Beijing 2008 - Games of the XXIX Olympiad - August 8th to the 24th, 2008

As a massive earthquake shook Sichuan province, subpar construction turned many Chinese schoolrooms into the mass graves of as many as 10,000 children, the New York Times reports, and grieving parents are pointing fingers at Beijing. The government, aware of the problem, had issued warnings on school safety in the years before the quake—but in many cases, the shoddy buildings remained. &ldqu...

As a massive earthquake shook Sichuan province, subpar construction turned many Chinese schoolrooms into the mass graves of as many as 10,000 children, the New York Times reports, and grieving parents are pointing fingers at Beijing. The government, aware of the problem, had issued warnings on school safety in the years before the quake—but in many cases, the shoddy buildings remained. &ldqu...

BEIJING - FEBRUARY 19: Chinese labourer works at the construction site of a water diversion project on February 19, 2008 on the outskirt of Beijing, China. China will transfer up to 150 million cubic metres (5.3 billion cubic feet) of water from the Yellow River towards Beijing as part of a major project to boost dwindling supplies ahead of the Olympics. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - JANUARY 23: A view of the construction site in front of the 2008 Olympics National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, on January 23, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

Architecture|Old Construction|Ancient construction||Travel|Asian Famous Place|Beijing

Architecture|Old Construction|Ancient construction||Travel|Asian Famous Place|Beijing

Architecture|Old Construction|Ancient construction||Travel|Asian Famous Place|Beijing

BEIJING, CHINA - APRIL 10: (CHINA OUT) Smoke billows from a tower block under construction at the Huamao Center, an office complex in Beijing's Central Business District (CBD) on April 10, 2007 in Beijing, China. The blaze raged for two hours but was eventually put out by 14 fire engines. The cause of the fire is under investigation. According to local media, there were over 8,000 fire accidents i...

BEIJING - DECEMBER 19: A Chinese national flag is installed at a worker's dormitory compound at a construction site of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on December 19, 2006 in Beijing, China. Beijing's 2008 Olympic organizers said venues for the Olympics will be completed by the end of 2007, despite an ongoing graft investigation into top officials overseeing construction. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty ...

BEIJING - DECEMBER 19: A cyclist rides past a construction site of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on December 19, 2006 in Beijing, China. Beijing's 2008 Olympic organizers said venues for the Olympics will be completed by the end of 2007, despite an ongoing graft investigation into top officials overseeing construction. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - DECEMBER 19: A Chinese worker repairs his bicycle at a construction site of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on December 19, 2006 in Beijing, China. Beijing's 2008 Olympic organizers said venues for the Olympics will be completed by the end of 2007, despite an ongoing graft investigation into top officials overseeing construction. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - DECEMBER 19: A Chinese worker labours at a construction site of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on December 19, 2006 in Beijing, China. Beijing's 2008 Olympic organizers said venues for the Olympics will be completed by the end of 2007, despite an ongoing graft investigation into top officials overseeing construction. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - DECEMBER 19: Chinese workers make a deal from a dormitory compound at a construction site of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on December 19, 2006 in Beijing, China. Beijing's 2008 Olympic organizers said venues for the Olympics will be completed by the end of 2007, despite an ongoing graft investigation into top officials overseeing construction. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - DECEMBER 19: Chinese workers labour at a construction site of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on December 19, 2006 in Beijing, China. Beijing's 2008 Olympic organizers said venues for the Olympics will be completed by the end of 2007, despite an ongoing graft investigation into top officials overseeing construction. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - DECEMBER 19: Chinese workers labour at a construction site of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on December 19, 2006 in Beijing, China. Beijing's 2008 Olympic organizers said venues for the Olympics will be completed by the end of 2007, despite an ongoing graft investigation into top officials overseeing construction. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - DECEMBER 19: Chinese workers labour at a construction site of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on December 19, 2006 in Beijing, China. Beijing's 2008 Olympic organizers said venues for the Olympics will be completed by the end of 2007, despite an ongoing graft investigation into top officials overseeing construction. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - DECEMBER 07: Chinese workers walk to lunch at a construction site of the National Stadium structure, still under construction for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, on December 7, 2006 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

BEIJING, CHINA - MARCH 10: (CHINA OUT) Workers are seen at a subway construction site on March 10, 2005 in Beijing, China. Three subway projects are under construction in order to prepare for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to ease the capital city's traffic pressure. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

BEIJING - AUGUST 14: A construction crane towers over a residential project at sunset August 14, 2006 in Beijing, China. China's government has issued yet another warning to its 31 provinces to rein in their red-hot economies, according to state media. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - AUGUST 14: Construction cranes tower over a residential project as work continues at sunset August 14, 2006 in Beijing, China. China's government has issued yet another warning to its 31 provinces to rein in their red-hot economies, according to state media. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - AUGUST 14: Construction cranes tower over a residential project as work continues at sunset August 14, 2006 in Beijing, China. China's government has issued yet another warning to its 31 provinces to rein in their red-hot economies, according to state media. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - JULY 14: International media being given a tour at the construction site of the National Stadium on July 14, 2006 in Beijing, China. The National Stadium nicknamed the "Bird's Nest" due to the shape of the structure will be the main venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, track and field events and football finals. (Photo by Cancan Chu/Getty I...

BEIJING - JULY 14: Construction workers accommodation by the construction site of the National Stadium on July 14, 2006 in Beijing, China. The National Stadium nicknamed the "Bird's Nest" due to the shape of the structure will be the main venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, track and field events and football finals. (Photo by Cancan Chu/Getty Image...

BEIJING - JULY 14: Chinese security guards watch over the construction site of the National Stadium on July 14, 2006 in Beijing, China. The National Stadium nicknamed the "Bird's Nest" due to the shape of the structure will be the main venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, track and field events and football finals. (Photo by Cancan Chu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - JULY 14: A view over the construction site of the National Stadium on July 14, 2006 in Beijing, China. The National Stadium nicknamed the "Bird's Nest" due to the shape of the structure will be the main venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, track and field events and football finals. (Photo by Cancan Chu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - JULY 14: A Chinese worker on a bicycle by the construction site of the National Stadium on July 14, 2006 in Beijing, China. The National Stadium nicknamed the "Bird's Nest" due to the shape of the structure will be the main venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, track and field events and football finals. (Photo by Cancan Chu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - JULY 14: A Chinese worker cuts metal on the construction site of the National Stadium on July 14, 2006 in Beijing, China. The National Stadium nicknamed the "Bird's Nest" due to the shape of the structure will be the main venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, track and field events and football finals. (Photo by Cancan Chu/Getty Images)

BEIJING - JULY 14: Chinese workers at the construction site of the National Stadium on July 14, 2006 in Beijing, China. The National Stadium nicknamed the "Bird's Nest" due to the shape of the structure will be the main venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, track and field events and football finals. (Photo by Cancan Chu/Getty Images)

BEIJING, CHINA - JUNE 20: (CHINA OUT) Workers work at the construction site of the National Olympic Stadium on June 20, 2006 in Beijing, China. The main body of the National Olympic Stadium for 2008 Olympics, dubbed the "bird nest" because of its unique design, will be finished at end of this year, according to local media. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)