The program for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing has been finalized and includes 28 sports made up of 302 events, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said.

In Beijing, the number of women's events will be 127, an increase of two events from the Athens Games in 2004, and it will see approximately 130 additional female athletes competing in Beijing 2008, the IOC said in a statement.

There are several new events added to the program for Beijing 2008. They include the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, men's and women's BMX, women's foil and sabre team events, men's and women's marathon swimming 10 km events, and the replacement of the doubles events in table tennis by team events.

The Beijing Olympics will take place Aug. 8-24, 2008. About 10,500 athletes are expected to participate in the Games with around 20,000 accredited media bringing the Games to the world.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2006)