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More problems for the Chinese Government.
Beijing organizer defends photogs’ detention
The two photographers were roughed up by plainclothes officers early Thursday, forced into cars and taken to a nearby building where they were questioned and released. Police confiscated six memory cards but returned only four.
This is the latest instance in which journalists have been slowed from reporting protests at the games, bringing into question pledges by the International Olympic Committee and Beijing organizers that foreign media would have complete freedom to report.
At Friday’s final media briefing of the games, Wang Wei, executive vice president of the organizing committee and games spokesman, said police believed the photographers were protesters despite wearing official Olympic credentials.
Read this excellent article by Mark Alexander:
Suffice it to say, I found China to mirror what I anticipated: A great people enslaved under the rule of the tyrannical Red Chinese government—1.329 billion people, in fact, who share none of the rights outlined in our Constitution, which most Americans take for granted.
One evening, I was visiting with a former leader of the protests at Tiananmen. We stood above the street in the exact location where video footage of one fearless student protestor confronting a column of tanks was recorded. (He disappeared that bloody night, never to be heard from again.)
In the square, celebrating the “new face of China,” stood a very large topiary sculpture of the “running man” icon, symbol of the Beijing Olympics. The irony of this blood-red figure running through Tiananmen Square did not go unnoticed.
IOC wants investigation but still thinks Chinese don’t cheat.
IOC: Despite questions, no proof China cheated
BEIJING (AP) Despite persistent questions about the ages of several members of the Chinese women’s gymnastics team that won the gold medal, the International Olympic Committee said Friday there is still no proof anyone cheated and believes the controversy will be “put to rest.”
The IOC asked the International Gymnastics Federation to investigate “what have been a number of questions and apparent discrepancies,” spokeswoman Giselle Davies said. But all of the information the Chinese gymnastics federation has presented so far supports its insistence that its athletes were old enough to compete.
“We believe the matter will be put to rest and there’s no question … on the eligibility,” Davies said. “The information we have received seems satisfactory in terms of the correct documentation - including birth certificates.”
However, it’s not a clear cut as the IOC thinks. From the Times of London via Michelle Malkin:
Mike Walker, a computer security expert, told The Times how he tracked down two documents that he says had been removed from a Chinese government website. The documents, he said, stated that He’s birth date was January 1 1994 - making her 14 - and not January 1 1992, which is printed in her passport…
…Giselle Davies, an IOC spokesperson, said tonight that because of troubling new developments, the committee had instructed the International Gymnastics Federation, the sport’s governing body, to investigate.
And this (also via Malkin):
A US-based internet security consultant and part-time hacker calling himself “Stryde Hax” has trawled through the search results on Google, Google China and the Chinese search engine Baidu, unearthing numerous examples of cached official Excel spreadsheets showing He Kexin listed as being born on January 1, 1994…
…Stryde Hax claims to work for the US-based Intrepidus Group, a provider of information security consulting services. His findings have been meticulously laid out in his blog with links and screenshots to prove and preserve his findings.
“Much of the coverage regarding Kexin’s age has only mentioned ‘allegation’ of fraud, and the IOC has ignored the matter completely. I believe that these primary documents, issued by the Chinese state, directly available from China by clicking on the links above rise to a level of evidence higher than ‘allegations’,” he writes.
“How official are these documents? Pretty dang official - they were issued by the General Administration of Sport of China.”
It’s incumbent upon FIG and the IOC to fully investigate and stip the cheating Chinese Government of the medals won by these gymnasts.
Olympic News Roundup
Clay claims “world’s greatest athlete” moniker, wins Olympic decathlon
BEIJING - Bryan Clay upgraded his 2004 silver medal to 2008 gold in the decathlon, dominating competition during Friday evening action at the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium.
Clay (Glendora, Calif.) got his evening off to a very strong start, throwing a season-best 70.97m/232-10 to place third in the javelin. The performance earned him 904 points, bringing his total up to 8,269 with one event remaining in the 10-event competition. Ahead of the field by 479 points, his only competition was himself in the final event, the 1,500m.
Never a favorite event for Clay, he endured through the accumulated fatigue of two days of competition to finish in 5:06.59 for 522 points, bringing his winning total to 8,791 and becoming the first U.S. gold medalist in the event since Dan O’Brien in 1996. Andrei Krauchanka of Belarus took the silver with 8,551, and Leonel Suarez of Cuba finished third with 8,527.
Russia wins women’s 4×100-meter relay in upset
BEIJING (AP) Russia has won the women’s 4×100-meter relay in an upset after hot-favorite Jamaica had a mixup at the second change.
Russia won in 42.31 seconds, with world championship bronze medalist Belgium getting silver and Nigeria picking up bronze in Friday’s final.
Undefeated U.S. Men Beat Russia; Will Go for Gold
BEIJING (Aug. 22, 2008) – After 20 years of waiting, the U.S. Olympic Men’s Indoor Volleyball Team will be heading back to the Olympic Games gold-medal match as it held off second-ranked Russia 25-22, 25-21, 25-27, 22-25, 15-13 Saturday afternoon in a semifinal match at Beijing’s Capital Indoor Stadium. The second-ranked Americans will play for the gold on Sunday at noon against Brazil.
“We knew it was going to be a tough match,” U.S. Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon said. “I am proud of the way the guys were able to deal with the pressure and consistency of Russia at the end of the match. For these guys, it is a chance to get on the podium.”
Motivated Merritt leads US sweep in Olympic 400
LaShawn Merritt’s powerful, Bolt-like stretch run led a U.S. sweep in the event Thursday night, his long stride churning as reigning world champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner faded.
Afterward, Merritt said he studied Bolt’s stunning world-record run in Wednesday night’s 200 meters and then watched himself in the 400 semifinals. He saw he was running with short steps, not the giant stride Bolt has.
I’m 6-foot-3, Merritt reasoned, Bolt’s 6-foot-5 - why can’t I run more like him?
“He really opened up coming down the home stretch,” Merritt said. “I used to run that way back in high school before I started getting all technical with everything. I just came in and said I was going to open up and let it fly.”
It was the first loss in a major international competition for Wariner since his gold four years ago in Athens. It came at the end of a season that began when Wariner left his longtime coach Clyde Hart in favor of Hart’s former assistant, Michael Ford.
U.S. beats Argentina, will go for gold Sunday
BEIJING (AP) The U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team has advanced to its first major gold-medal game in eight years after a 101-81 victory over Argentina.
The United States will play Spain, which it beat by 37 points in pool play, on Sunday in the final. The Americans haven’t won gold since the 2000 Sydney Games.
Shocking developments in Track and Field
Track and Field got underway at the National Stadium, better known as the Bird’s Nest and there were a number of shocking developments. For the Chinese people, perhaps no bigger shock could be possible than Liu Xiang’s withdrawal from the 100m Hurdles event. Xiang was the defending Gold Medalist and carried the hopes of 1.5 billion Chinese in his quest to repeat as Champion. Xiang withdrew due to an achilles injury. Xiang’s former coach says the Chinese government put too many demands on Xiang.
“I am saddened by Liu Xiang’s exit,” Mr Gu said at his office in Shanghai. “I think it is because of the intense training. If he had been more relaxed the injury might not have been so bad.
“I have experienced in the past the great pressure that government officials exert on the athletes as well as the coach, and that they demand a gold medal, otherwise it is meaningless. Liu Xiang is still a young boy and he has been put under a bit too much expectation.”
Xiang’s injury clears the way for American Terrence Trammell who suffered a minor strain in his hamstring on Sunday.
In the Men’s 100m race, it was all Usain Bolt as the Jamacian blew away his own world record and even slowed with about 15 meters remaining. His countrywomen went 1-2-3 in the Women’s 100m and survived a protest by the American’s of a false start.
America’s best medal chance in the 1500m since Steve Prefontaine failed to make the finals. Bernard Lagat struggled in both the quarter and semi-finals and just missed qualifying for the final. Lagat will still compete in the 5000m where hopefully he will fare better.
In the good news department we find Florida State’s Walter Dix who won a Bronze medal in the Men’s 100m. Dix ran a personal best 9.91 seconds, passing former record holder Asafa Powell down the stretch.
In news you’re unlikely to hear on NBC, the Chinese Communist Government has confiscated Bibles and tortured Tibetans to death during these Olympics.
LeBron and Kobe on the Games and Patriotism
NBC’s Jim Lampley spoke with the Redeem Team’s LeBron James and Kobe Bryant about their Olympic experience, Michael Phelps, and Patriotism. You can watch the interview here.
Olympic News Roundup
Phelps makes it 6 Olympic golds, 6 records
Lochte wins U.S. duel in Olympic 200 backstroke
American Rebecca Soni wins Olympic 200 breast
US makes Olympic soccer semis with win over Canada
Blake rips foe after Olympic tennis loss
Blake came up one shot short Friday, losing in the semifinal to Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 4-6, 7-5, 11-9. Afterward he accused Gonzalez of failing to fess up on a disputed point two games before the finish.
“I’ve spoken all week about how much I’ve enjoyed the Olympic experience, how much I love the spirit of it,” Blake said. “That’s a disappointing way to exit the tournament, when you not only lose the match, but you lose a little faith in your fellow competitor.”
Baseball and politics mix in China vs. Taiwan
“We needed to win,” said Chen Long, a 20-year-old Chinese swaggering out of the stadium after China came from behind to earn its first-ever Olympic baseball victory, beating Taiwan 8-7 in a surprise upset in extra innings. “This was a must-win game for China, an emotional game.”
Asked whether he was referring to the troubled history of China-Taiwan relations, he began to mumble: It’s about how hard the Chinese team trained, he said, it’s about the advancement of Chinese sports.
Pin trading lures curious Chinese at Olympics
Federer salvages bid for Olympic medal
Bolt, Powell, Gay coast through 100 heat
Racing for the first time since crumpling to the track six weeks ago, America’s fastest sprinter enjoyed an uneventful debut at the Beijing Games, coasting to the finish Friday to win his preliminary heat in 10.22 seconds.
“It feels good,” Gay said, referring to the left leg that has had the track world wondering. “I felt a little sluggish the first round, but my body is woke up now.”
World record-holder Usain Bolt and fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell also advanced comfortably, winning their heats.
Daily press briefing canceled, at least for a day
Marathon test on the horizon for polluted air
Concerns about polluted air kept many of the leading distance runners away until just prior to the race; others wore masks as a precaution during training. But athletes’ complaints about the polluted air have been few since the Games began, perhaps because it’s considered impolitic to raise the issue.
Video of Chinese Communists arresting Journalist
Since it’s unlikely you’ll see this on NBC, here’s video of the Chinese Communists pushing a journalist around and arresting him.
USA goes 1-2 on Women’s Gymnastics All Around.
Nastia Liukin takes the Gold and Shawn Johnson the Silver.
“I don’t think it’s really set in, but I feel like this journey has been so long,” Liukin said.
Made even longer by having to wait for Johnson to follow her on the floor exercise.
Liukin paced back and forth while Johnson, the final competitor, completed her performance, clapping as her teammate floated high in the air. In the end, it was Liukin who soared. When Johnson’s score was posted and Liukin realized she won, tears filled her eyes. Her father and coach Valeri grabbed her in a bearhug, squeezing her tight for several minutes.
Olympic News Roundup.
Phelps last major obstacles are a couple of mates
“Michael has his goals and I have mine,” Crocker said. “I don’t think anyone should get in the way of what I want. I’m not going to feel bad if I go out and race my heart out and end up winning.”
USA Women’s Table Tennis Advances to Bronze Medal Bracket
The United States women’s table tennis team downed Nigeria 3-0 to advance to the bronze medal bracket of the team competition on Thursday. Team USA emerges as the No. 2 seed out of group B and will play on Friday, August 15 at 9:00 a.m. The opponent will be determined Thursday night when the quarterfinal draw is conducted.
The Medal that Got Away Under the Great Wall
Unbreakable record? 10,000-meter mark seems safe
US men’s volleyball team stays undefeated
BEIJING (AP) The U.S. men’s volleyball team could have been broken by tragedy. Instead, they stand undefeated and one step closer to an Olympic medal.
The men beat Bulgaria 3-1 on Thursday night, overcoming a cold start to take the next two sets and hold off the Bulgarians in the end 27-29, 25-21, 25-14, 26-24 in round-robin pool play.
Track and field set to start at Beijing Olympics
What track and field really needs is an athlete, a milestone, a moment to quiet all the discussion about doping and BALCO, about court cases and revoked medals, about Marion Jones.
The biggest meet of them all starts Friday at the Bird’s Nest, and these next 10 days could help determine where the narrative goes next.
“We’re out to do some amazing things,” said Allyson Felix, a 2004 Olympic silver medalist in the 200 meters and one of the faces USA Track & Field is counting on to alter perceptions, “and if we can really let people see that and draw in the fans, maybe we can change the state of the sport.”
Van den Hoogenband retires after finishing 5th
A first for Mongolia: a gold in judo
BEIJING (AP) Tuvshinbayar Naidan of Mongolia won his nation’s first gold medal ever, defeating Askhat Zhitkeyev of Kazakhstan in the men’s judo 100-kilogram class.
Naidan, who upset Athens Olympic champion Keiji Suzuki of Japan in his opening bout, scored a waza ari with just under two minutes remaining, then added on two yuko to seal the victory.
Swedish wrestler protests bronze-medal finish
The public display came after a disputed point in Abrahamian’s contest against gold medal winner Andrea Minguzzi of Italy.
Sweden coach Leo Myllar used words much stronger than disputed.
“It’s all politics, and it’s all corrupt,” he said.In the oft-mysterious world of international wrestling, in which the rules are quirky and can be interpreted in widely varying ways, sometimes it’s all in the game.