Day Two - Birds Nest Souper - Great Athletics

Shaking off our jet lag this morning, we were rewarded by a great breakfast and a pure blue sky - no smog in sight. Heading to Tianenmen Square, we had a very friendly welcome, even from the security guards, but not from Mao who was just lying around in his Mausoleum (groan!). We headed off for the Forbidden City and one mile later we had traversed only up to the inner gates and decided to save the rest of it for tomorrow. Everything about Beijing is huge!

Heading back to the hotel - Ben forgot to look four ways at a road crossing and pulled back by Ian, just managed not to be hit by a motorised bicycle.

Leaving early, our taxi dropped us off near the Birds Nest stadium for an evening of Athletics - what a magnificent building - 91,000 capacity and wrapped in an amazing stainless steel mesh. We walked all around it, taking in a brilliant view of the pulsating blue Aquatics Centre, next door.

The athletics were great - the Womens Pole Vault with a new Olympic Record set by Yelena Isinbayeva and Long Jump Final won by Panama's Irving Saladino (with GB in 10th). Usain Bolt easily won his 200m heat and Angelo Taylor led home the field in the men's 400m hurdles with USA taking all three medals. GB is still third overall - what a result so far! See the medal table top right of this page.

Heading back to the hotel was nerve racking - we couldn't see any signs to the Tube, so we competed with thousands of others for a taxi. Luckily one arrived and we grabbed it, getting back to the hotel tonight at 10.30pm.

Tomorrow is the football semi-finals - Brazil vs Argentina and we can't wait!