Countdown to the Games

Italian gymnast Lia Parolari chalks the uneven parallel bars during practice.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. gymnast Nastia Liukin receives instructions from her coach one day before the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson practices on the balance beam in front of coach Liang Chow during practice.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. gymnastics team members from left, Shawn Johnson, Chellsie Memmel and Nastia Liukin chalk up their hands before practicing on the uneven parallel bars.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Field hockey teams from Pakistan and New Zealand compete in a warm-up match at the Beijing Olympic Green Hockey Stadium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Security dogs relax before going to work outside the National Indoor Stadium a day before the start of the Beijing Olympics.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. gymnast Justin Spring flips off the high bar during practice in preparation for the Beijing Olympics.

Full Olympics coverage at the Ticket to Beijing blog.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. gymnast Jonathan Horton stares at the parallel bars after falling during practice at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing.

Full Olympics coverage at the Ticket to Beijing blog.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. gymnast Morgan Hamm practices on the pommel horse.

Full Olympics coverage at the Ticket to Beijing blog.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. gymnast Kai Wen Tan prepares for his routine on the parallel bars.

Full Olympics coverage at the Ticket to Beijing blog.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Australian synchronized diving teammates Robert Newberry, right, and Matthew Helm flip off the 10-meter platform during practice at Beijing’s National Aquatics Center.

Full Olympics coverage at the Ticket to Beijing blog.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Practice continues at Beijing’s National Aquatics Center, where the first medal competition isn’t until Sunday.

Full Olympics coverage at the Ticket to Beijing blog.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Australian diver Alexandra Croak flips off the 10-meter platform during practice at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing.

Full Olympics coverage at the Ticket to Beijing blog.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Yao Ming, who stars for the Houston in the NBA, carries the Olympic torch past the portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, as the torch relay moves closer to the opening ceremonies Friday at the National Stadium.

Full Olympics coverage at the Ticket to Beijing blog.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Young dancers and a military band, wait for the arrival of the Olympic at Tiananmen Square.

Full Olympics coverage at the Ticket to Beijing blog.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Men painted gold for participation in the opening ceremonies watch from backstage at a Tiananmen Square reception Wednesday.

Full Olympics coverage at the Ticket to Beijing blog.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Crowds lined the streets Wednesday at Tianamen Square in Beijing, in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the Olympic torch as it makes its way to Friday’s opening ceremonies.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Young performers wait backstage at a reception in Tianamen Square in Beijing, before appearing in a program honoring the Olympic torch relay.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

A kayaking team from South Africa practices on the slalom course at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A kayaker practices on the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park slalom course.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

In keeping with the “feel-good” theme of these Olympic Games, hand-drawn courtesy signs line an underwater porthole as the synchronized swimming team from Japan works out its routine days before competition begins at the National Aquatics Center in the Olympic Green.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Japan’s synchronized swimming team works out its routine at the aquatics center in Beijing.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The Olympic flag flies over the Beijing Olympic Green Hockey Stadium four days before the Opening Ceremonies.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Bas Verwijlen of the Netherlands fencing team takes a break during a workout days before competition begins in the men’s individual epee at the Fencing Hall at the Olympic Green in Beijing.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Mamadou Keita, a fencer in the men’s individual sabre division, shows his patriotism for his home country of Senegal as he works out at the Fencing Hall.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Maartje Goderie of the Netherlands women’s field hockey team practices at the Beijing Olympic Green Hockey Stadium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Security personnel stand outside the National Stadium in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A security guard takes a break outside the National Stadium.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Entertainers wait outside the National Stadium during a rehearsal for the Opening Ceremonies of the Games.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A security guard stands outside the National Aquatics Center in Beijing.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A diver prepares for her jump during practice on the 10-meter platform, four days before the start of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Chinese and American divers are expected to dominate the competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Olympic workers near the National Stadium in Beijing walk past a mural of American swimmer Michael Phelps, who will compete in as many as eight events during the Summer Games. Phelps is expected to challenge the record of seven gold medals earned by American swimmer Mark Spitz at the 1972 Munich Games.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A swimmer glides through the water during practice for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which officially open on Friday and run through Aug. 26.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Swimmers from all over the world share cramped lanes in the pool during practice for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

An Olympic diver stretches in the water during practice in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Games. Swimming and diving will be two competitions that help usher in the Olympics this summer.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A volunteer waits for the start of swimming practice at the aquatic center in Beijing. The 2008 Summer Games kick off Friday with the opening ceremony.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The National Stadium, nicknamed the “bird’s nest,” is illuminated at night.

Full Olympics coverage at the Ticket to Beijing blog.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)