On beach sand, water, hills, tracks, basketball courts, soccer fields, gymnastic apparatus, wrestling mats and other sites, the world's top amateur athletes are going for the gold . . . and silver and bronze. The Summer Olympics began last weekend and run through Aug. 24 in and around China's capital, Beijing. More than 10,700 men and women from about 200 counties are competing in 28 sports from archery to wrestling.

Nine new events include bicycle motocross (BMX), marathon swimming, team table tennis and steeplechase running - a type of obstacle course. Among the most popular - and most televised - competitions are volleyball, diving, soccer, tennis and gymnastics.
Events are on TV or online constantly. NBC is presenting 3,600 hours of streamed and broadcast coverage, more than the total of all previous televised Summer Olympics in U.S. history. Free videos of event recaps, athlete interviews and other content are at nbcolympics.com.

China's selection as host for the first time lets it show a global audience how technologically advanced and prosperous that ancient land with 1.3 billion people - yes, billion! -- has become. It also provides a forum for protests against the Communist leaders' blemished record on human rights, environmental protection, press freedom and Internet censorship. Tight security is intended to avoid any disruptions.

Americans to watch: Swimmer Michael Phelps, 23, is competing in his third Olympics and could break Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals in a single Games. Gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Paul Hamm are strong medal contenders. And in the first BMX events of any Olympics, 25-year-old Donny Robinson is the top-ranked rider worldwide.

Sportswriter says: "China wants to be seen as capable and friendly, more than the source of inexpensive goods for the First World, more than an emerging consumer of oil and air and water. China is a player." - George Vecsey, New York Times columnist

Athlete says: "It's about who's fastest, strongest, smartest and least scared." - Donny Robinson, BMX rider from California