Good night, Beijing!

"Beijing 2008 – All track and field finals to be held in evening sessions
Thursday 26 October 2006
At the end of a three day meeting of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Coordination Commission in Beijing, China, earlier today the competition schedule of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, Beijing 2008 (8 August to 24 August 2008) was agreed.

The Commission was joined by IOC President, Jacques Rogge, who was in the Chinese capital to view progress for himself ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games, and to meet Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on a range of Games related matters.

IOC Coordination Commission Chairman Hein Verbruggen confirmed that the finals of all track and field stadium events will take place in the evening competition sessions, and that this will commence at 1900hrs local time each day (GMT + 8hrs).

However, the men’s and women’s marathons will start at 0700hrs local time.

The morning sessions in which the most of the qualification rounds of the track and field schedule will take place will commence at 0900hrs local time each day.

The full timetable of the athletics events of Beijing 2008 will now go for approval by the IAAF Council whose next sitting takes place on 13 and 14 November 2006 in Monaco."

This is an interesting arrangement. I wonder why... Is it because of USA or because of the weather?