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The opening ceremonies got underway this evening, Beijing time. The Games have officially begun now and the first full day of competition will begin tomorrow (tonight US time). NBC will broadcast the opening ceremonies this evening, as well as covering some of the early rounds of the swimming competition. By all accounts, the proceedings at the opening ceremonies were spectacular. 1,500-meter runner Lopez Lamong was elected by his peers to carry the US flag as the contingent entered the National Stadium during the parade of nations. A former lost boy of Sudan, Lamong is part of a strong US 1,500 squad that has an outside chance at sweeping the medals. North and South Korea, who marched together in the 2004 opening ceremonies in Athens, entered Beijing’s National Stadium separately. Recent tensions have put the two countries at odds. The last straw came when a North Korean border guard shot and killed a South Korean tourist. Though plenty of athletes have been caught doping prior to the Olympics, the first round of tests by the newly revamped IOC doping agency came back clean. IOC head Jacques Rogge stated earlier in the week that he expects as many as 40 positive tests over the course of the Games. More testing and better methods mean it will be harder (but by no means impossible) to get away with taking performance enhancers. In a blow to America’s gold medal hopes in boxing, Gary Russell Jr., a bantamweight, collapsed after trying to make weight for the Games. He is not in any danger, health wise, but will not be competing in Beijing. Coach Dan Campbell has received some criticism for improperly preparing his boxers for conditions during the Olympics. US boxers will struggle with the Olympic scoring system, which awards points for punches, but does not take performance in the round into account the way professional boxing does.
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