Beijing 2008 Olympics and Marriage

Married Couples Participating in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

When the Beijing 2008 Olympics started on 08/08/08, thousands of couples got married, one couple's long-lasting marriage ended in tragedy, and several successful sports couples became well known.

08/08/08 Wedding Date

314,224 -- Couples who married in China on Aug. 8, a one-day record for marriages, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. In Beijing, 15,646 couples were married, 23 times the daily average, according to China Daily."
Source: Richard Deitsch, "Inside Olympics", SportsIllustrated.cnn.com, 8/12/08.

Tragedy at the Olympics

Tragedy struck the Olympic Games when a long-lasting married couple were attacked. Barbara and Todd Bachman of Minnesota decided to tour Beijing on the first day of the Olympics with their daughter Elisabeth McCutcheon. Barbara and Todd, both 61 years old, were stabbed by an assailant. Todd died from the stab wounds. Barbara is recovering.

Married Couples Participating in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Australia - Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks - Equestrian

Australia - Heath and Rozzie Ryan - Equestrian

Czech and US - Katerina Kurkova and Matthew Emmons - Shooting

Japan - Yoshitomo and Tani Ryoko - Baseball / Judo

South Africa - Michael and Elvira Wood - Fencing

US - David and Karen O'Connor - Equestrian