The days, hours, minutes and seconds remaining before opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing are now displayed on a 46-foot tall countdown clock at Tiananmen Square. Officially unveiled on September 21, the clock stands near the entrance of the National Museum at the eastern edge of the Square.
With this installation, there should be little question about the importance the Chinese government has placed on the Olympic games. Two other events have been honored with a countdown clock in this prominent location: the return to Chinese sovereignty of Hong Kong on July 1, 1997 and Macao on December 20, 1999.
