|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 21, 2008 10:58:02 GMT -5
Don't know guys, I'm a long-time supporter of athletics, track and field, et al. But, I'm really not all that interested in the Beijing Olympics this time around. Don't know why that is. Maybe it's because there really isn't a lot of media coverage on it right now. I guess I'll tune in for the sprints and marathon, but there doesn't seem to be the hype surrounding the games like in previous years. One thing I found on the SLAM! website was the possible terrorist threat to the games. There were two separate explosions on public buses in southwest China earlier Monday. I read later in the article that China will be employing a combination of commandos, police and troops totally 100,000 personnel. Here's the link.Later in the article: Last month, 30,000 rioters set fire to a police station and police cars in a small town in hilly Guizhou province, angry over an alleged cover-up of a local teenage girl's death. Looks like the Chinese have their work cut out for them. Cheers. |
|
|
|
Post by CrocRob on Jul 21, 2008 11:55:43 GMT -5
I'm with you. I'm not interested in the slightest. Though I'm never much of a fan of the Summer Olympics.
|
|
|
|
Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jul 21, 2008 13:33:50 GMT -5
I'm with you. I'm not interested in the slightest. Though I'm never much of a fan of the Summer Olympics. The Olympics in China are like Burns without Allen, PGA without Tiger or Le Tour without Lance. What channel is "Deal or No-Deal" on? I am excited about Afganistan vs Ethiopia in the four man sculls without cox. That's always a historical matchup. |
|
|
|
Post by Polarice on Jul 21, 2008 14:10:25 GMT -5
Not a big fan of the summer Olympics, if there is nothing else on and its raining and I'm supposed to be working on the house or something, I may watch it for an hour or so.  |
|
|
|
Post by clear observer on Jul 21, 2008 15:34:35 GMT -5
Haven't been a fan since 1976.
|
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 21, 2008 16:22:25 GMT -5
Haven't been a fan since 1976. Greg Joy man ... |
|
|
|
Post by Skilly on Jul 21, 2008 17:44:47 GMT -5
The judged events are all political.... I dont even consider judged events sports (gymnastics, boxing, etc). I may watch the swimming and rowing.... may, but I doubt it. This is one Olympics that was awarded under shady circumstances and I felt the West should have boycotted. At the very least say "If you stop sending harmful merchandise into our country, and stop using lead paint on childrens toys, so we dont have a recall every week, then we will come" ...... I mean Harper and the US seem fine with all the human rights violations.  |
|
|
|
Post by Cranky on Jul 21, 2008 18:19:50 GMT -5
I couldn't care less for the Commielympics. Watching them would be like watching the '36 Nazilympics. I just feel sorry for all the athletes that trained so hard and so long.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cranky on Jul 21, 2008 18:23:34 GMT -5
...... I mean Harper and the US seem fine with all the human rights violations. Of all the politicians, Harper does not like China one bit BUT he has to live with them because of the trade we have. If he had his way, we wouldn't be trading with China. |
|
|
|
Post by Yossarian on Jul 21, 2008 19:15:19 GMT -5
The IOC is racket. One of the biggest. Think about it, they run the most crooked contest to award a winning city, where the bidding cities put millions of dollars into bribing impressing the IOC members, then make the winning city/country pay for more millions or dollars in infrastructure and venue costs, while the IOC gets 100% of the gate and television revenue. Sounds pretty fair to me. Hey but after the 3 weeks are over, the winning city is left with a tremendous Olympic legacy. Yeah, it worked for Montreal just fine. Or even better, Sarajevo. And usually the worst Olympic games from a North American standpoint are the ones in Asia, where the time difference makes everything anti-climatic. And with these games, everything buy China seems so contrived to try and impress the rest of the world that Beijing doesn't really isn't as miserable as it looks. Sorry, but my wife and daughter are asthmatics. The reports of the air quality in that town make me want to vomit. |
|
|
|
Post by CentreHice on Jul 21, 2008 19:40:33 GMT -5
...... I mean Harper and the US seem fine with all the human rights violations. Of all the politicians, Harper does not like China one bit BUT he has to live with them because of the trade we have. If he had his way, we wouldn't be trading with China. Is he on record as saying so? Source? |
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 21, 2008 20:40:32 GMT -5
...... I mean Harper and the US seem fine with all the human rights violations. Economically speaking, China does more to keep the US dollar quasi-stable than any other country outside the USA. Wal-Mart USA alone imported USD $18 billion worth of goods from China in 2005. In 2006 that trade reached USD $27 billion. Miff them too much and that's a sizable chuck of merchandise taken away from the American consumer. But, that's just Wal-Mart USA. Think of what there exports are to the USA overall. Mind you, China would have to find another substantial buyer, so the two seem to be interdependent on each other. As for the games, I have to agree with you, Skilly, in that any sport that is judged has lost its credibility over the years. Canada has been both the recipient (Sean O'Sullivan) and the victim (Sale and Peltier) of that biased judging. I also have to agree with HA in that it has to be extremely tough on athletes who have trained all of their lives to compete only to have the rug pulled out from underneath them. (I've actually used this to describe Canadian Idol as well. Great performances by our youth only to have them lose to a regional popularity contest). That said, I'm going to make it a point of tuning into the athletics competitions; track and field mostly. It's no wonder why our athletes love competing overseas. Athletics has always drawn huge crowds, packed stadiums etc. Plus there's prize money on the line nowadays as well. Where track and field loses its luster with me is when another great athlete is busted for steroid use. We dangled Ben Johnson in front of the world while Carl Lewis was allowed to run for gold. Yet, as a former track guy in high school, I'll tune in anyway. Cheers. |
|
|
|
Post by CrocRob on Jul 21, 2008 22:39:58 GMT -5
...... I mean Harper and the US seem fine with all the human rights violations. Of all the politicians, Harper does not like China one bit BUT he has to live with them because of the trade we have. If he had his way, we wouldn't be trading with China. We should stop trading with China. It would make all those people with "Out of a job yet? Keep buying foreign." bumper stickers happy, right? Right? Oh wait they don't like paying twice as much for stuff? I get annoyed to the point of anger whenever I see some misinformed boor with one of those on their car. My friend (who's a tool and die maker) included. |
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 22, 2008 7:33:39 GMT -5
We're close and there's minimal-to-no media coverage. In previous years we've always heard of our medal hopefuls and there always seemed to be a buzz surrounding the Games.
However, the only two stories I've heard recently are Perdita Felicien's decision not to compete due to an injury, and how the Olympic team is split on who should carry our colours in the opening ceremonies.
No hype at all this time around. Maybe we don't have the medal hopefuls, I really don't know. Maybe it has to do with the Games being in an oppressive regime like China, but would that be enough to affect coverage?
Cheers.
|
|
|
|
Post by CentreHice on Jul 22, 2008 8:38:09 GMT -5
And then I became a hypocrit..... I am so pissed off at the sheep and their short sightedness, I am so pissed off at fighting taxes, rising energy costs, endlessly demanding customers who believe that they should pay "competitive to the Chinese" prices and employees who think and demand that I owe them a "quality" standard of living.....over $20 an hour while China pays 40 cents an hour.....that I am now buying some of my product from China. There you go.....a nationalist pushed into hypocrisy. Fully understood, HA. Do you go under like a Mom and Pop Shop standing firm in the face of the Wal-Marts and Home Senses....or do you change tactics to compete and survive? You chose to survive. No shame in that. (I know Mom and Pop stores don't have the Wal-Mart buying power....but you get my drift.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Do you have a source for your statement: Of all the politicians, Harper does not like China one bit BUT he has to live with them because of the trade we have. If he had his way, we wouldn't be trading with China. |
|
|
|
Post by Cranky on Jul 22, 2008 9:08:49 GMT -5
Do you have a source for your statement: Of all the politicians, Harper does not like China one bit BUT he has to live with them because of the trade we have. If he had his way, we wouldn't be trading with China. I will have to go back to some articles from the Communist Toronto Star. It was about a year and a half ago, before the Dai Lama visit. It had some Chinese nationals accusing Harper of trying to destroy Canadian jobs. Imagine that, stealing our jobs and then spinning that trade with them creates jobs. Sad.... |
|
|
|
Post by Cranky on Jul 22, 2008 9:16:27 GMT -5
No hype at all this time around. Maybe we don't have the medal hopefuls, I really don't know. Maybe it has to do with the Games being in an oppressive regime like China, but would that be enough to affect coverage? Cheers. Chinese government tries it's damnest to show a "human face". Well, why don't they show us how human they are from 15,000 coal mine deaths a YEAR? People living in Love Canals? Murder wagons that go from town to town to execute people on the flimsiest of charges? Where is all that? Never mind living conditions INSIDE the factory compounds that resemble concentration camps. The Olympic veneer does not hide the Chinese government atrociousness. |
|
|
|
Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jul 22, 2008 14:00:47 GMT -5
No hype at all this time around. Maybe we don't have the medal hopefuls, I really don't know. Maybe it has to do with the Games being in an oppressive regime like China, but would that be enough to affect coverage? Cheers. Chinese government tries it's damnest to show a "human face". Well, why don't they show us how human they are from 15,000 coal mine deaths a YEAR? People living in Love Canals? Murder wagons that go from town to town to execute people on the flimsiest of charges? Where is all that? Never mind living conditions INSIDE the factory compounds that resemble concentration camps. The Olympic veneer does not hide the Chinese government atrociousness. If the government conducts an anti-terrorist drill to ensure that they can evacuate the stadium, would it be called a Chinese Fire Drill? Our government has bent over backwards to appease the Chinese despite the atrocious treatment of Taiwan, Mongolia, Nepal, weapons to Pakistan, the terrorist Dahli Lama. All this to ensure that our jobs go to near slave workers in China. The good news however is Christmas lights will still be 99 cents a string at The Great Wal-Mart of China.  I don't get it? |
|
|
|
Post by CentreHice on Jul 22, 2008 21:08:52 GMT -5
The good news however is Christmas lights will still be 99 cents a string at The Great Wal-Mart of China. ??? I don't get it? North Americans are entrenched in the "high wages and cheap goods" routine (i.e. more for me, me, me). But cheap goods mean production costs are low....and we simply won't work for a low wage. In fact, our society, by and large, is quite content to let some other countries exploit/abuse their work force so we can get those 99-cent Christmas lights. Peace on earth and goodwill towards men. The irony, eh? I haven't been in a Wal-Mart since I saw "The High Cost of Low Prices" documentary a few years ago. And I won't audition for a Wal-Mart radio commercial or perform at a Wal-Mart function either. I know Wal-Mart isn't the only one getting fat from such practices.....just a little stand I'm taking. |
|
|
|
Post by Skilly on Jul 23, 2008 7:03:35 GMT -5
Of all the politicians, Harper does not like China one bit BUT he has to live with them because of the trade we have. If he had his way, we wouldn't be trading with China. We should stop trading with China. It would make all those people with "Out of a job yet? Keep buying foreign." bumper stickers happy, right? Right? Oh wait they don't like paying twice as much for stuff? I get annoyed to the point of anger whenever I see some misinformed boor with one of those on their car. My friend (who's a tool and die maker) included. I have no problem trading with China, if the product is well made. China cuts corners. They use lead paint on childrens toys for instance. As a father of a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old, it gets frustrating to be taking toys away from them every week. My wife has made it a daily ritual now to be looking at Health Canada's website for recalls. Dora the Exlporer game pieces, Thomas the Train trees and cars from sets , etc ... all from China, all to be taken away. It would be ok if it was one instance and China stopped using the paint on all exports. But they continue to do it, it the hope we dont spot it. I have a big problem with that!! How many times are things made in China in my 2 yr old's mouth before we find out about the recall? I, for one, would be more than willing to pay $100 dollars for Canadian made/Us made toys that I know are made to our standards rather than the $40 dollars for something that is nothing more than a health hazard waiting to happen. And that's the thing ... you can't trust anything coming out of China anymore and it is a damn hard job to find anything not made there anymore. |
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 23, 2008 7:40:27 GMT -5
Here's our medal hopefuls as cited by Sports Illustrated (as reported by the Toronto Star). SI predicts 14-medal haul for Canada
Magazine expects U.S. to claim most hardware; gold for van Koeverden, Canadian men's eight
July 23, 2008
Randy Starkman
SPORTS REPORTER
Sports Illustrated is predicting Canada will increase its number of medals won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – but not by much.
SI is calling for Canada to win 14 medals during the Aug. 8-24 Games – two gold, four silver and eight bronze. Canada won 12 medals at the 2004 Athens Games – three gold, six silver and three bronze – short of the SI prediction of 14.
"The Chinese are going to take many more medals ... than many have anticipated, leaving less for the rest," said Canadian Olympic Committee boss Chris Rudge.
"We have some solid medal hopefuls who are going in injured or not going at all. The new federal money we were hoping for after Athens didn't get here till late and is just trickling in now. But we're taking a team over there with a positive and winning attitude. You could end up seeing some significant surprises."
SI thinks Canada will be shut out in swimming for the second straight Games and in track and field for the third. It predicts China will win the gold medal count, but that the U.S. will win the overall medal tally.
Oakville kayaker Adam van Koeverden is picked to defend his Olympic title in the men's K-1 500 metres and win silver in the K-1 1,000 metres.
Van Koeverden isn't the only paddler picked by SI. Thomas Hall of Pointe-Claire, Que., who is having his best season ever, is expected to capture a silver medal ahead of German legend Andreas Dittmer in the C-1, 1,000 metres.
The world champion men's eight are picked to win gold. Four of the nine rowers are returnees from the crew which entered the Athens Olympics as two-time world champions, but finished fifth.
Bronze medals are expected in the women's eight and men's pair.
Toronto trampolinist Karen Cockburn is picked to win a bronze, which would be her third Olympic medal. Mountain biker Marie-Helene Premont of Chateau-Richer, Que., has been picked to win her second straight Olympic silver.
Two taekwondo medals are expected – silver from world champion Karine Sergerie of Ste-Catherine, Que., in the 67-kg category and bronze from Sebastien Michaud of Quebec City in the 80-kg event.
Another two bronze are anticipated in women's wrestling – Tonya Verbeek of St. Catharines repeating her performance from Athens in the 55-kg category, and Carol Huynh of Calgary in the 48-kg.Toronto Star |
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 23, 2008 7:46:47 GMT -5
Don't think our relay team can compete this time around especially given the competition that's out there. But, it looks like a good foundation to build on. Olympic Games
Athletics-Track
Canada’s sprint team aims for glory days
Coach Glenroy Gilbert ran for gold medal relay team that won gold in Atlanta
Last Updated: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 | 2:23 PM ET
Paul Gaines CBC Sports
Twelve years have passed since Donovan Bailey won the Atlanta Olympic 100m gold medal in world record time, then anchored Canada’s sprint relay team to victory. Those were glory days indeed.
Now for the first time in ages Canadians have reason for optimism within the sprint program.
The man at the helm is none other than Glenroy Gilbert, who ran the crucial back straight leg on that gold medal winning team. Based in Ottawa, Gilbert has battled a host of problems, not least of which is the prevailing me-first attitude that often characterize high strung sprinters.
“You have to remember they are individuals, first of all, pursuing the Olympics A+ standards and that is something we have to respect,” the 39-year-old Gilbert explains. “But also it’s important for them to realize the relay is their best hope to actually get close to the podium at the Olympic Games.
“We don’t have a Canadian sprinter running under 10 seconds who can say ‘I have a chance of winning a medal at the Olympic Games.’”
Bobbled the baton
A year ago, Anson Henry of Pickering, Ont., advanced to the IAAF world championship 100m semi-final while Edmonton’s Brian Barnett ran 20.31 seconds and made it into the 200m semi-final. The relay team, meanwhile, bobbled a baton exchange and finished last in their first round heat.
Both Henry, who trains in California with coach Dan Pfaff, formerly Donovan Bailey’s personal coach, and Barnett are showing good early-season form. Barnett, 21, has run a personal best 100m of 10.28 as well as the Olympic A+ standard of 20.48 in his specialty. In addition, two younger sprinters are approaching world class level.
Jared Connaughton of Charlottetown. P.E.I., a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, has turned in the nation’s fastest 100m time of the season, 10.15 seconds, just .02 seconds shy of the Olympic A+ standard. He has also achieved the Olympic A+ standard in the 200m, recording a time of 20.35 seconds. And Justyn Warner, of Markham Ont., has run 10.23 seconds for Texas Christian University. All figure in Gilbert’s plans.
“The way I viewed it, coming into this year, is if everyone improved a little bit the team could go to the final and potentially finish in the top six at the Olympic Games,” says the coach. “You have to be in the final to be a player. The focus is to have guys ready to go from a fitness standpoint and obviously from a skill development standpoint.
The jitters
“Of course the whole element of competing at the Olympic Games is something you can’t really coach and that’s where the individual events help. It gives the guys an opportunity to get out on the track. It allows them to get rid of the jitters and then come back in the relay and be a little more steady and execute a little bit.”
Gilbert who ran 10.10 at his best understands better than most that relay racing is not always about putting the fastest four sprinters together. The U.S. team has had a history of missed baton passes at major championships while a French foursome of largely second-tier sprinters broke the world record in 1990 with a time of 37.79. The current world record is 37.40, jointly shared by two U.S. national teams.
To that end Gilbert has brought a pool of sprinters together at training camps in Baton Rouge, La., and most recently in Ottawa. They are typically ten days long and he seeks to instill the team unity necessary for success in the event. Twelve athletes turned up in Ottawa.
The deadline for qualification is July 16 with the top 16 ranked teams eligible for entry into the Olympics. That’s based on the average of their two fastest times of the season.
“Right now we are ranked around 10th in the world,” Gilbert says of the team of Barnett, Connaughton, Henry and Hank Palmer that ran 39.25 in Baton Rouge on April 19.
“That’s one of the reasons we are going over to Prague right after nationals, so we can solidify our position in the top 16 before the deadline.
Heads in the clouds
“I am very excited but I keep everything in perspective. The team will only be as good as the athletes allow themselves to be. If they get their heads in the clouds about wanting to own the individual event we are going to struggle as a team. They have to buy into the idea that we stand chance to get very close to the podium if we can come together as a team.”
Gilbert will take the relay team to a meet in Prague July 9 and a week later it will run again in Lucerne, Switzerland. Other national teams are likely to turn up at both of these competitions in search of fast times. If Canada qualifies, anything can happen.
The unity factor is crucial.
“It's a tough sell,” Gilbert declares, “but I think athletes are starting to understand it.” CBC Link |
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 29, 2008 10:50:11 GMT -5
Doesn't look too promising for these Olympics already: (Edit: You know, I really hate hearing about stuff like this. The Olympics were a big deal to me a while ago) Scandals shift Olympic focus
July 29, 2008
Doug Smith
SPORTS REPORTER
Beijing awaits the world.
But far from the giddy anticipation of staging the 2008 Summer Games, the host city – and by extension, all of China – has been rocked by explosive allegations of cheating in order to give Chinese athletes the best chance of winning medals.
The accusation of falsifying the ages of two female gymnasts younger than the 16-year-old minimum standard, according to newspaper reports, is raising questions about the integrity of the Chinese sports system and in turn, forcing a nation so sensitive about "face" to deny it has ever fudged birth dates of gymnasts or any other athletes.
With the Olympic opening ceremonies 10 days from today, this scandal is the latest – and perhaps, most serious – problem Beijing organizers are juggling in their daily battle to assure the world the Games will go off with as few disruptions as possible.
It has been a difficult task, highlighted by the international attention focused on the heavy air pollution blanketing Beijing and the carpet of green goo that covered the Olympic sailing waters. In addition, visa restrictions, doping violations, freedom of the press issues and a problem-filled torch relay have hurt the open image China intended to present to the world.
And, if things could get any worse, they did yesterday when it was made public that two dead birds found at the equestrian site in Hong Kong will be tested for the potentially fatal bird flu virus.
As the days tick down toward the international celebration of sporting excellence, global attention is far from the athletes who have trained their lives for this moment. Instead, the talk is about:
Questions over gymnasts' age: Several online records and reports show He Kexin, the host nation's top competitor on uneven bars, and Jiang Yuyuan might not yet be 16, the minimum age for Olympic eligibility. Both were chosen for China's team last week.
On the website of the Chengdu Sports Bureau – Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province – a file dated January 2006 shows He Kexin as being born Jan. 1, 1994. Most recently, a May 23 story in the China Daily newspaper, the official English-language paper of the Chinese government, had He Kexin's age as 14.
The newspaper story begins: "The 14-year old newcomer to the national team, who was recruited last year, has raised a lot of eyebrows recently after she broke two world records on the uneven bars in as many months."
The New York Times challenged the athletes' ages in a weekend story. Chinese officials provided the newspaper with copies of passports indicating both gymnasts are 16. Reports have also questioned the true age of a female Chinese diver, alleged to have been too young to compete in a 2007 world meet where she won medals.
The bird flu possibility: The H5N1 bird flu doesn't pose a threat to horses, but can be lethal to humans. Hong Kong has struggled with the bird flu for years and six people died during the biggest outbreak in 1997. The two dead birds were found last week, according to an equestrian competition official.
Air quality: The official opening of the athletes' village turned into another indictment of Beijing's air quality as the housing units were barely visible from about a half-kilometre away.
The pollution was among the worst seen in Beijing in the past month, despite traffic restrictions enacted a week ago that removed half the city's vehicles from roadways. Officials were considering a further reduction of cars on the city's streets.
The Australian delegation is so concerned with the poor breathing conditions that it will allow its athletes to pull out of events if they feel their health is compromised.
"If they don't want to compete, that is fine," Australian Olympic Committee member Peter Montgomery said.
"They will be under absolutely no pressure to compete if they feel uneasy or don't want to compete – we won't be demanding that they still compete."
However, Montgomery added it will be "extremely unlikely that an athlete won't want to compete."
Amid the gloom, however, there was some good news.
Chinese officials announced yesterday all the events in Beijing venues have sold out.
However, even the sellout didn't go off without a hitch.
The release of a final batch of 250,000 tickets sparked chaotic scenes in Beijing on Friday, as a crowd of 30,000 swarmed a local ticketing centre. Police shoved and kicked at the crowd and used metal barricades to prevent a stampede among people who had stood in line for up to two days.
With files from the Star's wire services
Toronto Star olympics.thestar.com/2008/article/468916 |
|
|
|
Post by clear observer on Jul 29, 2008 11:35:00 GMT -5
Sigh.
What an exciting extravaganza the Olympics used to be...well, at least for me it used to be.
Again, 1976 was the last time I "felt" genuine excitement for the "Games".
|
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 29, 2008 12:14:37 GMT -5
Someone already mentioned the officiating, CO. I'm kind of curious to see how the officiating goes this time around.
I'm also curious to see just how China fairs in these Olympics as well. I'm anticipating the underage gymnist issue is only the beginning. That's not fair, granted, but ...
Cheers.
|
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 31, 2008 6:56:29 GMT -5
No comment. Beijing to locals: Wear no more than 3 colours[/size] Government issues etiquette book ahead of Olympics, with advise on how to dress, stand, shake hands and more July 31, 2008 ASSOCIATED PRESS[/b] BEIJING–Polishing up Beijing for the Olympics has extended to the city government telling residents what not wear, advising against too many colours, white socks with black shoes, and parading in pajamas. The advice, on top of campaigns to cut out public spitting and promote orderly lining up, was handed out in booklets to four million households ahead of the Olympics, an official said Thursday. The etiquette book giving advice on everything from shaking hands to how to stand is part of a slew of admonitions on manners, said Zheng Mojie, deputy director of the Office of Capital Spiritual Civilization Construction Commission. "The level of civility of the whole city has improved and a sound cultural and social environment has been assured for the success of the Beijing Olympic Games," she said. There should be no more than three colour groups in your clothing, the book published by Zheng's committee advises, and wearing pajamas and slippers to visit neighbours, as some elderly Beijing residents like to do, is also out. It recommends dark-coloured socks, and says white socks should never be worn with black leather shoes. In the last few years, the government has educated people on how to prepare for the Olympics under the slogan: "I participate, I contribute, I enjoy." Measures such as a ban on spitting in the capital city, which started in 2006, and the introduction of a day to show a little more patience in lines – on the 11th of each month – have paid off, Zheng said. Campaigns involving nearly a million volunteers have been launched to give etiquette tips at schools, universities and government offices. In some districts university students have been encouraged to go to villages to educate rural people, she said. "Such campaigns and educational activities are now gradually improving the lives of Beijingers, for example now you'll find more smiling faces and people are more properly and elegantly dressed," she said. The book advises that there should be no public displays of affection, feet should be slightly apart or in the shape of a V or Y when standing, and a handshake should not last more than three seconds. Don't ask foreigners their age, marital status, income, past experience, address, personal life, religious beliefs or political beliefs, it says. Another book, published in April, details how to be a good fan when watching Olympic competitions, saying spectators should cheer all teams, and accept that a victory or loss is temporary whereas the impression of the culture inside a sports venue lasts forever.[/i] thestar.com |
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Aug 6, 2008 6:46:54 GMT -5
Someone already mentioned the officiating, CO. I'm kind of curious to see how the officiating goes this time around. I'm also curious to see just how China fairs in these Olympics as well. I'm anticipating the underage gymnist issue is only the beginning. That's not fair, granted, but ... Cheers. Keeping in line with this thought. ================================================================================================== PROJECT 119 Chinese bent on sporting supremacy Chinese bent on sporting supremacy China's considerable history has been shaped by no end of ambitious national projects. Their Great Wall was a triumph; their Cultural Revolution, not so much. And this month the world will begin to comprehend the import and outcome of Project 119. It is, at its heart, a sporting endeavour. One hundred nineteen represented the number of gold medals available in track and field, swimming and the water-bound events such as canoeing, rowing, sailing and kayaking at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. China won exactly one of those 119 golds in 2000; not long after, the 2008 Games were awarded to Beijing. And ever since, the world's most populous country has been endeavouring to become the most athletically dominant nation – to ascend the medal table by ensuring Chinese citizens count themselves among the global elite in more sports not named table tennis. Progress hasn't exactly been light speed. China won four Project 119 golds four years ago in Athens, where it made breakthroughs on the track. But many more top-of-the-podium finishes are expected this month, as the pupils of the authoritarian state's 3,000-some government-run sports academies showcase their talents on home soil. Just how dominant will the home team be in Beijing? Even Sports Illustrated, the U.S.-flag-waving glossy, projects the Chinese winning 49 gold medals to the U.S.'s 45 – what would be an epic toppling of the country that has been the undisputed sporting superpower since the dissolution of the Soviet Union (although SI figures the U.S. will win 121 medals in total to China's 102). At William Hill, the British betting franchise, China is the 1-to-2 favourite to win the most golds. There will certainly be non-Chinese stories that are awfully compelling at these Games. Michael Phelps, the Baltimore-bred swimmer who won six golds in Athens, is a mere three golds shy of the career Olympic record of nine shared by Carl Lewis, Mark Spitz, Paavo Nurmi and Larisa Latynina. He is hoping to win eight gold medals in Beijing – the number eight is a vaunted one in China, where the Games will begin at 8 p.m. on the eighth day of the eighth month of 2008 – which isn't particularly far-fetched when you consider that Phelps won seven golds at last summer's world championships. At least another landmark performance is being hotly anticipated. The U.S. men's basketball team, less than golden in every major competition since the 2000 Olympics, is bent on reclaiming its seat atop the hardwood universe. But China's story will hark back to an earlier era: the Cold War. Joseph Capousek, a German national who was recently fired as a coach of the Chinese canoe team, has likened the Chinese sports system to a military-style boot camp, not unlike that of the former Eastern Bloc countries, wherein young athletes are worked "like horses." Capousek has told reporters that the Chinese-language version of his contract included a guarantee of Olympic medals. For all the criticism, though, China's nothing-less-than-the-best bent has vaulted its athletes into heretofore unexplored stratospheres for a country that only began competing in the Games in earnest at the 1984 L.A. Olympics. Once a rowing also-ran, for instance, Chinese crews are among the favourites to win a handful of rowing golds. Once known as peerless divers and gymnasts and table-tennis players, their reach is scarily extended. Still, the pressure on Chinese athletes will be monumental. Liu Xiang, the reigning world and Olympic champion in the 110-metre hurdles – the winner of China's first medal in men's track and field – will attempt to overcome a recent hamstring injury to raise a flag before his countrymen. If he wins, 1.3 billion Chinese will rejoice. If he doesn't, there are those forecasting a national depression that could make Beijing's worst smog day look sunny. "I still don't know what makes me so fast and so successful," Liu has said. "I know that when I see a hurdle in front of me, I just go tackle it." The Chinese see a hurdle between it and global sporting supremacy. It is only the world, it is only an empire known as the United States, and we'll know soon enough if Project 119 has them en route to clearing it. www.thestar.com/Sports/article/472864 |
|
|
|
Post by Skilly on Aug 6, 2008 10:59:30 GMT -5
It is, at its heart, a sporting endeavour. One hundred nineteen represented the number of gold medals available in track and field, swimming and the water-bound events such as canoeing, rowing, sailing and kayaking at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The onnly sports worth watching ... because they are time based or head to head based ... actual sports. Once known as peerless divers and gymnasts and table-tennis players, their reach is scarily extended. The reason China will win so many medals .... the stupid judged events..... non-sports IMO, just political platitudes. |
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Aug 6, 2008 11:31:42 GMT -5
It is, at its heart, a sporting endeavour. One hundred nineteen represented the number of gold medals available in track and field, swimming and the water-bound events such as canoeing, rowing, sailing and kayaking at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The onnly sports worth watching ... because they are time based or head to head based ... actual sports. Once known as peerless divers and gymnasts and table-tennis players, their reach is scarily extended. The reason China will win so many medals .... the stupid judged events..... non-sports IMO, just political platitudes. I'm wondering how many will be disqualified for steroid use. I know the article suggests Chinese athletes being trained like army recruits, but I'm kind of wondering how extensive performance enhancing drugs will be this time around. Cheers. |
|
|
|
Post by Doc Holliday on Aug 6, 2008 11:35:56 GMT -5
Haven't been a fan since 1976. ...the wonderful Nadia... |
|
