One of the great things about the Olympics is the national pride that is evident throughout the Games. Back home, I'm hearing that the American public has gotten into the Michael Phelps phenomenon and his chase for eight gold medals. It's one of those times where team ties don't split the public. Rather, there's one rooting interest: Back the Stars and Stripes.

In Beijing today, it was cool to see China go crazy over a gold-silver finish in the women's 200 butterfly by Liu Zige and Jiao Liuyang. Both women went under the former world record and the pool was hopping with excitement. The Chinese were on their feet, overjoyed to see their countrywomen bring pride to the host nation. The fans were even better during the medals ceremony.

There's more to the Olympics than the competition. That much was clear today.

Being here, I feel very fortunate to be witnessing one of the greatest athletic feats in history - not just Olympic history. Hopefully, those of you watching the Games from back home have had the chance to appreciate what Michael Phelps is doing.

After this morning, Phelps is up to five gold medals and five world records. He became the most decorated gold medalist in Olympic lore today, raising his career total to 11 and his overall medal count to 13. Three more gold medals could be on the way and the chance of winning eight gold and passing Mark Spitz's seven from Munich in 1972 is looking more likely.

As Phelps gets closer to history, take a minute and really appreciate what this 23-year-old is doing. We may never see anything like it again. He's dominating a sport like no one ever has - not on a diamond, court, field or course. He's like Moses. The water does what he says. Hope you can see that.

This week was supposed to bring gold for Brendan Hansen in the 100 breaststroke. That was his goal, one that didn't come to fruition after a fourth-place finish in the event. Then again, the Olympics are not always about victory.

After his race, Hansen stood in front of a horde of media and didn't make a single excuse. He credited the winner, Japan's Kosuke Kitajima, for producing a superb race at a critical time. Hansen just said he wasn't firing on all cylinders, and that's the way it goes from time to time. He also promised there would be more to come in the future, that he planned to regain the world records that Kitajima has taken during the past month.

Hansen will go down as one of the best athletes in Delaware County history, maybe the best. His portfolio is stacked with that many accolades. But the thing he doesn't get credit for enough, that might be his defining characteristic is the way he carries himself: Honest, appreciative of his teammates, coaches and family, charitable. Those traits are gold worthy.

The second day of the 2008 Olympics will be remembered not for the start of athletic competition, but for a killing at the Drum Tower. Upon arriving at the Water Cube for the first session of swimming, I learned of the murder of a family member of a United States assistant volleyball coach. Another family member was seriously injured.

The act was random and surprising for a country that has minimal attacks on foreigners due to steep penalties for those crimes. While it is obviously a sad start to the Games, hopefully no one will blame the Chinese as a whole or suggest the Games should never have been held here. Nothing could have prevented what occurred, an unfortunate fact when facing someone with a death wish and disregard for life. After his attack, the killer committed suicide by leaping to his death off the Drum Tower.

This nation has put on one heck of a show to this point and will certainly continue to do so. Let's not blame China for this horrible turn of events.

Well, I have arrived in China and am preparing for my first session of competition later tonight. It's just before 7 a.m. on Saturday here, so you folks are actually still more than an hour away from catching the tape-delayed broadcast of the Opening Ceremony to the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing. You will not be disappointed.

The people here are showing so much pride in hosting the Games and there was an amazing buzz throughout the city last night. The reaction to the fireworks was unique. Imagine the Running of the Bulls, but with people. The second the fireworks started going off, hordes of people went sprinting toward the Olympic Stadium to catch a better view.

The venues, which have been hyped leading into the Games, are sensational. The Water Cube, where I'll be spending a good deal of time, really does look like it's encased in colorful bubble wrap. I'll be checking in when I can and will drop little tidbits of info along the way. Any questions, feel free to fire away.

In about 24 hours, I'll board my flight at Newark Liberty Airport (Central Jersey living gets me away from the mess that is Philly International) and head for Beijing, site of the Olympic Games. It's been a lifelong dream to attend the Olympics, and to get the chance to cover the event is going to be unreal.

Aside from filing a handful of columns from China, I'll be following the exploits of Haverford High graduate Brendan Hansen, who will race for gold medals in the 100 breaststroke and as a member of the United States' 400 medley relay. Four years ago, Hansen left the Athens Games with three medals and more hardware is expected.

Be sure to check in periodically during the week for updates from Beijing.