2008 and all that

1 The United Nations declared 2004 the International Year of Rice. In 2008 it is the turn of which carbohydrate?

2 This year will see the Olympics held in Beijing. What do the rings on the Olympic flag represent?

3 Which jockey, convicted in Hong Kong over a tips-for-bets scam, will be eligible for parole this year?

4 Which country makes up the 'group of death' at this year's UEFA Euro 2008 football finals with Italy, France and the Netherlands?

5 The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, to be released in May, is the fourth instalment of which movie series?

6 Chinese astronauts are due to undertake what task from the Shenzhou VII spacecraft this year?

7 The UAE's Burj Dubai (left) will have what claim to fame when it is finished this year?

8 This year we will see the election of the a) 44th b) 48th or c) 50th president of the United States?

9 Expo 2008 will take place in June, in which city?

10 Two Major League Baseball teams will say farewell to their iconic stadiums this year. Which teams are they?

Solution 1 The potato 2 The five continents brought together by the Olympic movement 3 Chris Munce 4 Romania 5 Indiana Jones 6 Their first space walk 7 It will be the world's tallest building 8 a) 44th 9 Zaragoza, Spain 10 New York Mets (Shea Stadium) and New York Yankees (Yankee Stadium).