Twenty eight sports will feature in the program for the Beijing Olympics in two-and-a-half years time. The program for the XXIX Olympiad  -- Beijing 2008 has now been finalized. The sports are made up of 302 events comprising 165 men's events, 127 for women and 10 mixed.

Increase in women's events

For many years now the IOC has made increasing the participation of women in the Olympic Games one of its priorities. The changes approved by the IOC's Executive Board (EB) concerning the events on the 2008 program are in line with this philosophy. In Beijing the number of women's events will be 127, an increase of two events compared with Athens. This has resulted in approximately 130 additional female athletes competing in China in 2008.

New events on the program

There have been several events added to the program for the Beijing 2008 Games as well as one completely new discipline -- the BMX (bicycle motocross). The additions include the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase, men's and women's BMX, women's fencing foil and saber team events, men's and women's marathon 10km swimming and the replacement of the doubles events in table tennis by team events.

The Games of the XXIX Olympiad -- Beijing 2008 will be held between August 8-24, 2008.  Approximately 10,500 athletes will participate with around 20,000 accredited media bringing the Games to a massive world audience.

(BOCOG, April 30, 2006)