BMX (Bicycle Motocross), the Olympic newcomer's semifinals and finals, scheduled for Thursday, have been postponed due to rain, announced a Games official on Thursday.

"I have been informed by UCI and the Games organizers that the ( BMX) course is not fit for the race because of the rain, so it had been postponed, " said Hu Yuke, media manager of Laoshan stadium.

"When will the race start again, all depends on the weather. Until now, We still did not know when it will be OK for the race," Hu added.

BMX made its OLympic debut on Wednesday in Beijing as 16 women and men cruised into semifinals respectively.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2008)