On the Scene in Beijing -- Great Wall Cycling, Czech Gold

The men's road cycling event toured the Great Wall today. (Getty Images)Czech Dashes China’s First Gold Hope

The Czech Republic robs China of the first gold medal of the Games. Katerina Emmons won the women's 10m air rifle in Beijing Saturday beating Chinese favorite Du Li.

Emmons also broke Du’s Olympic final record, shooting 103.5 in the final to give her a total of 503.5.

China picks up its first gold medal in women’s weightlifting. Reigning world champion Chen Xiexia won the 48kg category with an aggregate score of 212kg, an Olympic record. She also set an Olympic record in the clean and jerk with 117kg.

"The first gold medal for China is good, but other gold medals will be good too, and they mean the same," Chen says.

Cyclists Hit the Wall

Samuel Sanchez of Spain is the gold medalist for the cycling road race, an event that passed by some of China’s most famous landmarks.

He finished the race in 6 hours, 43 minutes, 49 seconds.

The race covered 102.6 kilometers, beginning in central Beijing, passing the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Lama Temple, the Summer Palace and then out to the Great Wall.

The women’s road race is Sunday and the time trial event on a loop at the Great Wall will be held August 13.

Jury’s Still Out on Beijing’s Environmental Legacy

The executive director of the United Nations Environment Program says the ultimate success of the Beijing Games can only be judged on meeting legacy objectives in the years ahead.

"I have no hesitation in saying that commitments made seven years ago have in large part been fulfilled," Achim Steiner tells a press conference Saturday.

Applauding the Chinese government’s $17 billion green drive ahead of the Games, he says "ultimately we have to wait until the Games are over and visitors have left Beijing".

In a few months time, UNEP will deliver a more accurate assessment of Beijing’s environmental achievements in a Post-Games Environmental Report.

Announcing Chinese basketball great Yao Ming as UNEP’s first ever "Environmental Champion", Steiner notes that China’s accomplishments are more impressive against the backdrop of an economy growing at a staggering 10-12% per annum.

"This city can without doubt claim to be a better city to live in as a result of hosting the Games," he told reporters. Steiner also serves as also serves as the UN’s Under-Secretary General.

He praises Beijing’s transport and environmental initiatives including the expansion of the public transport network with three new subway lines and the introduction of some 3,800 compressed natural gas buses - one of the largest fleets of any city in the world.

His comments came after an assessment of the city’s environmental achievements this week including the 27 hi-tech monitoring stations designed to analyze air pollutants and forecast weather conditions for the Games.

Steiner admits that the city’s pollution levels have been increasing in the past few days but says they are stabilizing and maintains there is no current threat to athletes’ health.

The IOC will determine whether any sports event is postponed due to poor air quality during the Games, based on daily meteorological reports.

Pro-Tibet Protester Ejected

A pro-Tibet protester is removed from the Hong Kong equestrian venue on the first day of the Olympics.

Christina Chan, a university student, concealed a Tibetan flag under a Canadian flag and tried to show it during the dressage event. Security guards seized her and she was ejected from the Sha Tin venue along with another protester.

IOC rules prevent the display of flags of countries not competingStudent Christina Chan is ejected from the Sha Tin equestrian venue. (Getty Images)in the Games.

"She was sort of disturbing other spectators around her, which is against the house rules," equestrian event spokesman Mark Pinkstone said.

Chan was also arrested by police in May for brandishing a Tibetan flag during the torch relay.

Friday’s opening ceremony passed off peacefully in the Chinese capital, but three U.S. activists were reportedly arrested after holding a pro-Tibet protest.

Learning Curve for London 2012

Organizers of London 2012 insist they are not daunted by the task of following Beijing's spectacular Olympic opening ceremony when it stages the Games.

Speaking after the lavish ceremony at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest, Britain’s Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell says: "We should not be intimidated."

"We will do something just as wonderful and just as extraordinary. Beijing has done something absolutely stupendous that everyone there will remember for the rest of their lives.

"It is our turn now and we look forward to it. It is a huge challenge but it is one that we will rise to and emulate."

London 2012 CEO Paul Deighton also says LOCOG can stage a similarly spectacular opening ceremony in four years time.

"We are not daunted; we are really, really excited, what an inspirational show. We can't wait to get started on our welcome to London in four years' time," he was quoted by the BBC.

Deighton, who presented to the IOC Session this week, says: "Everyone expected an opening ceremony of epic proportion and China did not disappoint, including a most spectacular finale.

"We now look forward to 16 days of sport, and, for us, 16 days of learning as we prepare for the next Summer Games in London."

VANOC talks Beijing Opening

Vancouver 2010 CEO John Furlong raves about the Beijing opening ceremony and calls it the best four-hour experience he has ever had.

"I went there with high expectations. They were completely surpassed," Furlong says. "They did a marvelous job of weaving their themes together of technology, people and the environment. They told a wonderful story."

VANOC’s ceremonies executive producer David Atkins did not attend, but Furlong says his head "will be spinning with all the wonders of that show."

Furlong declines to speculate whether Vancouver would follow Beijing’s example and photograph ticketholders at ceremonies.

"That is a matter for the RCMP and security services to determine," he says. "That isn’t to say you won’t see new technologies, we’ll be working to make the stadium safe and secure and efficient and fast."

U.S President Bush Visits Softball TeamU.S. President George W. Bush visits Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground Saturday. (Getty Images)

Under heavy security Saturday, President Bush meets with the U.S. softball team at Fengtai Softball Field in Beijing to wish the players success in the Olympic competition. Deputy venue security manager Liu Jiang says the president took a turn on the pitching mound and at the plate to test his talents against the U.S. players.

Written by Mark Bisson and Bob Mackin in Beijing.