 Olympics.
4. 5 countries won their first medal at Beijing. Bahrain (1 gold), Tajikistan (1 silver, 1 bronze), Sudan (1 silver), Afghanistan and Togo (1 bronze each).

Next Olympics will be held at London in 2012. David Beckham was the star to present what London will offer for the Next Olympics.

Category: General Knowledge
Tags: General Knowledge