The 2008 Summer Olympics are finally here! If you’re as
captivated by this spectacle of talent and athleticism you’ll love the new interactive
Olympics tracker available on the New York Times website. Now, you can explore the wide range
of sports being played and find exactly when events are scheduled to take
place. You can even create a list of your favorite sports to ensure that you don’t
miss a second of the action!

The website also allows you to access a really interesting
map that displays the countries of the world based on the number of metals
they have won at each Olympic Games. Try
this: first click on the 1924 Olympic map, and then go to the map for 2004. You
should notice quite a difference.

I, for one, can’t get enough of the Beijing Olympics. I
think it’s fascinating the way the event is bringing attention to important
global issues including human rights, climate change, and the widespread use of
performance-enhancing drugs. And then, of course, there are those amazing
stories of passion and dedication that have the power to bring people from every
corner of the globe together!

That said, be sure not let this historic event pass you by.
As you can see, there are plenty of tools and sites that can help you make the
most of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Just be careful, if you spend too much time
on these resources you might miss another post from us here at My Wonderful
World. Happy watching!