You might now be thinking of athletes using high tech performance enhancing drugs or means to avoid detection. Or, you might be thinking of the fantastic shows that will be put on during the opening and closing ceremonies.

In fact, technology will play a understated but significant role in reporting the Olympics.

It has never been easier for individuals to disseminate information to the world. Laptops, cell phones and the Internet will make it a snap for Citizen Journalists attending the events to send that information home to friends and family, or post it up to a blog or website.

Up until now, the old media barons of television and newspaper publishing have held a stranglehold on who sees and reads about what events. Part of this is due to restrictions on how much can actually be shown.

But money also plays a part. Events that might not be mainstream sports simply don’t get much coverage. After all, ratings brings in the advertisers who want the most eyes for their products.

New media changes all that.

With video clips from all events speeding through the ether from cell phone to website, there will be much more coverage for all to see.

With the explosion of the blog phenomenon, there will be far more ‘channels’ to view and read about the events. And, instead of getting the paid opinion of a network TV talking head, there will be a multitude of views to choose from, some informed… some not so much.

We here at Bound for Beijing invite you to take part in this new media coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games. While we don’t have the good fortune to attend in person, we’ll be watching the sources, and presenting that information to you.

And, if you are one of the lucky ones Bound for Beijing this summer, please feel free to send a SMS, cell phone photo, or even a commentary to share with our community.

In just under 8 months, the world will focus its attention on the Chinese city of Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. The games will officially start on the 8th of August at 08:08:08 PM CST at the Beijing National Stadium with what is being billed as the most spectacular Opening Ceremony ever.

What follows will be two weeks of muscle grinding entertainment as the world’s best athletes put all their efforts into bringing home the gold. For many, just getting to the Olympics is the realization of years of training and the culmination of a dream that has driven them perhaps their whole lives. For a few, their dreams will be realized on the top step as they receive a small gold medallion. For all of them, the 2008 Summer Games will be the most memorable event of their lives.

The rest of us, the spectators and fans, have an opportunity to see the spectacle. Some of us from the comfort of our own homes and watering holes. Some will be lucky enough to be able to travel to Beijing and see the events first hand. Imagine the roar of the crowd in the Beijing National Stadium with 80,000 other cheering fans.

This blog will attempt to chronicle the events leading up to the 2008 Summer Games, as well as the Olympic Games themselves. We will be looking at the sports that will be played, the venues and locations around Beijing, and as many of the teams and athletes as possible. We’ll even provide a few culture and safety tips for the lucky ones who will be traveling to China.

In this last eight months, we invite you to join us as we are bound for Beijing.