Sunday, August 17, 2008

GB Athletics ~ Fighting to stay in the limelight...

Athletics must fight to keep No.1 status
ASK people to list their favourite Olympic memories and the vast majority will inevitably include athletics. Daley Thompson, Kelly Holmes, Bob Beamon, Cathy Freeman, Coe and Ovett – track and field moments dominate the proceedings.

For how much longer, though? Athletics has always been the No.1 Olympic sport, but in the eyes of the British sporting public the traditional hierarchy could be turned on its head if the GB athletics team fail to deliver in Beijing.

Britons in other sports have come out firing on all cylinders during the first few days of the Games. As I write this, Nicole Cooke has become Britain’s first “gold pedallist” of 2008 and her team-mates in the GB cycling squad are expected to continue the medal rush this weekend when the action in the velodrome begins.

Elsewhere, in the pool earlier this week Rebecca Adlington became Britain’s first Olympic women’s swimming champion for almost half a century. British cyclists, swimmers, rowers, sailors, triathletes and boxers will only be stronger in 2012, too.

So the message is clear to British track and field athletes this coming week. You’d better get winning, or athletics’ status as the premier Olympic sport will be under serious jeopardy.

And he's dome it!


Michael Phelps wins another gold today to bring his total to 8!
Greatest swimmer ever!
Greatest Olympian ever!
Greatest athlete ever?

Lighning BOLT

Sunday, August 10, 2008

The child is Father of the Man


Walking the Walk

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Rowing to Gold

GB rowers backed to strike gold in Beijing.................

Sir Steve Redgrave thinks Britain's rowers will win seven medals in Beijing. GB Rowing's target is more modest: four rowing medals, of any colour, will secure their Lottery funding

Stabbing in Beijing............

The father of a former American Olympian was stabbed to death while sightseeing in Beijing with his wife on Saturday, stunning tourists and local residents.
A knife-wielding man attacked the two U.S. tourists at a popular Beijing attraction, killing Todd Bachman, the father of volleyball 2004 Olympian Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman.
Elisabeth Bachman's mother, Barbara, was also attacked. She survived but suffered life-threatening injuries and is in hospital. The Bachmans' tour guide was also injured and taken to hospital.
The Bachmans are the in-laws of U.S. men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon, their daughter Elisabeth's husband.
Their attacker, a Chinese national, committed suicide after the incident. He threw himself off the second level of the Drum Tower, a 13th century structure about eight kilometres from the main Olympic site.
"For all intents, it appears to be a random attack by a deranged man," an American member of the International Olympic Committee, Jim Easton, told The Associated Press.
"The only thing we've heard is they were not identifiable except for a small volleyball pin which would probably be invisible to a guy."
American tourist Lynn Ledford said she hoped the incident did not take away from China's hospitality.
"I hope something like this doesn't end up being a stain on how China has been to us," she said.
Denise Carpenter, a Canadian tourist visiting the area, said Beijing was no less safe than any other major city.
"It doesn't matter if you're in Beijing or Toronto or London," she told CTV News. "Things like this are going to happen and you just have to be careful."
The attacks have devastated the U.S. volleyball team.
"They are deeply saddened and shocked," Darryl Seibel, a spokesman for the U.S. Olympic Committee said.
Team member Logan Tom broke down crying while discussing the attack.
"God, we all love Wiz," she said. "It's hard to put it in words. That's not something that's supposed to happen."
The midday attack is considered particularly shocking because violent crime against foreigners is rare in China, although Canadian model Diana O'Brien, 22, was murdered in Shanghai a month ago. Security in Beijing itself has been further tightened for the Olympics.

Xinhua, China's official news agency, identified the attacker as Tang Yongming, 47, from the eastern city of Hangzhou.
Interpol told AP that Tang appears to have been recently divorced. The news service reported he had not been seen by relatives for two months.
With a report by CTV's Lisa LaFlamme in Beijing and files from The Associated Press

Which Canadian won the most medals at a single Games?
Test yourself

Related Stories
Host country China wins two gold medals
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Sports psychologists help Olympians cope

Video
CTV News: Lisa LaFlamme on the fatal knife attack
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2:02

CTV News: Steve Chao reports on the Olympic protests
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1:34

Michael Phelps ~ What an athlete!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael Phelps ~Athlete Profile

On track to win 8 golds in the Beijing games!!!!!

Set four individual world records and won seven gold medals at the 2007 World Championships to become the winningest athlete in World Championship history.
In 2004, became first athlete ever to win eight medals (six gold) at a non-boycotted Olympic Games.
His eight medals tie 1980 USSR gymnast Alexandr Dityatin for most medals by an athlete in a single Olympics.
2003 Sullivan Award winner, becoming the 10th swimmer to be honored as the top amateur athlete in the country.
Only man to win five U.S. National titles at the same Championships.
Only man to ever win a U.S. National title in three different strokes at one national championship.
Youngest male Olympian since 1932 (2000 Olympics).
Youngest man (15 years, nine months) to set a world record, breaking 200m fly mark at the 2001 Spring Nationals.
Earned the award for Swimmer of the Year for a third time in 2004.
2004 - Gold 100m FL, 200m FL, 200m IM, 400m IM, 400m MR, 800m FR-R; Bronze 200m FR & 400m FR-R

Cooke caters for British appetite!

Cooke serves up British gold
Welsh cyclist becomes 200th Brit to top the podium at Olympics
Last Updated 10th August 2008

Cooke: First British gold in Beijing
Also see
Results
Schedule
Medal Table
Team GB News
Betting

Nicole Cooke claimed Great Britain's first gold medal in Beijing with an impressive victory in the women's cycling road race.
The 25-year-old from Glamorgan came home first in a sprint finish involving five competitors following a 126km ride.
Cooke's victory makes up for her disappointing fifth-placed finish in Athens four years ago and means she is the 200th Brit to win Olympic gold.
Sweden's Emma Johansson won the silver and Tatiana Guderzo of Italy finished third to claim the bronze.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Something wrong here ~ Gavin case raises serious issues & questions

Gavin withdrawal under scrutiny

Gavin has now flown home from Team GB's training camp in Macau.
UK Sport is to launch an investigation after Great Britain medal hopeful Frankie Gavin had to pull out of the Olympics at the last minute.
The lightweight world amateur boxing champion was one of Britain's brightest medal hopes in China but he withdrew after failing to make his weight.
The 22-year-old had benefited from Lottery funding worth £70,000 a year in the run-up to the Olympics.
UK Sport said it was the boxer's responsibility to make the weight.


Gavin's Lottery funding included a £25,000 annual payment with the rest going on support services such as coaching, sports medical expertise and dietician's advice.

"We will review the sport post-Games as a matter of course, and not about just one individual," said the UK Sport spokesman.
"Clearly, this will be an issue for the boxing review.
"We do think he has trained incredibly hard and always had the right support but ultimately only he has responsibility for the weight that he is."

GB boxing coach Terry Edwards refuses to apportion blame.

Britain's boxing head coach Terry Edwards defended his decision to withdraw Gavin after the fighter was 3lb (1.36kg) over his 60kg mark.
"I felt if I pushed it any further there would have been a serious health risk," he said. "It was the hardest decision I have ever had to make in boxing."
But nutritionist Kerry Kayes, who had worked with Gavin in the build-up to Beijing, said team officials should be blamed for his early exit.
"It's simply criminal that he's not going to the Olympics," Kayes, who has also worked with Ricky Hatton, told The Guardian. "I can only guess that some real errors have been made and that Frankie has been let down."
"What happened has cost Frankie Gavin a million pounds. That's how much they were saying an Olympic gold medal would have been worth to him if he turned pro straight after the Games. And it's just been ruined now."


BBC OLYMPICS BLOG
All that is certain is a young man will be flying home now with a bag full of regrets rather than the gold medal many thought was his for the taking

BBC Sport's Matt SlaterKayes said he had been denied the chance to work with Gavin in Macau by British amateur boxing officials and was sure he could have helped the fighter reach his weight.
"I guarantee that I would have got Frankie Gavin to make the weight," he added.
"I'm the guy who starts working with Ricky Hatton when he rolls into the gym, weighing 185 pounds, and I get him to shift 45 pounds in time to make the weight every time before every fight."
Amateur Boxing Association chief executive Paul King said: "ABAE will launch an internal investigation into the circumstances leading up to [Gavin's] withdrawal, which is a massive blow to our gold medal hopes, and to our essential UK Sport and lottery funding."

Thursday, August 7, 2008

US Defeated in China........

Norway 2, United States 0

Olympic Competition Opens With a Defeat for U.S.
The first appearance by the Americans in a major international tournament under Coach Pia Sundhage ended disastrously on Wednesday with a defeat to Norway.

By JERÉ LONGMAN
Published: August 6, 2008

QINHUANGDAO, China — When Pia Sundhage became head coach of the United States women’s soccer team late last year, she serenaded her discouraged players by singing “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”

Apparently they are not changing quickly enough.

The first appearance by the Americans in a major international tournament under Sundhage ended disastrously on Wednesday with a 2-0 loss to Norway in an opening-round match of the Beijing Olympics.

BBC TV Olympics Schedules 2008

BBC TV Olympics schedule
All the details of what you can watch, where and when from the Olympics with BBC Sport.
Click the links below to download our planned daily coverage from Athens on BBC One and Two, and also on our interactive service via the red button on your remote control.
If you cannot access these documents, we will also be offering a detailed daily listings service on our Olympics website when the action gets under way in Athens.
TV SCHEDULES
Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Download the reader here
The complete schedule for the whole Games (3.2MB)
Friday 13 August (128KB)
Saturday 14 August (212KB)
Sunday 15 August (231KB)
Monday 16 August (226KB)
Tuesday 17 August (221KB)
Wednesday 18 August (229KB)
Thursday 19 August (221KB)
Friday 20 August (234KB)
Saturday 21 August (238KB)
Sunday 22 August (212KB)
Monday 23 August (232KB)
Tuesday 24 August (223KB)
Wednesday 25 August (216KB)
Thursday 26 August (234KB)
Friday 27 August (237KB)
Saturday 28 August (219KB)
Sunday 29 August (191KB)

GB's prospects!!

The Olympic games are all about participation we are told.
It's the taking part etc etc etc ...............

How many medals do you think GB will win?

Philip Studd looks over the GB athletes as they limber up for the Games.

Philip Studd
7 Aug 08, 03:55 AM
Macau
I hopped down to the Macau Athletics stadium on Tuesday, eager to check on the progress of our track and fielders.
This branch of the British team have taken their fair share of flak over recent years; by and large medals have been hard to come by.
Performance Director Dave Collins is expecting five in Beijing, and hoping for more.
The chief Gold medal hope is triple jumper Philips Idowu, freshly crowned world indoor champion, world leader and in the form of his life.
It is a rest day for the new star of the team, but it's not long before another name on Collins wish list rocks up.
Kelly Sotherton is a world class hepthathlete and a proven performer on the big stage.
She's won World Championship and Olympic medals before, and she well knows that in the absence of the all-conquering swede Carolina Kluft, it could be gold this time, but there's a slight flaw in the cunning plan - the javelin.
Sotherton struggles to throw the damned thing much further than 30m.
That's a serious hinderance in getting to the top of the rostrum and it's long been a sore point for Kelly, who shoots a suspicious glance at the media as we assemble our mini gazebo trackside to shelter from the searing sun, before she jogs off into the distance.
While Kelly limbers up, the men's 100m relay team are practicing their baton changes.
Standing two-a-breast and running (or rather walking fast) on the spot, they shuttle the aluminium tube back and forth with aplomb.
Realistically, the chance of an invdividual 100m medal is non-existant - none of these guys have run under 10 seconds - but Simeon Williamson, in the absence of Dwain Chambers the fastest Britain can muster and not short on self-belief, is sure they can retain their Olympic relay title.
"Were not as fast as the Americans, but we're better with the baton"
Before too long, another pair of medal contenders make their entrance.
Christine Ohuruogu looks reluctant to be filmed as she continues her quest to add Olympic 400m gold to the world title she won in such sensational fashion in Osaka last summer, when she just managed to hold off teammate Nicola Sanders, who trots onto the track with her.
Christine hasn't done much 400m running of late, preferring to work on her speed in the 200m, and frankly, it showed at last month's Crystal Palace Grand Prix where she beat Sanders, but by her own admission was "rubbish".
Then again her chief rival, americas Sanya Richards hasn't exactly been pulling up trees this year either, so all things are possible in Beijing.
Gerry Sutcliffe certainly hopes so.
The Sports Minister is braving the heat alongside us, and when I asked him about the importance of British success, he was rather more insistant than BOA Chief Executive Simon Clegg about the need for Britain to reach, and preferably exceed UK Sports stated target of 41 medals in China this summer.
There has been what Sutcliffe describes as a "massive investment" in Team GB and it's payback time. "Success is vital", he tells me." We'll evaluate immediately after Beijing."
Besides, I suspect Prime Minister Brown could do with an Olympic feel-good factor right now.
Philip Studd is a BBC reporter and commentator based at Team GB's pre-Olympics holding camp in Macau. Our FAQs should answer any questions you have.

Frankie Gavin leaves the Olympics

Even before the competition starts, our most promising of young hopefuls Frankie Gavin is leaving the Olympics. This superb boxer with a quality of performance which made him a certainty for a medal ~ probably a gold ~ has received a knock-down punch without even getting in the ring.

And the problem is not drugs, nor fitness but the simplest of things ~ getting his weight right for the competition.

He has weighed in too heavy for the division!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I ask you.....can you believe this? We send an athlete, a brilliant boxer to the Games and the coaching staff can't even enter him for the appropriate weight devision and/or can't prepare him to fight at that weight.

The mind boggles!!!!!!!!!!

Frankie Gavin ~ Weighs up his Future!

What Gadget does Frankie Gavin need more than any other?

Gavin fails in Games bid ~ British Gold Medal hope to miss Beijing after failing to make lightweight limit!

Gavin: Out of the Olympics

Frankie Gavin's Olympic dream is over after the world champion failed to make the lightweight limit. The 22-year-old had been one of Team GB's big gold medal hopes in Beijing having become Britain's first ever world amateur champion in Chicago in November.

However, Gavin had only boiled down to the 60kg division having campaigned at light-welterweight - even winning the European Amateur Championships at 64kgs in June. It was hoped he could drop down again for the Olympics. However having stayed at the Great Britain holding camp in Macao in a desperate bid to lose the final few pounds ahead of Friday's weigh-in, I’m afraid all his attempts were in vain.

So, the British Olympic Association faced with an overweight boxer, has now decided to pull Gavin out of the event with the Birmingham boxer still short of the limit. Terry Edwards, Gavin’s Olympic coach said, “It is the nature of our sport that we try and get our boxers to the top of their weight and it has been well documented that Frankie has struggled with this over recent months”.

So what does Gavin need ~ apart from a more alert Coach?

If Gavin’s a "gadget" person, he might appreciate the Tanita BC554 Ironman Innerscan Body Composition Monitor Elite (*est. $130) .

This pricey digital scale measures weight, body fat, body water, muscle mass, bone mass, metabolic age, visceral fat, physique rating and daily calorie intake. By the user's programming in age, gender, height, current weight and activity level, the Innerscan can calculate accurate measurements. The weight capacity is 330 pounds and the scale measures in pounds, kilograms and stone. Useful for a coaching staff that seems to have a very limited ability to read anything.
The scale can store data for up to four people. So, appropriate for the GB Boxing team which is around that number and getting smaller each day. The Innerscan also has a guest mode for visitors and an athlete mode for those on a rigorous fitness regimen. For most people this scale is probably overkill. Owner opinion is mixed, but mainly positive. A few owners complain that there really isn't a manual to show you how to use all the various features.
So what does Gavin need? ~ His very own Digital scale and a manual for the coaching staff.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

American cyclists apologise!!!

Beijing Olympics: American cyclists apologise for 'smog masks'
Four American cyclists who arrived at Beijing Airport with their faces covered by black respiratory masks have been forced to apologise to the Beijing Olympic organising committee (BOCOG).

By Simon Hart Last Updated: 12:51PM BST 06 Aug 2008

Controversy: Michael Friedman was one of four US cyclists who arrived in Beijing wearing a black respiratory mask. Photo: Reuters
"Those athletes regret that action and have written an apology to BOCOG on their own behalf," said Jim Scherr, chief executive of the United States Olympic Committee. "They now realise and understand how their actions were perceived by the host nation and by the organising committee".
He added: "It probably wasn't the most opportune time for these athletes to wear these masks. They were overly cautious."
Images and TV footage of the four riders - Mike Friedman, Sarah Hammer, Bobby Lea and Jennie Reed - were beamed all over the world on the day the International Olympic Committee went on the front foot on the subject of Beijing's pollution problem by claiming it had been exaggerated by the media.
The cyclists were later summoned to a meeting with the US Olympic Committee's head of sport, Steve Roush, where they agreed to apologise to their Chinese hosts.
Roush said: "Unfortunately, you never want to go to somebody else's place and cause any embarrassment, but in this case I think they did."
One of the four, track cyclist Lea, said that he and his colleagues had not intended to make a statement or protest about the air quality.
"We didn't realise the impact that wearing the masks would have," he said. "From our standpoint it was to take care of a perceived health risk. In reality it came across as offensive. We don't want to insult BOCOG or the Chinese public."
Sherr said that around 200 of the 596-strong American team had been issued with masks through their governing bodies but he believed improvements in the air quality in Beijing would mean they would not have to use them.
He added: "We would not prevent athletes if they want to wear a mask and feel it is in their best interests to do so. It is their right to do so."
The city remained covered with a murky haze for the third successive day today, with temperatures reaching a stifling 34C, though the official Air Quality Index rating of 85 was a slight improvement on the previous day.
A BOCOC spokesman said: "The conditions are not unfavourable at the moment and my understanding is that we are not going to be taking any extra measures."

Terrorist arrives from USA to Beijing Olympics

When I first saw this photo I thought an American terrorist had landed in Beijing to do his utmost at dispoiling the games. But hang on ~ he's an athlete ~ protesting against the pollution levels!!

Dalai Lama speaks about the games


Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama offers good wishes for Olympics
Press Trust of India8/6/2008 7:24:00 PM


Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Wednesday offered prayer and expressed good wishes for the success of Beijing Olympics starting on Friday.

"I would like to offer my greetings to the People's Republic of China, the organisers and the athletes participating in the forthcoming Olympics games in Beijing," said the Tibetan temporal head in a message released from the headquarters of Tibetan government in-exile Dharamsala.

"Right from the time of China's application to hold the Olympics Games, I have supported China's right to host the mega event," he said."This is a moment of great pride to the 1.3 billion Chinese people. These games should contribute to promoting the Olympic spirit of friendship, openness and peace. I send my prayers and good wishes for the success of this event," the Tibetan Noble laureate said.

The Tibetan leader's message for the success of the Olympics came at a time when his followers are holding agitations for permanent solution to the vexed Tibetan issue.Faced with widespread protests by the Tibetans, Chinese authorities had charged the Dalai Lama with instigating violent protests to sabotage the Olympics.

Link to the Olympics.......

May I suggest a link related to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games?

Our site:URL: http://www.2008chinaolympics.com

Title: Beijing Olympics

Please let me know if you want a link back.

Many thanks for your reply.Best Regards,Donchinaolympics8@gmail.com


August 6, 2008 12:06 PM

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Ping Pong ~ Not what it used to be.

Beijing, August 5: China still dominates the world at table tennis and its supremacy is unlikely to be challenged at the Olympics but the seeds of a decline may already have been sown in the parks and playgrounds of Beijing.
For many Chinese like 72-year-old retiree Xu Tianwu, table tennis is more than a game.
It is the national sport that brought glory to China from as early as the 1950s and even played a major role in international relations during the ping pong diplomacy period of the 1970s.
National team members are lionised, and former stars like Olympic and world champion Deng Yaping are household names.
"The reason so many Chinese consider our table tennis players to be heroes is because they bring honour and glory to China," said Xu.
"For me, ping pong keeps me happy and healthy," he said as he played his daily three-hour stint at one of the tables found in every Beijing park.
"I hope I'll still be playing when I am 80."
However, not far from the park where Xu plays his daily ping pong marathon, others are enjoying a different, more edgy experience in the Dongdan open-air basketball ground just east of central Tiananmen Square.
"Basketball lights up my life, it's the only fun for me and I play as much as I can," said Zhao Chao, 18, who says he puts in at least an hour on the court each day.
Image matters to younger Chinese -- and table tennis is seen more and more as the game of an older generation who had no other leisure choices.
The British-born game was imported into China in the early 20th century and became so popular that many Chinese believe that it is their own invention along with gunpowder and printing.
"Ping pong expresses the dexterity, speed and agility of the Chinese," said Xu.
Easy to learn and cheap to play, the sport gained a wide following after the founding of communist China in 1949. It brought China its first taste of international sporting glory with a world title in 1959.
Under late strongman Mao Zedong -- who launched the 1950s slogan "Develop a sports movement, stengthen the physical condition of the people" -- table tennis was the diplomatic tool for a rapprochement with Washington.
In 1971, Mao invited the US table tennis team to China for a series of friendly matches that ended a lengthy period of enmity and set the wheels in motion for the 1979 normalisation of US-China ties.
At the Beijing Olympics, table tennis, with four gold medals almost assured, is also the sport the could help the host nation dominate the medal standings for the first time ahead of the United States.
Even though Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming is likely to get widespread media attention, Pierre Justo, head of media and research at CSM Media Research/TNS Sport, says it is too early to write ping pong's epitaph.
Table tennis has to face up to some serious challenges, including the younger generation's growing affluence and their taste for other sports.
"But table tennis is still a major sport because unlike football and basketball, it touches every single Chinese person," he said.

Our Charlotte wants to build sandcastles with our Gavin ~ but they don't know where!

Charlotte Church to Marry on The Beach

By Adam Nutburn, August 5 2008


Charlotte Church will marry boyfriend Gavin Henson on the beach, she has revealed.
The singer-turned television presenter, 22, says although she and rugby player Gavin have a location in mind for the wedding, they haven't set a date.
She tells Britain's Hello! magazine, "We just don't want to [get married] at the moment. It will come in time – when we want to do it, not before. All those reports about Gavin being seen shopping for rings are completely untrue.
"I can confirm that we both think a wedding on a beach somewhere would be very romantic – when the time is right."
The couple, who have a ten-month old daughter, Ruby-Megan, are expecting another baby in November.
Charlotte added, "I knew that Gavin would be a good dad, but not this good. He's very focused. He even gets up when Ruby has a feed at night. I love everything about him. He's practically perfect – nice, kind, considerate, funny and serious when he has to be. He's got an amazing body, as well. I wait on him hand and foot. His mother spoiled him and now I spoil him too."
The former child star won't be stopping at just two children, though. "I'd like to have more children, a big family. Four or six, maybe," she said. "Gavin wants eight! Maybe he wants his own rugby team. I’m 22 now, and like to think that I’ll stop having babies in about ten years time. That seems sensible.”
Charlotte then went on to reveal that she and Gavin like to grow their own vegetables. "I love gardening. Gavin and I grow a lot of our own vegetables and we have some hens for fresh eggs," she said. "We've got dogs and geese as well. It's all very 'River Cottage' Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall would be very proud of us. We'd love to get an allotment as well."

Bush & his views on China


Bush Says It's 'Important to Engage' China

A Mixed Appraisal on Eve of Visit

Bush said that he speaks candidly with Chinese President Hu Jintao about human rights, particularly religious freedom, and that he has shared his religious beliefs with Hu and Hu's predecessor, Jiang Zemin, urging them to lift restrictions on underground churches.

"My main objective in my discussions on religious freedom is to remind this new generation of leadership that religion is not to be feared but to be welcomed in society," Bush said in an interview. Asked whether he thinks he is making an impact on Hu, he replied: "Oh, I think he listens, absolutely. I think he's interested. . . . He absorbs, he takes in, he listens."
Bush said China must do more to pressure repressive governments in Burma and Sudan, where he suggested Beijing's interest in acquiring raw materials to fuel China's booming economy is conflicting with an interest in stopping the killing in Sudan's Darfur region. But he skirted a question about a pre-Olympics security drive by Chinese authorities that human rights advocates call a crackdown on dissent.


"They're hypersensitive to a potential terrorist attack," Bush said. "And my hope is, of course, that as they have their security in place, that they're mindful of the spirit of the Games, and that if there is a provocation, they handle it in a responsible way without violence."
The president has been criticized by some lawmakers and human rights groups for his decision to attend the Games. He explained his rationale: "One of the reasons I'm going is because I want to show respect to the Chinese people, and this is a proud moment for China."

Bush also grappled with how to gauge openness and freedom in China today. "I mean, this is a closed society in many ways," he said. "The Internet provides interesting opportunities for people to express themselves. Sometimes it's open, sometimes the filters are there. I've talked to the evangelicals who go there who feel like the underground church movement has gotten a few steps forward, a step-and-a-half back. It's really hard to tell."

During a half-hour interview in his private office aboard Air Force One, Bush emphasized that it is "important to engage the Chinese" -- a striking comment for a president who came to office with aides depicting China as a "strategic competitor" and surrounded by hawks who looked suspiciously upon the Chinese government. Even critics of the president say he has emerged as an unexpected diplomat with China, conducting a personal campaign to woo the senior Chinese leadership.

The president was on his way to Alaska for a brief rally with troops before flying to Seoul for the first stop of a seven-day trip to Asia, culminating this weekend with an appearance at the opening ceremonies in Beijing, attendance at athletic events, worship at a Chinese church, and meetings with Hu and other officials.

Bush's planned meeting with Hu at the Olympics this month will be his 15th meeting with a Chinese president. His visit to China will be the fourth of his presidency; no other U.S. president has visited China more than once.
Over the course of his administration, Bush has delivered for China in important and unexpected ways: A president who in his early days made a guarantee to defend Taiwan later warned the island against declaring independence and has established what China experts see as a de facto freeze on arms sales to Taiwan. After angering China by labeling North Korea part of an "axis of evil," Bush led a diplomatic initiative aimed at cooling tensions on the Korean Peninsula. While critical of China on human rights, Bush has not hectored authorities in Beijing. authorities.
He and his advisers say his approach has paid off: The United States has secured Chinese help on North Korea and Iran while avoiding a blowup in the Taiwan Strait, despite the intense passions and military buildups on both sides.

Where have all the protests gone?

Protest Zones, In Theory, At Least

The Chinese government has designated three Beijing parks for approved protests. Would-be demonstrators must apply at least five days in advance. Expect plenty of open space in those parks during the games.

Best Chinese athletes.

Pressure On Chinese Athletes Liu Xiang And Yao Ming
Peter Parks


Liu Xiang electrified China when he won the 110-meter high hurdles in Athens, becoming the first Chinese male athlete to win a gold medal in track. He became a huge national sports hero, right up there with NBA basketball star Yao Ming.But he's been struggling with a hamstring injury — and his world record was shattered by Dayron Robles of Cuba. China, of course, is hoping for a storybook finish, with the trailblazing star capturing a second gold medal in front of the adoring home crowd. But the speedy Robles and Liu's balky hamstring could ruin the storyline.

Yao Ming is just getting back into shape after suffering a stress fracture in his left foot during the past NBA season. The Chinese men's team isn't expected to win a medal. But as the great global crossover star in China, Yao needs to play well for home country pride.

CHINA Versus USA ~ Who will win the Golds?

The New, Big International Sports Rivalry — U.S. Vs. China


The U.S. has won the most gold medals at every Summer Olympics since 1996. Now it's China's turn. At least, that's what forecasters are saying. The time and place of the games will make for some intense competition between the two countries.

The first big showdown is the men's basketball game on Aug. 10. The advantage there clearly goes to the U.S. Also, women's gymnastics could be especially dramatic. The two teams are the best in the world.

My monies are on the Host nation to win most medals. They have home advantage, have put plenty of preparation into their athletes and USA are over the top!!

Looking forward to the Olympics

I'm really looking forward to the Olympics ~ after all I've been waiting 4 years since the last one!

I'm sure China will put on a great games ~ their preparation has been meticulous. I have been a China-Observer now for about 10 years and I have watched a nation in the painful process of change and development ~ and so much has changed for the better.

Good Luck China in your Games!!!!!!

Monday, August 4, 2008

Andy moves to Number 6 in the ratings


Murray wins at Cincy

Murray fights off Djokovic for Cincy title

Mason, OH (Sports Network) - Eighth-seeded Scotsman Andy Murray scored an upset of third-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic in a heated battle at the $2.615 million Western & Southern Financial Group Masters tennis event on Sunday.

Murray won in straight sets 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5), but the feisty Djokovic forced a tie-breaker in each before Murray ultimately pulled out his third ATP title of the year. It was the sixth title of his career in just his 10th career ATP final. The Scotland native notched victories at Doha and Marseille earlier this year.

Murray pocketed $420,000 for the hard-fought victory.

"I mean, it's huge to win your first sort of major tournament, and to do it in a match like today makes it more special," said Murray. "I've been in the semifinals four times before this week, and lost every time against tough players. This week I played well the whole week, and even though he had the chance to when he get back into the match, I was really happy with the way that I fought and stayed in there. I put in a lot of work off the court to be able to win these sort of tournaments, and it makes it all worthwhile."
Djokovic owned a 4-1 advantage in head-to-head matchups coming into the match including a win this year at Monaco. Murray, however, was victorious in their last meeting, a quarterfinal matchup at the Rogers Cup just two weeks ago.
Murray advanced to the final with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over 16th-seeded Ivo Karlovic in a match that lasted one hour and 21 minutes.
Djokovic ousted second-seeded Rafael Nadal in the semifinals with a shocking 6-1, 7-5 upset of the soon to be No. 1 ranked player on tour. The Serb failed in his bid for a fourth title this season in his 15th career ATP final.
Despite Djokovic's snapping of Nadal's 32-match winning streak, the Wimbledon and French Open champion will dethrone Roger Federer as the No. 1 ranked player on August 18th. Federer has held the top ranking a record 235 consecutive weeks (since February 2, 2004), while Nadal has been No. 2 for a record 158 straight weeks (since July 25, 2005). The last player to rank No. 1 before Federer was Andy Roddick.
Nadal will become just the third Spaniard to take hold of the No. 1 position, joining Carlos Moya (1999) and Juan Carlos Ferrero (2003).
08/03 20:24:40 ET
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Vaughan ~ Should have gone earlier!

When one thinks of Vaughan's poor and unspirited recent displays, his inability to see through his own worth to the team and his lack of muscle and consistency as captain, the question to be asked is : Why wasn't he sacked a year ago?

England's results will be better without him dragging the team down!

Pietersen gets the England job!!

Pietersen appointed England cricket captain
The Associated Press
Published: August 4, 2008


LONDON:

Kevin Pietersen's remarkable career took its latest and arguably most dramatic turn Monday when he was named England cricket captain.


The South African-born batsman will lead England in test, one-day and Twenty20 matches, starting with the fourth test against South Africa this week.

The appointment came a day after Michael Vaughan's sudden resignation and caps a remarkable rise for the 28-year-old Pietersen, who was viewed as the enfant terrible of English cricket when he made his debut against Australia three years ago.

He has since toned down his outspoken comments — and outrageous haircuts — to become one of the team's most reliable members.


"I will always respect what has happened in the past and I will always respect what Michael did and what my predecessors did," Pietersen said. "I will always look for advice because I'm new in this job.