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 It's another milestone on the countdown clock.  In 50 days from today, the Olympic Games here in Beijing will officially be launched.  For billions of people around the world, 50 days from now will mark the start of just over 2 1/2 weeks of world-quality athletics, with nations around the world rooting on their country’s athletes.  And for the average person around, the Olympics may seem like a simple thing.  Stadiums and venues are built.  The athletes arrive and compete.  Medals are handed out.  But in reality, the work behind the scenes to make the Olympics seem that simple is immense, with tens of thousands of people involved in an almost incomprehensible amount of activities and jobs. Ni hao, you're listening to People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  To mark the 50 day countdown to the Olympics today, we’ll head behind the scenes to find out a bit more of what it takes to pull off a successful Games.  So let’s get started.

(Music)

First, we’ll be discussing what its like to set up all the technology so that athletes, Games officials and media outlets all have access to the latest information.  Mr. Jeremy Hore is the Chief Technology Integrator for Atos Origin.

(Dialogue with Atos)

And after a short break, we’ll talk to a major athletic apparel company which is outfitting the athletes with the latest technology.  Stay with us.

(Promo)

Ni hao, you’re listening to People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  I’m Paul James in Beijing.  On this, the 50 day countdown to the Olympics, we’re going behind the scenes of the games to get a bit more insight of just how involved an Olympiad is.  For what its like for a major corporation when it comes to dealing with athletes and their specific needs we’re joined on the line now by Ms. Ginger Zhu, spokesperson for Nike here in China.

(Dialogue with Zhu)

And with that we close out this edition of People In the Know, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  With the countdown clock now down to 50, one should expect that the last-minute preparations for the Olympics will become more and more intense and exciting as each day rolls by.  Questions or comments for us can be sent to crieng@crifm.com.  For Executive Director Zhao Yang and Producer Yang Jingjie, I’m Paul James in Beijing.  We’ll talk to you tomorrow.