Page 443 - chs-2009
P. 443
OPENING CEREMONY preparations of nearly
seven years culm1nated 1n an extravaganza
featunng more than 14.000 performers.
BERNIE MAC'S DEATH saddened fans of the
50-year-old Ch1cago comed1an/actor.
THE 0 LYM PI CS meant national pride
athletic competition. pageantry and more. More than
10.000 athletes competed in 300-plus events in 28
sports at 31 competitive venues. many of which had
been constructed specifically for the Olympics. An
estimated 6.8 million tickets were sold for the various
competitions. and the Beijing Olympics was officially
the most-watched television event of all time. Through
16 days of coverage. 211 million viewers tuned in to the
Olympics on NBC. Among the American success stories
were Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor's consecutive
golds in beach volleyball. the gold won by U.S. men's
basketball team after a disappointing bronze in Athens
and swimmer Michael Phelps' eight golds. which
brought his lifetime total to 14 Olympic golds.
1111111 11111111111'11111111111 111111111111111111111 111111111 111111111 llll111lilll1lll111lllll1111il•lllllllll1 1111111 I llo 111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111 olllllllll IIIII I
2
