BEIJING OLYMPIC PICTURES

A view of the festivities in Beijing National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest, during the Closing Ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China.

(L-R) Brenton Rickard of Australia, Alexander Dale Oen of Norway and Kosuke Kitajima of Japan compete in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke Final held at the National Aquatics Center on Day 3 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 11, 2008 in Beijing, China. Kosuke Kitajima of Japan finished the race in first place in a time of 58.91 to win the gold medal and set a new World Record.

Beijing, China – Fireworks outside Olympic Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest. The Beijing sky was filled with fireworks, 11,456 of them on the top of the stadium itself and 8,428 around the city. The XXIX Olympic Games began in truly spectacular style.

Michael Phelps of the United States celebrates victory in the Men’s 100m Butterfly Final held at the National Aquatics Centre during Day 8 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 16, 2008 in Beijing, China. By winning gold in the Men’s 100m Butterfly, Phelps tied Mark Spitz’s record of winning seven gold medals in a single Olympic Games.

Competitors take part in the cycling portion of the Men’s Triathlon Final at the Triathlon Venue on Day 11 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 19, 2008 in Beijing, China.