Summer Olympics: Beijing, China

[mindy384]

My hubby 'ran' with flanigan at ncaa meets and said she was amazing then, too!

Sidenote, I just can't get over the gynastics judging, the bronze medal was awarded to a girl who fell down (hands and knees on on the mat!) while others remained upright. Finally, us normal folks have something obvious to point out here, most experts say at the minimum she should have had a 1.5 deduction--but was that reflected in her score--the answer is NO! This is ridiculous. What can be done about this... isn't there something these athletes (ones without the special consideration) can do-- I feel so bad for them!

[Google]

 

[CrossingGuard]

Originally Posted by mindy384

My hubby 'ran' with flanigan at ncaa meets and said she was amazing then, too!

Sidenote, I just can't get over the gynastics judging, the bronze medal was awarded to a girl who fell down (hands and knees on on the mat!) while others remained upright. Finally, us normal folks have something obvious to point out here, most experts say at the minimum she should have had a 1.5 deduction--but was that reflected in her score--the answer is NO! This is ridiculous. What can be done about this... isn't there something these athletes (ones without the special consideration) can do-- I feel so bad for them!

I can't agree with this anymore than I already do. I hate this new scoring system. Get rid of it fast! A girl can have a high difficulty level and still get a high score. It's not right, and I don't think it's really fair. The Chinese girl did not deserve her bronze medal IMO. I might be a little biased because like Bela, my heart is breaking for Alicia. But the only mistake Alicia had was bouncing on her landings. The Chinese girl landed on her knees! And she still got the bronze.

I <3 Bela, and I <3 Alicia. I like Bela's insight. He may be hard to understand sometimes, but when I can decipher what he's saying, he actually makes a lot of sense. As for Alicia, I feel for her extremely. The girl can't seen to have a break.

[Leo]

The gymnastic scoring really is... bizarre. I'm sure it makes some sense to so-called "experts", but it's just strange to the rest of us.

Originally Posted by Critical

One of my favorite celebrations was the man who came in second to Bolt in the 100 M. He's from Trinidad and Tobago and he was so happy, he was just rolling around on the ground (pic here: Trinidad's Richard Thompson reacts after winning the silver medal in the men's 100-meter final ). His joy is exactly what the Olympics is about for me: it didn't matter to him what color his medal was. He was just thrilled to win any medal.

Somebody ought to tell the CCTV about Olympic spirit:

Olympic Shooter Berated On China TV For Getting Bronze Medal | World News | Sky News

China's state broadcaster has come under fire after a veteran Olympic shooter was interrogated on TV for only getting bronze.
Tan Zongliang

Tan Zongliang was grilled on TV over his bronze medal win

Beijing's ruthless demand for perfection was highlighted when Tan Zongliang was made to squirm on China Central Television after missing out in the men's 50m pistol competition.

Even though it was his first ever Olympic medal, he was harried until he bowed his head and admitted he had "let his country down" for not getting gold.

His grilling goes against the central belief of International Olympic Committee founder Pierre de Coubertin, who stated: "The important thing is not to win, but to take part."

And it has angered some residents Sky News spoke to in Beijing, who said they felt uncomfortable watching it, and a bronze medal was something to be proud of.

One restaurant owner, who did not want to be named, said: "It's very bad. They were too strong. If you see this is how they treat you, it doesn't help your nerves."

Tan's coach Liu Zhiqiang also defended the athlete, saying: "There is no need to be disappointed. Being the best in the world on a given day isn't everything. It's more important to enjoy the competition."

Beijing 2008 Medal Tally

In the interview, a CCTV journalist asked Tan: "In your first shot you only got 7.9 points. What is the reason for this?"

"I was maybe a little bit anxious," the 36-year-old replied, before adding: "Overall my performance was fine."

"But you came into the finals leading on points," the reporter chipped away. "The result really is a shame. Feel bad?"

The reporter continued the grilling until Tan lowered his head and apologised to his motherland.

He said: "I have been doing this sport for 23 years. I have been nurtured by my country in that time. I have let my country down."

In another interview with Tan on CCTV International's website, the writer noted: "Tan acknowledges his disappointing Olympic record is due to his inability to handle the pressure.

"But he made no mention of retiring after winning his first Olympic medal."

In the same report, Wang Quan, vice president of the Shandong provincial competitive sports school, was quoted as saying: "He is a brilliant shooter, but with unfortunate shortcomings."

[sukee]

Originally Posted by dberk

For some reason the way he finished this race really offended me. I can't explain exactly why it bothered me to the degree that it did, but even now the feeling is as strong. Acting like that is not going to endear him to the majority of fans no matter how good he is. Afterall when you really look at it, all he can do is run fast.

All those 100M guys act the same when they win. They are always big on swagger. Donovan Bailey said, before his record was broken, that he was the greatest athlete on earth. I really don't think his looking around was arrogance.

[myrosiedog]

I didn't mean to belittle the athletes that run the marathon. I realize they train very hard. I know it's a grueling race. I am familiar with the history of the ancient marathon and how it got it's name in Greece and how it was an integral part of the ancient Olympics.
All I was saying was that to me, it's one of the least interesting sports to watch. At the time it was on, there wasn't any other Olympic coverage on the channels I get, so I was stuck with that. For those that like it, I'm sorry I said anything.

We all have our favorite sports to watch and our least favorites. I was just stating that it was not one of my favorites and I would have been happy just seeing part of it and the ending. I'm sure that some of the things I like to watch the rest of you find boring.

Just personal preference is all. Not trying to make light of the athletes long hours of training for it. All Olympic athletes are incredible, have made incredible sacrifices to become Olympic level athletes and I applaud them all for their dedication and sacrifices for their sports.

[Missyboxers]

Originally Posted by CrossingGuard

I can't agree with this anymore than I already do. I hate this new scoring system. Get rid of it fast! A girl can have a high difficulty level and still get a high score. It's not right, and I don't think it's really fair. The Chinese girl did not deserve her bronze medal IMO. I might be a little biased because like Bela, my heart is breaking for Alicia. But the only mistake Alicia had was bouncing on her landings. The Chinese girl landed on her knees! And she still got the bronze.

I <3 Bela, and I <3 Alicia. I like Bela's insight. He may be hard to understand sometimes, but when I can decipher what he's saying, he actually makes a lot of sense. As for Alicia, I feel for her extremely. The girl can't seen to have a break.

I didn't actually see the event, as we were traveling, but I thought I read on ESPN.com or someplace that the gold medal winner actually stepped out of bounds. Kind of ludicrous that one can win gold and step out of bounds...

[MsDiva2007]

Originally Posted by Missyboxers

I didn't actually see the event, as we were traveling, but I thought I read on ESPN.com or someplace that the gold medal winner actually stepped out of bounds. Kind of ludicrous that one can win gold and step out of bounds...

Its really ridiculous the scoring system. If the scoring doesn't do you in then a underage gymnast will.

[Bearcata]

Originally Posted by jacobson00

you are so right. i was hoping they will show the brazilians.

I saw the Brazilians in the 2003 (or was it 2004) World Gymnastics Championship and they were fantastic. They had so much energy and excitement especially on the Floor Ex. They were such a surprise. But when I found out that they had an Eastern European coach that explained alot. There is a big difference actually being in the stadium when all the atheletes are competing that viewing 4 gymnasts just does not give you the full story.

[jacobson00]

Liu's injury leaves China brokenhearted - Olympics - Yahoo! Sports

Liu’s injury leaves China brokenhearted
By Josh Peter, Yahoo! Sports
4 hours, 26 minutes ago

Buzz Up Print

China's athletics star Liu Xia…

AP - Aug 18, 12:30 am EDT

Liu Xiang of China grimaces in…

Reuters - Aug 18, 12:49 am EDT

China's Liu Xiang retires …

AFP - Aug 18, 1:00 am EDT
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BEIJING – The coach of the most beloved athlete in China buried his face into his hands and wept. He sobbed almost uncontrollably in front of hundreds of journalists who packed a news conference after a shocking development left the host country of these Olympics crushed.

Liu Xiang, the reigning Olympic champion in the 110-meter hurdles and China’s face of the 2008 Games, withdrew from competition Monday with what his coach and a team official said was a lingering foot injury. The moment Liu walked off the track at the National Stadium, the world got new insight into an emerging superpower long thought to be unemotional, detached and inscrutable – a perception reinforced by the stiff-faced and rigid soldiers patrolling the Olympic grounds.

We got to see China’s heart.

During a live report from the Bird’s Nest, a female broadcaster for the state-controlled television network cried twice as she relayed the details. About the lingering foot injury that apparently flared up Saturday. About his attempt to run in the first of four rounds that were expected to climax later this week with a showdown between Liu and world-record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba. About his inability to compete for the prized gold medal.

The hastily called conference and the somber tribute to Liu that followed – complete with heartstring-tugging violins and a slow-motion montage of Liu – afforded the outside world a rare glimpse behind the stern face of a country that has embraced Liu as a symbol of its hope and pride.

“I feel very sad,” said Yang Min, 28, a reporter in Beijing. “He’s worked very hard. He’s under the biggest pressure.

“He’s our hero.”

The bond between this country and Liu would be a foreign one to Westerners. U.S. swimming star Michael Phelps just completed an unprecedented feat by winning eight gold medals during the first nine days of the games. If he had pulled out due to injury, Americans would have been disappointed, but they would not have been inconsolable.


No matter how many medals Phelps wins, Liu means more to China because he stands for a burning pride.

At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Liu, 25, became the first Asian man to win an Olympic gold medal in a sprint event. Yao Ming, the first Chinese basketball star in the NBA, carried the flag for China during the opening ceremony. But Liu carried this country’s hopes for another prized gold medal in a race long dominated by the West.

In an uncanny segue, the day after Phelps eclipsed Mark Spitz’s record for most medals won in a single Olympics, attention shifted to Liu’s first race.

During warm-ups on Monday, he grimaced as he ran up and down the track before a Chinese flag-waving crowd inside the 91,000-seat National Stadium. He still lined up with eight other competitors, crouched in the starter’s blocks and waited on the gun.

It fired twice, signaling a false start. Liu had sprung out of the blocks and pulled up short of the first hurdle. He took a few steps, ripped off his hip patch that designates lane assignments and walked off the track favoring his right foot. He headed into a tunnel leading into the bowels of the stadium.

The crowd watched in stunned silence. When it became apparent Liu was not returning, thousands of spectators streamed out of the Bird’s Nest. It was as subdued as a funeral for a head of state.

For China, these games are about more than athletics. There’s a reason the government spent almost $50 billion to build facilities and prepare to welcome the world into its once-cloistered home. This is a chance for the Chinese to put their best foot forward and prove they deserve the respect and stature of a superpower.

Liu represented those hopes.

Until 2004, no Chinese man had proved swift enough to keep up with the rest of the world in the sprints that have traditionally been the Olympics’ marquee events. Liu changed all that.

His picture graced the cover of billboards across the city, and China has used his image to market the games. Swift enough, strong enough and agile enough to run with the world’s best hurdlers.

But it won’t happen now. About 30 minutes after Liu left the track, Chinese officials called a news conference. More than 400 journalists packed the room. Liu was not there, but officials and his coach arrived to explain what had happened.

Before answering the first question, a subdued Halping said, “I feel very bad about today’s result.”

Someone asked him what Liu had told him after withdrawing from the race.

“I just spoke to Liu Xiang outside and he’s very depressed,” Halping said through an interpreter.

A reporter asked Halping how he felt.

The coach leaned toward the microphone, then buried his face into his hands. He began to sob, stifled the tears, then broke down again, and again, and again. It was as if all of China was weeping in a display that stood in stark contrast to those stiff and stern-faced soldiers.

i guarantee you it's over training!!! or cracked under pressure, after all he is only 25

[jacobson00]

yes, i was puzzled my the korean girl victory? she stepped out of bound and was very sloppy but ended up wining?