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8 Leading Off

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• A home for Barry Bonds
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128 Point After
Withstanding a test of time by Chris Ballard

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PHOTOGRAPH BY SIMON BRUTY

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2008 | OLYMPIC PREVIEW

44
Let It Begin
Anyone out to spoil the show will have to reckon with 1.3 billion proud Chinese
By ALEXANDER WOLFF
-OPEN-
Olympic Green Foldout

58
China's Athletes
The Games will let the world see a new side of the host nation's Olympians
By MARY NICOLE NAZZARO
• The Pressure on Liu Xiang
By TIM LAYDEN

68
The Quest
According to Chinese numerology, 8 is the most auspicious number. What Michael Phelps must do to win eight golds
By SUSAN CASEY

78
Team USA
America's new Olympians hail from 47 states and include identical twins, soldiers, a cancer patient and a 58-year-old CEO
By BRIAN CAZENEUVE

92
Redeem Team
After failing to win a major basketball title in eight years, the U.S. has taken a new (and foreign) approach
By ALEXANDER WOLFF
• U.S. Women

98
The Phenom
The record holder and the world champ were set to duel for the Olympic 100-meter title. Then along came Usain Bolt
By TIM LAYDEN

104
What's New
From a disabled swimmer to revised gymnastics scoring to three debuting countries, the Games will offer a range of firsts
By REBECCA SUN

109
Medal Picks
Who will reach the winner's podium in all 302 events; and a guide to some of the international athletes to watch
By BRIAN CAZENEUVE

PHOTO

PHOTOGRAPH OF MICHAEL PHELPS BY SIMON BRUTY

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SI IMAGING

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COURTESY OF BOCOG (MEDALS)

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BOCOG/GETTY IMAGES (RIBBONS)

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QI HENG/XIHUA PRESS/CORBIS

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GÉRARD RANCININ

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SIMON BRUTY

TWO PHOTOS

MICHAEL O'NEILL

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WALTER IOOSS JR.

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HEINZ KLUETMEIER

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COURTESY OF BOCOG