SHANGHAI - A record 4.4 billion people, about two-thirds of the world's population, watched the Beijing Olympic events from August 8 to 17, making the Games the most watched in history, the Nielsen Company said on Sunday.

The company drew TV audience data from 38 countries and regions, including the host nation China, the United States, Brazil, South Africa, Italy and Australia.

The viewing numbers for the Beijing Games had already exceeded those achieved by the 2004 Athens Olympics, which attracted 3.9 billion viewers. The Sydney Games in 2000 had 3.6 billion viewers.

The company said the Beijing Games closing ceremony on Sunday night looked "all set to break further records."