2008 Beijing Olympics

[shetuck]

Reuters: Olympic torch re-lit in Beijing ceremony

Countdown to 8-8-08...

Olympic torch re-lit in Beijing ceremony

By STEPHEN WADE, AP Sports Writer
1 hour, 59 minutes ago

Chinese President Hu Jintao presided over the re-lighting of the Olympic torch Monday in the host city, signaling the start of an around-the-world torch relay that already has become a magnet for protesters.

Hu's participation in the elaborate ceremony in Tiananmen Square in the heart of the capital underlined the importance China places on the Olympics and its hope to display a confident, strong nation to the world when the games open Aug. 8.

The ceremony, 130 days before the start of the Olympics, came a week after the lighting ceremony for the Olympic torch in Greece was marred by protests.

"I declare the torch relay of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games has begun," Hu said after handing the flame to China's Olympic gold-medal hurdler, Liu Xiang. Liu jogged off the square as blue, gold and silver confetti flew, Chinese and Olympic flags waved and traditional drums pounded.

After a one-day stop in Beijing, the flame goes Tuesday to Almaty, Kazakhstan, the start of an 85,000-mile journey back to Beijing.

cont'd...

[bkochmc]

2008 Torch Relay Map

[shetuck]

Originally Posted by bkochmc

2008 Torch Relay Map

Good stuff BK... from the official site.

[shetuck]

Reuters: Beijing pollution risky for endurance athletes

Beijing pollution risky for endurance athletes

By Nick Mulvenney
Wed Apr 2, 6:41 AM ET

Endurance events at the Beijing Olympics could pose a health risk if they are staged on heavily polluted days, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday, although it was prepared to reschedule such events.

Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC coordination commission, said there was a small chance of athletes suffering some damage to their health if they took part in events lasting longer than an hour, such as the marathon and cycling road races.

Beijing is one of the most polluted cities in the world and, despite a 120 billion yuan ($17.12 billion) clean-up over the last decade, air quality remains a concern for many athletes coming to the Olympics, already a lightning rod for rights protests worldwide.

"There can be a risk, but it's not big, for endurance events that last longer than an hour," the Dutchman told Reuters on the sidelines of the final inspection of preparations for the August 8-24 Games.

"In that case, we are developing a Plan B. We might delay certain events for a couple of days. But to do that it must be very bad."

Organizers could face a dilemma if on the final day of competition pollution levels are too high to stage the men's marathon.

cont'd...

[shetuck]

Times (UK): IOC may scrap Beijing Olympic torch relay

IOC may scrap Beijing Olympic torch relay over protests

April 8, 2008

by Jenny Booth, Jane Macartney in Beijing and Chris Ayres in Los Angeles

The International Olympic Committee may scrap the international leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay as a result of the protests over China?s military crackdown in Tibet.

Jacques Rogge, the IOC President, says the organisation's executive board will meet on Friday to debate whether to allow the torch to continue its 85,000-mile, 21-country journey.

Mr Rogge said this morning that he was "deeply saddened" by the violent protests in London and Paris, and concerned about tomorrow's torch relay in San Francisco.

The IOC is holding its last official meetings in the Chinese capital this week with organisers of the Beijing Games. Gunilla Lindberg, a Swedish IOC member, said that the protests surrounding the torch relay were ?damaging the Olympic movement?. "Using the torch this way is almost a crime," Ms Lindberg said. This is the property of the IOC, it is not a Chinese torch."

Kevan Gosper, an IOC member from Australia, said that IOC officials had warned their Chinese colleagues that London, Paris and San Francisco "would be sensitive places", and China's recent crackdown in Tibet had "stirred the potential for protest".

cont'd...

[ScriptOhio]

SPEEDO LZR RACER - the world's fastest swimsuit



February 14, 2008 Following three years of research that included input from NASA, tests on more than 100 different fabrics and suit designs and body scans of more than 400 elite swimmers, Speedo has launched its most hydro-dynamically advanced - and fastest - swimsuit to date. The SPEEDO? LZR RACER? is made from a unique lightweight, water repellent and fast-drying fabric that has been developed to reduce drag and help hold the swimmer?s body in a more streamlined shape. Speedo says the suit has been independently tested as the "world's fastest", a claim that translates to up to 5% more efficiency for swimmers and hopefully, at least for Michael Phelps and other elite athletes donning the suit in Beijing later in the year, more gold medals.
The new suit has 10% less passive drag (meaning the drag present when the swimmer is gliding through the water after a dive or turn) than Speedo?s 2004 FASTSKIN FSII and 5% less passive drag than the FASTSKIN FS-PRO? - which has seen 21 swimmers break World Records since its release in March 2007.
The specially engineered, highly flexible fabric called LZR PULSE?is ultrasonically welded so as to appear seamless. It incorporates low drag "LZR" panels designed to create a corset-like effect that supports the swimmer in the optimum body position in the water and helps them hold it for longer.
The LZR RACER?s unique design also provides swimmers with up to 5% more efficiency** in terms of their oxygen intake, enabling them to swim stronger for longer. ?It makes it easier to swim faster,? said Rick Sharp, Exercise Physiologist, Iowa State University.
Coming a decade after the introduction of the full-body racing swim suit and coinciding with Speedo's 80th anniversary, the LZR RACER was developed by Speedo?s Aqualab research team, drawing on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software from ANSYS, Inc. and the expertise of research institutes such as the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Otago University in New Zealand, as well as the NASA Langley Research Center. International fashion label Comme des Gar?ons' founder Rei Kawakubo also contributed to the design.

Entire article: SPEEDO LZR RACER - the world's fastest swimsuit

FINA disagrees with critics that new suit gives swimmers edge

MANCHESTER, England -- If the current trend continues, world records could become the norm after the International Swimming Federation ruled Speedo's new high-tech LZR Racer suit is legal.
The LZR has been worn for 18 of the 19 world records set since it was introduced in February. Critics have claimed the swimsuit makes competitors more buoyant, but FINA disagreed.
"There is no scientific proof that it helps somehow, to the best of FINA's knowledge," FINA told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
FINA is set to meet with swimsuit manufacturers at the short-course world championships this weekend in Manchester. Other companies are due to come out soon with suits to compete with the LZR.

Entire article: ESPN - FINA disagrees with critics that new suit gives swimmers edge - Swimming

[Steve19]

One local book attributes the collapse of Apartheid to the deleterious effects of sidelining more than half of the population and depriving them of education.

When I read the international press, it is the economic effects of anti-Apartheid sanctions and the academic and sporting boycotts that were its undoing.

But I witnessed the end of Apartheid in reactions to the sting of international protests. Racist white South Africans winced every time that they saw television programs, like Bill Cosby, in which protests were screened. They were distraught when they saw themselves parodied as the new Nazis in Lethal Weapon 2. They realized how the world saw them and understood what they had become.

Do not discount the effects that international protests are having on the Chinese. Remember, in their culture, losing face is a terrible thing. Either way, if they stop the torch international journey or continue with daily protests, the Chinese are learning a lot about themselves. More importantly, they are learning that international recognition and acceptance requires more than economic achievement.

[Blackburn]

Originally Posted by Steve19

One local book attributes the collapse of Apartheid to the deleterious effects of sidelining more than half of the population and depriving them of education.

When I read the international press, it is the economic effects of anti-Apartheid sanctions and the academic and sporting boycotts that were its undoing.

But I witnessed the end of Apartheid in reactions to the sting of international protests. Racist white South Africans winced every time that they saw television programs, like Bill Cosby, in which protests were screened. They were distraught when they saw themselves parodied as the new Nazis in Lethal Weapon 2. They realized how the world saw them and understood what they had become.

Do not discount the effects that international protests are having on the Chinese. Remember, in their culture, losing face is a terrible thing. Either way, if they stop the torch international journey or continue with daily protests, the Chinese are learning a lot about themselves. More importantly, they are learning that international recognition and acceptance requires more than economic achievement.

I'm sure the protest are having a big influence in Bejing. I hope they show some extra good will before the games start.

However, The Olympics are about separating politics from sport. China won the right to host the games after several failed attempts.

The Chinese agreed to a list of conditions to host the games, and they have accomplished some, but not all. Bejing is still polluted. China has not opened their economy as much as they should. They are also being very subborn in Tibet and Taiwan.

I hope China and The rest of the world can patch things up in time for the Games to be unaffected.

Long Live Sport!

[Oneshot]

I, for one, hope that the games are protested further.

China's treatment of Tibet and Taiwan are just microcosms of how [censored]ed that political system is. Yes, it will be a great economic power.

But at what cost? The poor are going to be shipped out of Beijing in time for the Olympics... The pollution is [censored]ing insane, politics are more corrupt there than they are here, censorship is so bad that kids there don't know what the hell happened in Tiananmen Square.

What are we supporting? I love gold medals as much as the next guy, but a message needs to be sent. For all of America's moral 'high ground,' we would not be supporting it very much by attending these Olympics.

[The Man]

I am boycotting this thread.

[ScriptOhio]

Walt Handelsman

[MD Buckeye]

Dog meat off the menu during Beijing Olympics - Yahoo! News

Originally Posted by yahoo.com

Dog meat off the menu during Beijing Olympics

BEIJING - Canine cuisine is being sent to the doghouse during next month's Beijing Olympic Games.

Dog meat has been struck from the menus of officially designated Olympic restaurants, and Beijing tourism officials are telling other outlets to discourage consumers from ordering dishes made from dogs, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Friday.

Waiters and waitresses should "patiently" suggest other options to diners who order dog, it said, quoting city tourism bureau Vice Director Xiong Yumei.

Contd....

[OCBuckWife]

Originally Posted by Oneshot

I, for one, hope that the games are protested further.

China's treatment of Tibet and Taiwan are just microcosms of how [censored]ed that political system is. Yes, it will be a great economic power.

But at what cost? The poor are going to be shipped out of Beijing in time for the Olympics... The pollution is [censored]ing insane, politics are more corrupt there than they are here, censorship is so bad that kids there don't know what the hell happened in Tiananmen Square.

What are we supporting? I love gold medals as much as the next guy, but a message needs to be sent. For all of America's moral 'high ground,' we would not be supporting it very much by attending these Olympics.

I wasn't sure I should post this in a thread more dedicated to the sports but it does match this comment. I guess it can be split off for a more political discussion. I just ran across these Amnesty International ads and thought they were very powerful.



Personally, I am torn. I respect the Olympics but it turns my stomach that China won the right to host. I will watch however so I guess I can't be THAT sincere about it, right? *sigh*

Link to other ads here.

[bkochmc]

USA set to defend Olympic medal supremacy in Beijing

USA set to defend Olympic medal supremacy in Beijing

Jul 11 10:19 AM US/Eastern



Americans will attempt to lead the overall medal table for the fourth Summer Olympics in a row next month in Beijing, but hosts China and Russia will challenge for supremacy in golds and total medals.

US teams had the greatest medal haul for a record fourth Games in a row at Los Angeles in 1932. While Soviet Union talent topped the table eight times from 1956 to 1992, it never equaled that mark.

US squads have led the medal charts at Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000 and Athens four years ago. But this time, the Chinese are going for the medal crown as hosts and with a formidable squad backed by throngs of cheering supporters.

"Russia, China and the US are vying with the most legitimate shot at the top medal count at the Olympics," said Steve Roush, chief of sport performance for the US Olympic Committee (USOC).

Cont....

[bkochmc]

Everything you wanted to know about the Olympics themselves and more... The Olympic Charter (pdf file)


Fundamental Principles of Olympism

1. Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.
2. The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
3. The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal and permanent action, carried out under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by the values of Olympism. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the bringing together of the world's athletes at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games. Its symbol is five interlaced rings.
4. The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. The organisation, administration and management of sport must be controlled by independent sports organisations.
5. Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.
6. Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and recognition by the IOC.

Parts of the Olympic Charter that mention politics:

1.2.10 (p.15, Mission and Role of the IOC) - The mission of the IOC is to promote Olympism throughout the world and to lead the Olympic Movement. The IOC's role is to oppose any political or commercial abuse of sport and athletes;

2.16.1.1.3 (pp.30-31, IOC Membership Oath) - The IOC admits its new members at a ceremony during which they agree to fulfil their obligations by taking the following oath:
"Granted the honour of becoming a member of the International Olympic Committee, and declaring myself aware of my responsibilities in such capacity, I undertake to serve the Olympic Movement to the very best of my ability; to respect and ensure the respect of all the provisions of the Olympic Charter and the The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decisions of the International Olympic Committee, which I consider as not subject to appeal on my part; to comply with the Code of Ethics; to keep myself free from any political or commercial influence and from any racial or religious consideration; to fight against all other forms of discrimination; and to promote in all circumstances the interests of the International Olympic Committee and those of the Olympic Movement."

4.28.5 and 6 (p.62, Mission and Role of National Olympic Committees) -
5. In order to fulfil their mission, the NOCs may cooperate with governmental bodies, with which they shall achieve harmonious relations. However, they shall not associate themselves with any activity which would be in contradiction with the Olympic Charter. The NOCs may also cooperate with non-governmental bodies.
6. The NOCs must preserve their autonomy and resist all pressures of any kind, including but not limited to political, legal, religious or economic pressures which may prevent them from complying with the Olympic Charter.

5.45.3 (p.83, Invitations and Entries of Athletes to the Olympic Games) - An NOC shall only enter competitors upon the recommendations for entries given by national federations. If the NOC approves thereof, it shall transmit such entries to the OCOG. The OCOG must acknowledge their receipt. NOCs must investigate the validity of the entries proposed by the national federations and ensure that no one has been excluded for racial, religious or political reasons or by reason of other forms of discrimination.

5.51.3 (p.98, Advertising, Demonstrations, Propaganda) - No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.