2008 Beijing Olympics [Archive] - Page 2

GeneChing

08-22-2008, 10:40 AM

SOME BWT COVERAGE!!!

"the first time in the Olympic history for a tournament of a non-Olympic event to be held in an Olympic host city during the Games"

Beijing 2008 Wushu tournament kicks off in Beijing (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/21/content_9586731.htm)
www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-21 21:09:28

BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Wushu, also called martial arts, a non-Olympic but Chinese traditional sport, made a shinning appearance on Thursday in Beijing where the 29th Olympic Games is going on.

The four-day Beijing 2008 Wushu Tournament, which attracts 128 athletes from 43 countries and regions, kicked off at the Beijing Olympic Sports Center where some Olympic handball matches had been held.

It was the first time that a non-Olympic tournament was launched in a city which is hosting an Olympic Games.

"With the approval of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Beijing 2008 Wushu Tournament is co-sponsored by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG), the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) and the Chinese Wushu Association," said Wang Xiaolin, the secretary-general of IWUF.

"It is the first time in the Olympic history for a tournament of a non-Olympic event to be held in an Olympic host city during the Games," Wang noted.

"The IOC approval shows its recognition and support to the sport event originated from China and its respect to the Chinese culture," Wang said.

"The holding of the tournament showcases the magnificence of the Wushu, and signifies 'the People's Olympics', one of the themes of the Beijing Olympic Games," he added.

As for the issue of the inclusion of Wushu in the Olympic Games, Wang admitted that there is still a long way to go.

There are a total of 15 gold medals up for grabs in the Beijing 2008 Wushu Tournament which features Taolu (set routines) and Sanshou Boxing (free combat).

Sun Jianming, head coach of the Japanese Wushu team, told Xinhua, "Wushu is more popular in Asia than in Europe and America. Statistics show that in Japan there are about a million people practising Wushu, the Taijiquan in particular."

"Many medical organizations in Japan encourage the people to practise Taijiquan for keeping healthy," said Sun, who went from China to Japan 22 years ago to be a Wushu tutor.

Japanese athlete Koki Nakata, 24, said, "I started to practise Wushu at the age of 16. The technique of Wushu is so amazing that I could not give it up in the past eight years."

"I am a fan of Jackie Chan, the world famous Wushu master and movie star," he added.

SPJ

08-22-2008, 01:14 PM

my brothers and I all agreed that the medical team and judges should have stopped her from playing/competing.

Su was standing with the good right leg, and kicking away with hurt left knee.

Su fell and stood up again and finished her games of 3 rounds.

the cruciate lig of her left knee may be ruptured.

--

no so much about pains to bear.

may be the spirits of sportsmanship

and a promise to her dad with cancer that she would do "all" she could to win the gold for him.

--

many people in tears including coaches and judges.

Su ended with the 5th place.

--

:(:cool::rolleyes::confused:

SPJ

08-22-2008, 07:08 PM

http://www.casttv.com/olympics/taekwondo

this is a link to watch tkd games.

:)

B-Rad

08-22-2008, 07:16 PM

A little bit of taekwondo controversy (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/taekwondo/news?slug=cr-lopez082208&prov=yhoo&type=lgns) today. Think it could cost tkd their spot in the Olympics?

SPJ

08-22-2008, 07:21 PM

youtube took away a lot of tkd games vid.

nothing I can do about it.

:(

TaichiMantis

08-23-2008, 04:51 PM

Cuban banned for life (http://www.nbcolympics.com/taekwondo/news/newsid=251304.html) after kicking ref in the head. What an idiot!:rolleyes:

Matos' bad behavior followed a day of confusion on the mats and ended the four-day taekwondo competition, which was marred by several protests against judge's calls.

bakxierboxer

08-23-2008, 07:42 PM

Cuban banned for life (http://www.nbcolympics.com/taekwondo/news/newsid=251304.html) after kicking ref in the head. What an idiot!:rolleyes:

OTOH, his opponent was obviously "in error" with the following statement:

"To me it was obvious he was unable to continue," Chilmanov said. "His toe on his left foot was broken."

The Cuban's kick to the ref's head may have been the best shot of the entire event.
Guess it just took "motivation"? (above & beyond the "quest for gold")

SPJ

08-24-2008, 07:40 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v8dA8hMf84

Su li wen from Taiwan (chinese taipei)

I will post more as they are available.

:)

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=722363&lang=eng_news&cate_img=145.jpg&cate_rss=news_Sports

Taiwan's possibly only gold medal winner worth more than gold.

:cool:

Oso

08-24-2008, 05:29 PM

anyone else see this?

china won over the mongolian guy but I didn't see why? technical?

anyone else think their 'boxing' stances were really low?

and, christ, dudes less than 106???

brothernumber9

08-25-2008, 06:15 AM

Yea but that wasn't has biased as the Light Heavy final. The Irish guy got wh0red in my opinion. Even Teddy Atlas at times couldn't understand why some punches weren't scored.

and also the fight befoe was light flyweight.

SimonM

08-25-2008, 06:59 AM

Chinese guy won against the mongolian because the mongolian bowed out claiming his right shoulder hurt too much to continue. It was not apparently seriously damaged but, whatever.

In the light heavyweight bout it LOOKED really even between the Irish boxer and the Chinese. I'd have been hard pressed to determine a winner. That being said the judges favored the Chinese boxer something fierce and I think a lot of people will be calling the Irish boxer as the rightful winner as a backlash against the rotten judging.

The super heavyweight bout however did not suffer from a pro-China bias in judging. The Italian dominated the fight and the score reflected this.

GeneChing

08-25-2008, 11:41 AM

Finally I can get a good night's sleep again...

Kicked out: Cuban banned for life (http://www.nbcolympics.com/taekwondo/news/newsid=251304.html#banned+life)
By the Associated Press
Posted Saturday, August 23, 2008 5:42 AM ET

BEIJING (AP) -- Cuba's Angel Matos deliberately kicked a referee square in the face after he was disqualified in a bronze-medal match, prompting the World Taekwondo Federation to recommend he be banned for life.
Cuba's Angel Matos has been disqualified for life after kicking a referee in the Men's 80Kg Bronze medal match

"We didn't expect anything like what you have witnessed to occur," said WTF secretary general Yang Jin-suk. "I am at a loss for words."

Yang also recommended Matos' coach be banned.

Matos was winning 3-2, with 1:02 left in the second round, when he fell to the mat after being hit by his opponent, Kazakhstan's Arman Chilmanov. Matos was sitting there, awaiting medical attention, when he was disqualified for taking too much injury time. Fighters get one minute, and Matos was disqualified when his time ran out.

Matos angrily questioned the call, pushed a judge, then pushed and kicked referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden, who will require stitches in his lip. Matos spat on the floor and was escorted out.

"This is an insult to the Olympic vision, an insult to the spirit of taekwondo and, in my opinion, an insult to mankind," Yang said.

Matos' coach was unapologetic.

"He was too strict," Leudis Gonzalez said, referring to the decision to disqualify Matos. Afterward, he charged the match was fixed, accusing the Kazakhs of offering him money.

Although the arena announcer said Matos and his coach were banned effective immediately, Yang said due process must be followed before officially banning the two.

In his first match, Matos defeated Italy's Leonardo Basile, then beat China's Liu Xiaobo 2-1 in the quarterfinals. But he lost to South Korean Cha Dong-min in the semis to land in the bronze-medal match.

"To me it was obvious he was unable to continue," Chilmanov said. "His toe on his left foot was broken."

But Chilmanov added: "Rules are rules. I'm happy with my medal."

Matos won the gold medal in this division - the men's over 80-kilograms (176 pounds) - at the 2000 Sydney Games, dedicating the victory to his mother, who died on the day of the opening ceremony. At the 2004 Athens Games, he finished 11th.

Matos' bad behavior followed a day of confusion on the mats and ended the four-day taekwondo competition, which was marred by several protests against judge's calls.

Earlier Saturday, China's double gold medalist Chen Zhong crashed out in the quarterfinals after initially being declared the winner.

World champion Maria del Rosario Espinoza, the eventual winner in the women's over 67-kilogram (147.4 pounds) class, was to fight Chen in the semifinals but the judges overturned an earlier ruling and made Britain's Sarah Stevenson the winner of the quarterfinal bout in which Chen scored in the closing seconds of the second round and then Stevenson tagged her with a head kick - worth two points - in the third.

The judges ruled Stevenson's kick wasn't solid enough for points, and Chen was declared the winner 1-0. After Britain protested, the result was changed to put Stevenson in the semifinal.

The decision brought loud jeers from the crowd. China did not appeal.

It was the first time a match result has been overturned since taekwondo became an official Olympic sport in 1990.

"It's been a really tough day, an emotional rollercoaster," Stevenson said. "I would have been devastated if they hadn't changed the decision."

Stevenson won bronze, along with Brazil's Natalia Falavigna.

Cha made it four-for-four gold medals for South Korea. In taekwondo, countries are allowed to enter only four athletes.

Cha fell behind when Alexandros Nikolaidis of Greece nailed him with a head kick 15 seconds into the bout. But he came back with a body kick and a head shot of his own to take back the lead, adding another point to go 4-3 going into the third round.

Nikolaidis evened it out at 4-4 with a body kick, but Cha scored with just 18 seconds left to claim the gold in the men's over-80 kg (176 pounds) division.

Nikolaidis said he felt the judging was bad in the gold-medal match as well.

"I don't think in press conferences we should discuss referees and things," he said. "But I think I deserved a couple of things that didn't come to me."

Daba Modibo Keita of Mali, the 2007 world champion, was defeated in overtime in the quarterfinals by Nigeria's Chika Yagazie Chukwumerije, who ended up with the other bronze.

GeneChing

08-26-2008, 10:18 AM

I was wondering if anyone would report it from this angle... I should have guessed it would come from the Japanese...

Beijing Olympics held firmly on China's terms (http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/olympics/20080826TDY03104.htm)
Hiroyuki Matsumoto and Wakako Yuki / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

BEIJING--The Beijing Olympics, which ended Sunday with the host nation grabbing a list-topping 51 gold medals, proved to be "run by China for the benefit of China," while the International Olympic Committee lauded the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee for its management of the Games.

The Opening Ceremony held on Aug. 8 was attended by heads of state and leaders from an unprecedented 80-plus countries to make it a gala occasion for Olympic diplomacy. At the center stage of this diplomacy was Chinese President Hu Jintao, who declared the Games open while giving the impression that the dignitaries had gathered in Beijing to congratulate the host nation.

The way the Games were managed received high praise. A member of the Japanese gymnastics team said everything was perfect, and that athletes were provided with a far more favorable environment than previous Olympics.

Organizers touted the motto "Volunteers' smiles are the best advertisement for Beijing." Indeed, an abundance of unpaid workers offered services at the Games. Special car and bus lanes for Olympic participants and others enabled smooth transportation between venues.

The food served at the Olympic Village proved popular among athletes. Kosuke Kitajima, who took gold for the second time in a row in the men's 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke races, said, "Compared with the two other Olympics I've taken part in, the food [at the Beijing Games] was the tastiest."

On the security front, although there were frequent small-scale terrorist attacks in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, security in the capital was untroubled. In Beijing, luggage inspections were held at subway ticket gates and more than 10,000 knives were confiscated, while Beijing-bound trains were routinely inspected. A small missile base was built at a site adjacent to the Olympic venues, in case of emergency.

There were no instances of large-scale trouble because potentially disturbing elements were removed by making maximum use of public authority. There was, however, a succession of incidents in which human rights activists and foreign reporters were detained and treated violently by the Chinese authorities. Further, two Beijing residents were ordered to serve one year of labor education for "disrupting public order" after they protested against an order to move out of their homes for an Olympic-related development project.

The Beijing Olympics also were characterized by what some people labeled "unprecedented egotism on the part of the host city."

Symbolic of this was an event for a traditional Chinese martial arts held from Thursday to Sunday at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. The venue hosted an international meet for Chinese martial artists that was not part of the official Olympics. Preliminary rounds of Olympic handball games were held at the same gymnasium until Wednesday.

Medals handed out at the martial arts event were engraved with logos minus Olympic emblems, but which when seen from a distance, were indistinguishable from genuine Olympic medals.

A 20-year-old Russian woman who won one of the martial arts events said emotionally, "It feels like I'm taking part in a real Olympic event." But the martial art meet could be seen as nothing more than a "fake Olympic event."

China repeatedly asked the IOC to approve the traditional martial art as an official Olympic event, but this request was never granted.

The IOC therefore initially took a dim view of the martial art meet being held at the same time as the Olympics. But the Chinese organizers paid little heed to the IOC's opinion, going so far as allowing participants to stay in the Olympic Village alongside Olympic athletes. Eventually, the IOC approved the meet as a "cultural program." IOC President Jacques Rogge himself visited the venue for the event and served as a presenter at a medal ceremony.

The Chinese organizers were keen to hold the event as China otherwise might have lost face given the fact judo was admitted as an official Olympic event when Tokyo hosted the Games in 1964, while South Korea's taekwondo was introduced as an unofficial Olympic event when Seoul hosted the Games in 1988.

President Hu himself reportedly urged the IOC to allow the martial art meet to be held, indicating that hosting the event was the state will of China.

After all, the Beijing Olympics were held to bolster the pride of the host nation.

Meanwhile, here's a Jackie pic:

Olympics, It's Hard to Say Goodbye (http://english.cri.cn/6066/2008/08/23/1461s397772.htm)
2008-08-23 11:06:00

Chinese superstars Jackie Chan, Liu Huan, Andy Lau and Chow Wah Kin (from right to left) pose for photos at the Beijing Olympic Park on Friday, August 22, 2008. The four stars sang the song "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" together to mark the conclusion of the Beijing Olympics.

As a footnote, I just got a copy of this but haven't listened to it yet

Jackie Chan Releases Olympic Album (http://english.cri.cn/6066/2008/08/07/1261s390831.htm)
2008-08-07 21:40:23

One day before the Beijing Olympics opening, Jackie Chan released an official Olympic album and became the only male singer authorized to do so.

The "Official Album for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games - Jackie Chan's Version" is one of the two solo albums with authorization granted by the Beijing Olympics organizing committee, reported Sina.com.cn. The Web site broadcasted the launch ceremony at the Olympic Park on Thursday.

The other record to be released soon is by songstress Tan Jing, according to Yu Binghan, who produced both albums.

Chan's album includes 10 songs he sang for the "Official Album for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games," a star-studded compilation released on April 30. Tracks include "We Are Ready" and "Welcome to Beijing."

"The album is an extension of the official compilation," Yu Binghan told Sina. "We chose Jackie because he is the best-known Chinese celebrity, and also because he has done a lot for the Olympics."

Chan received his Olympic volunteer certificate from the organizing committee on August 3 at the inauguration ceremony for China Story, a project promoting Chinese culture and for which he and Tan Jing will together sing the theme song.

He is also set to promote Chinese culture to foreign broadcasters during the games, Sina reported.

Chan wore sports clothes to his album's launch ceremony, and said the garments were one of the 101 sets that he has had custom made for Olympic occasions.

Each set is printed with Olympic rings and features different Chinese characters. The one he wore Thursday reads "Peace" and "Friendship."

He said that he would put the costumes up for auction after the Olympics and donate the proceeds to charity.

GeneChing

08-27-2008, 11:54 AM

I can't believe NBC played an except of China Cat Sunflower in one of their segments.

Check out the pic of Max in this USA TODAY piece - not his most shining moment but at least you can recognize him.

Kung-fu makes Olympic showcase debut (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/beijing/fight/2008-08-21-wushu_N.htm)
By Calum MacLeod, USA TODAY

BEIJING — The fighters are gloved up like boxers, and enter to pumping rock music too. In action, they grapple like wrestlers, and launch kicks to their opponent's body armor like taekwondo athletes. Then a gong, not a bell, sounds to end each round.

This is Chinese kung-fu, making its Olympic debut … almost.

The Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 kicked off Thursday at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. Approved by the International Olympic Committee, but not a formal part of its Summer Games, the four-day tournament showcases the mother of all martial arts.

Wushu, as kung-fu is better known in China, boasts a history stretching back thousands of years. But the sport is now determined to move from Hollywood movies and ancient Chinese temples, into the mainstream of Olympic sports. Fifteen gold medals are up for grabs by 128 athletes from 43 countries and regions.

"This is a great day," said Wang Xiaolin, president of the Chinese Wushu Association and head of the International Wushu Federation, who has led the push for Olympic recognition.

"For the first time we have the chance to show off the image of wushu during the Olympics. Look at the fierce fighting of sanshou," he said, referring to the full-contact discipline.

"But wushu is also a very cultural and civilized sport," he said. "Defense is crucial, and in taolu (the other main discipline), you will get a feeling of beauty when you watch. Wushu is a harmonious, tolerant activity. "

Wang said that although wushu originated in China, there are now 120 countries in his federation. "We look forward to the day when wushu is an official Olympic sport," he said, but declined to offer a timetable. "We are trying."

Sarah Ponce of San Diego, though disappointed after her quarterfinal loss to Walaa Mohamed Abdelrazek of Egypt, said she still found it "awesome" to be competing in the home of her sport.

Ponce, 31, took up wushu 10 years ago so she could take on her brother and his friends. She has relished the Beijing experience, especially staying in the main Olympic Village.

"We get to interact with the real Olympic athletes," said Ponce, who then argued her experience is much the same and that the sport should be formally recognized.

"I've trained for 10 years to get to this point," she said.

Tat-Mau Wong, vice president of the U.S. Wushu Federation, said the sport is booming there. "I have 1,000 students at my school in San Francisco, and we have got a lot more because of Kung-fu Panda," the recent hit film.

Wong said there are close to 100,000 people practicing wushu in United States. "It can grow into a very popular sport."

Here's some CCTV wushu coverage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGdgGS49jj4) I was forwarded.

Wushu champ gives RP a reason to celebrate (http://sports.inquirer.net/inquirersports/inquirersports/view/20080826-156836/Wushu-champ-gives-RP-a-reason-to-celebrate)
By Tarra Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:01:00 08/26/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Upon seeing the tiny athlete with a gold medal around his neck, passengers on the immigration queue broke into applause. Tourists posed with him for photos and a passenger pointed a kid to the medalist passing by.

In a country deprived of Olympic joy when athletes from the regular sports failed in their courageous bid to land a medal, 24-year-old Willy Wang arrived Monday giving people who saw him at the airport reason to celebrate.

“I am happy because we got a gold in the Olympics,” said Wang, who prepared just as hard—and as long—as the athletes who were counted on to deliver the country’s first Olympic gold medal.

Wang, who prepared for the event for eight months, won the gold in wushu, a demonstration event whose results do not count on the official medal standings.

“Even if it’s a special event, I am happy that we won a gold,” said the Filipino-Chinese world champion in heavily accented Filipino.

Wang, who started training in the martial art when he was 12, snagged the gold in the demonstration event held on the side of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where most of the country’s overmatched delegation failed to make it even past the preliminary stages of their events.

Wang’s victory marked the only time the Philippine national anthem was played in Olympic City.

Wang shared that other Filipino athletes in Beijing were happy about his win despite missing their own medal goals in the quadrennial.

“Their training was really hard, they did all the preparation and they did not get any medals, but at least I got one for the country. My friends [from other events] are happy about it,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer while waiting at the baggage carousel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

He believes wushu has a strong chance to become an Olympic event soon, but not within the slowly expiring shelf life of his career.

“By the next Olympics, I might already have retired, because that’s still a long time away, four years,” Wang said. “Maybe [I’m retiring] next year, because I’m old [for the sport], I’m already 24.

“I’d like to do business instead, maybe [with] computers,” he said with a grin.

Wang arrived on a Philippine Airlines flight around 5:40 p.m. Monday along with officials of the Philippine delegation, among them Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco and the team’s chief of mission, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella.

Said Cojuangco of Wang’s sport: “I think it has a good prospect because the Chinese are really working hard to get it in, there’s a big effort to get it in.”

Asked about the Philippine team’s performance, he said: “They performed as best as they can. They broke their own Philippine records. They did the way we expected them to do, only the competition was really tough.”

GeneChing

08-27-2008, 12:02 PM

From Vietnam:

Wushu artist Hoa takes home silver in combat (http://english.vietnamnet.vn/sports/2008/08/800433/)
10:30' 25/08/2008 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – Wushu artist Luong Thi Hoa took home a silver medal in the women's under 60kg sanshou (combat) category on the last day of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, yesterday, following 17 days of events.

Hoa, who beat Egypt's Mohamed Abdelrazek Walaa 2-1 in the semi-final, could not defeat Iran's Karimi Vardanjani Zahra in the final yesterday.

The medal was not counted in the final tally, as wushu, Vietnam's best event, was still only a demonstration sport at this year's Olympics.

Table tennis player Doan Kien Quoc, 29, who qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games after winning the regional Olympic qualifiers in Singapore earlier this year, ascended to the second round after beating David Zalcherg from Australia, ranked 438th in the world, and French Christophe Legout in the men's singles.
Last Saturday, other wushu artists, including taolu (performance) athlete Nguyen Huy Thanh and Nguyen Thuy Ngan, added two bronzes in the men's jianshu (sword) and qiangshu (spear) combined and the women's sanshou 52kg events, respectively.

The last hope of a medal for Vietnam at Beijing, fell to taekwondo artist Nguyen Van Hung. He was defeated 1-3 by Nigeria's Chika Yagazie Chukwunerije in the first round of the men's over 80kg event last Saturday.

Hung had previously won five gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games and has now taken part in the Olympics twice in a row.

Vietnam completed the Beijing Olympics with a silver medal, won by weightlifter Hoang Anh Tuan in the men's 56kg category.

The results are reminiscent of eight years ago when taekwondo artist Tran Hieu Ngan won the women's 57kg at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Kudos

"I greatly appreciate the fact that Hoang Anh Tuan won the silver weightlifting medal. It's an historical victory for Vietnam at the Olympic Games," said vice chairman and general secretary of the Viet Nam Olympic Committee Hoang Vinh Giang.

"Tuan was heavily invested in and well-prepared for the Olympics.

"I also feel sorry for the taekwondo artists, the medal hope of Vietnam, for not taking home any medals," Giang added.

Vietnamese athletes also worked hard in athletics and table tennis at the Olympics.

Top sprinter Vu Thi Huong, 22, finished eighth in the women's 100m quarter-finals at the Beijing Olympics, clocking 11.70 seconds, not quick enough for a semi-final spot.

Table tennis player Doan Kien Quoc, 29, who qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games after winning the regional Olympic qualifiers in Singapore earlier this year, ascended to the second round after beating David Zalcherg from Australia, ranked 438th in the world, and French Christophe Legout in the men's singles.

Quoc left the Olympics after losing to powerhouse Alexei Smirnov from Russia in the second round.

Vietnam were represented by 21 athletes at this year's Olympics, competing in nine areas: wushu, taekwondo, track and field, weightlifting, shooting, table tennis, swimming, gymnastics and badminton.

From the Philippines:

FG has special bonus for wushu bets – not P15M (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=129108)
By GERRY CARPIO
The Philippine Star

BEIJING – First Gentleman Mike Arroyo on Saturday praised the wushu athletes for their heroic effort in winning four medals for country, saying some "special awards" are forthcoming for all four athletes who won one gold, two bronze medals and either a gold or silver in the packed Beijing 2007 wushu competitions at the Olympic Sports Center.

‘I am very proud of what they did," said the First Gentleman, who watched all the Filipinos’ bouts with wushu honorary lifetime president Francis Chan and wushu president Julian Camacho, Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose ‘Peping" Cojuangco, Philippine Sports Commission chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros and other members of the Filipino community.

"They stayed here, they trained here for eight months and now it’s paying off."

The five medalists are Willy Wang who won the gold in the taolu event and Marianne Mariano and Benjie Rivera who took the bronze in the sanshou events and Mary Jane Estimar who is competing for the gold against a Chinese opponent today.

"So I say thanks to wushu officials who did their best in keeping them here in China and I thank also the boys and girls who did very well," he added. "We are very proud of all of them and all our efforts have paid off."

"At least it was so nice to sing our national anthem in the Olympics and this is the very first time it happened so we are very proud of them," he said.

When asked if Wang would be entitled to the P15 million bonus from Malacañang and private sponsors, the First Gentleman would not confirm.

"I’m sure we can find something for them. From Malacañang I don’t know but I’m sure they’ll get some cash rewards," he said.

The P15 million bonus cropped up early in the Olympics when Camacho said Pres. Arroyo had told him the wushu athletes would also be entitled to the P15 million bonus if they won the gold.

Although Camacho told The STAR the President had indeed told her of the bonus, he said he and the players wouldn’t expect that to happen.

"I told our athletes and they are one with us that the main reason we are here is to give honor and pride to our country and financial rewards are beside the question," he said.

The Beijing 2008 wushu has gathered 128 athletes from 43 countries whose entries qualified from last year’s world wushu championships.

The wushu tournament is being run concurrently with the Olympics in a bid to get the game considered for eventual Olympic inclusion.

Wushu debuted as a demonstration sport in the 1936 Berlin Games.

From Malaysia:

Wushu exponents wrap up campaign with creditable show (http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/8/24/olympics/22161749&sec=Olympics)

MALAYSIA wrapped up their campaign in the Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 with two silvers and a bronze in the taolu (barehands and weapons) categories at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium yesterday.

Chai Fong Ying handed Malaysia the first silver in the women’s taijiquan and taijijian combined events in the morning before Lim Yew Fai grabbed the second in the men’s jiangshu (sword) and qiangshu (spear) combined events in the evening.

The 22-year-old Fong Ying, who is also the Doha Asian Games gold medallist, was trailing Japan’s Miyaoka Ai in third spot by a marginal difference of 0.2 after the taijiquan discipline on Friday. But she put up a better performance in the taijijian (taijisword) discipline to earn 9.70 for a combined total of 19.34 points. She received the silver medal from action movie star Jet Li.

Miyaoka, who earned 9.64 in taijijian, took the bronze with a 19.30 total while China’s Cui Wenjuan secured the gold on 19.69.

Yew Fai, meanwhile, finished just 0.1 point ahead of Vietnam’s Nguyen Huy Thanh with his total of 19.32. Chai Fong Wei delivered a bronze in the women’s gunshu and daoshu combined events with 19.16 for Malaysia’s fifth medal of the world meet, held concurrently with the Beijing Olympics.

lkfmdc

08-27-2008, 12:06 PM

a US reporter applies to protest during the Olympics

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/opinion/17kristof.html?emc=eta1

To put a smiley face on its image during the Olympics, the Chinese government set aside three “protest zones” in Beijing. Officials explained that so long as protesters obtained approval in advance, demonstrations would be allowed.

So I decided to test the system.

Following government instructions, I showed up at an office of the Beijing Public Security Bureau, found Window 12 and declared to the officer, “I’m here to apply to hold a protest.”

What I didn’t realize is that Public Security has arrested at least a half-dozen people who have shown up to apply for protest permits. Public Security is pretty shrewd. In the old days it had to go out and catch protesters in the act. Now it saves itself the bother: would-be protesters show up at Public Security offices to apply for permits and are promptly detained. That’s cost-effective law enforcement for you.

Fortunately, the official at Window 12 didn’t peg me as a counterrevolutionary. He looked at me worriedly and asked for my passport and other ID papers. Discovering that I was a journalist, he asked hopefully, “Wouldn’t you rather conduct an interview about demonstrations?”

“No. I want to apply to hold one.”

His brow furrowed. “What do you want to protest?”

“I want to demonstrate in favor of preserving Beijing’s historic architecture.” It was the least controversial, most insipid topic I could concoct.

“Do you think the government is not doing a good job at this?” he asked sternly.

“There may be room for improvement,” I said delicately.

The official frowned and summoned two senior colleagues who, after a series of frantic phone calls, led me into the heart of the police building. I was accompanied by a Times videographer, and he and a police videographer busily videoed each other. Then the police explained that under the rules they could video us but we couldn’t video them.

The Public Security Bureau (a fancy name for a police station) gleams like much of the rest of Beijing. It is a lovely, spacious building, and the waiting room we were taken to was beautifully furnished; no folding metal chairs here. It’s a fine metaphor for China’s legal system: The hardware is impeccable, but the software is primitive.

After an hour of waiting, interrupted by periodic frowning examinations of our press credentials, we were ushered into an elegant conference room. I was solemnly directed to a chair marked “applicant.”

Three police officers sat across from me, and the police videographer continued to film us from every angle. The officers were all cordial and professional, although one seemed to be daydreaming about pulling out my fingernails.

Then they spent nearly an hour going over the myriad rules for demonstrations. These were detailed and complex, and, most daunting, I would have to submit a list of every single person attending my demonstration. The list had to include names and identity document numbers.

In addition, any Chinese on a name list would have to go first to the Public Security Bureau in person to be interviewed (arrested?).

“If I go through all this, then will my application at least be granted?” I asked.

“How can we tell?” a policeman responded. “That would prejudge the process.”

“Well, has any application ever been granted?” I asked.

“We can’t answer that, for that matter has no connection to this case.”

The policemen did say that if they approved, they would give me a “Demonstration Permission Document.” Without that, my demonstration would be illegal.

I surrendered. The rules were so monstrously bureaucratic that I couldn’t even apply for a demonstration. My Olympic dreams were dashed. The police asked me to sign their note-taker’s account of the meeting, and we politely said our goodbyes.

Yet even though the process is a charade, it still represents progress in China, in that the law implicitly acknowledges the legitimacy of protest. Moreover, a trickle of Chinese have applied to hold protests, even though they know that they are more likely to end up in jail than in a “protest zone.” Fear of the government is ebbing.

My hunch is that in the coming months, perhaps after the Olympics, we will see some approvals granted. China is changing: it is no democracy, but it’s also no longer a totalitarian state.

China today reminds me of Taiwan in the mid-1980s as a rising middle class demanded more freedom. Almost every country around China, from Mongolia to Indonesia, Thailand to South Korea, has become more open and less repressive — not because of the government’s kindness but because of the people’s insistence.

I feel that same process happening here, albeit agonizingly slowly. Someday China’s software will catch up with its hardware.

funny and sad at the same time

GeneChing

08-27-2008, 12:07 PM

Wall Street Journal - There's a nice video version if you follow the link.

Inner Peace? Olympic Sport? A Fight Brews (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121916373044753643.html?mod=googlenews_wsj)
Kung Fu's Absence From Games Reflects Divide Over Art Form
By IAN JOHNSON
August 20, 2008; Page A14

MOUNT WUDANG, China -- At the Olympics in Beijing, spectators have been treated to the flips, kicks and punches of judo from Japan and taekwondo from Korea.
China's Martial Artists Getting Their Kicks

But except for an unofficial competition due to begin Thursday in the capital, they won't have seen any martial arts from China, even though Asian martial arts originated in Chinese fighting styles widely known as kung fu.

Why that is could be put down to the usual reasons that any sport is kept out of the Olympics. Some say the Games are already bursting at the seams and can't host another sport -- 302 events are on tap this year in Beijing. Others say Chinese martial arts aren't popular enough internationally to warrant inclusion.

But travel to this cloud-covered mountain in central China and you are confronted with a more central question: How do you make a sport out of something that might not really be a sport? And if you try, what do you risk losing?

Mount Wudang is one of the centers of Chinese martial arts, which are more accurately known as wushu. The mountain is home to a bevy of Taoist temples, many dedicated to Zhenwu, the Perfected Warrior. Legend has it that tai chi shadow boxing was revealed to a Taoist alchemist while he slept here. The mountain's fame spread internationally when dramatic fighting scenes in the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" were shot on its slopes.

Yet the form of martial arts practiced here -- and in many parts of China -- are hardly of the punch-'em-up variety. Students learn to kick and spin and punch, but the goal isn't so much to knock down opponents as to use the physical activity to achieve a meditative inner peace, a cultivation of the mind.

"There aren't a lot of fancy, rehearsed actions in Wudang martial arts," says Chen Lisheng, a Taoist and martial-arts instructor. "It is humble and plain. It starts from the nature of the human being."

That was a problem for China's ambitious sports administrators. During the 1990s, they began to organize wushu with an eye toward adding them to the Olympics. They identified 129 schools of fighting but realized this was too complicated. So forms were mixed together and stripped down. The inner cultivation was jettisoned. The slow movements were discarded and the more theatrical side played up. The result is part gymnastics and part boxing: A competitor is judged on a set of routines he performs on the mat alone, like a floor exercise, and he spars with another competitor, both in boxing gloves.

"It's a question of how do you transform a traditional art form into a competitive sport," says Nancy Chen, an anthropologist at University of California, Santa Cruz, who has written on the topic. "Or can you?"

Officials at the China Wushu Association concede they have had to make major compromises. The association's general director, Kang Gewu, says the entire idea of competition is foreign to Chinese martial arts. Traditionally, martial artists didn't compete against each other, and there was no ranking or points system. "It owes something to the forces of market economics," he says.

But the idea was correct, he says. If wushu is to join the international sporting world, then it must become like other judged sports. That means standard routines so judges can award points and winners be identified. Cultivating one's inner soul is fine, but how can judges give points for that, he asks.

Mount Wudang's Taoist martial-arts masters are supportive of the government's overall thrust. "We want to popularize wushu, too," says Mr. Chen. But the way it is being done leaves something to be desired, he says.

Mr. Chen explains what he means during a visit to an institute of Taoist studies to meet students. Officials invested $100 million in an institute that teaches the Taoist classics, music, art and martial arts. But none of the students learn the government's version of wushu because instructors deem it too simple.

Mr. Chen enters a courtyard and surveys young Taoists practicing martial arts. Mr. Chen nods appreciatively as the three young men, their shoulder-length hair tied up in knots on their head, perform "Crouching Tiger Fist," a complicated series of slow moves punctuated by explosive kicks and punches.

"The key isn't the punches," he says, "it's the stuff in between. It's the breathing, the way they move their feet, their attitude." By contrast, government-sponsored wushu competitions "cater to society's needs nowadays," he says. "It tries to satisfy the demands from the public."

Another prominent Taoist martial artist, Shi Fei, is less diplomatic. "Competitive wushu is pretty, but it's empty," he says. Mr. Shi left Mount Wudang 10 years ago to open a school at the foot of the mountain. His 20 or so students learn only traditional wushu.

"Children can learn the government form of wushu," he says. "It's fine for beginners. But no one who really wants to learn wushu learns that. It's like a show."

The lack of support is reflected in the China Wushu Association's difficulty in getting its sport into the Olympics.

"Virtually nobody outside of China performs their form of wushu," says Stanley Henning, an independent academic who has written widely on Asian martial arts. "It's like a dance routine."

Officially, there is an International Wushu Federation, but its officials are all Chinese and its address is the same as Mr. Kang's China Wushu Federation. It is sponsoring an international competition that begins Thursday, but it doesn't have sanctioning by the International Olympic Committee.

One problem, Mr. Henning says, is that Japan and Korea beat China to the punch. While China was caught up in political turmoil, Japan got judo accepted in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and South Korea got taekwondo accepted in the 1988 Seoul Games. Wushu has had a hard time defining itself because those two sports -- which primarily involve throwing, kicking and punching -- have already covered most of the basic fighting techniques of wushu.

Back on Mount Wudang, Taoist Master Shi is taking his students through their paces. He pulls out one, a boy of 10, and has him perform that national standard form. The boy jumps around the square, kicking his legs up and punching into the air.

"Now watch this," he says and instructs the boy to do "Xing Yi," a style that might be translated as "form with meaning." The boy stands with legs apart, bends his knees and lowers his center of gravity. He moves his legs slowly, like a fighter gauging his opponent. Then with a quick whirl he lashes his leg around like a roundhouse punch.

"Guess which one is better in a real street fight?" Mr. Chen asks, a smirk breaking out beneath his small mustache. "It might be slow, but our ancestors handed us this down for a reason."

GeneChing

08-27-2008, 12:10 PM

It mentions Taguo which is cool by me.

Closing ceremony will be just as spectacular (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/24/columnists/beijingexpress/22161012&sec=beijingexpress)
BEIJING EXPRESS: CELESTE FONG

TWO weeks have passed since the Beijing Olympics’ opening ceremony and most visitors here are saying the Chinese capital is the best place in the world to be in right now.

“It (Beijing) is almost like Singapore,” exclaimed some foreign visitors I met on the streets.

Beijing has been spruced up, thanks to the floral sculptures, colourful flower decorations, leafy trees, clean roads and extra lighting for the Olympics.

Even the run-down housing quarters in the back alleys behind the high-rise buildings off the main street in the Central Business District (CBD) here have been boarded off behind giant wall panels covered with sheets featuring blue skies and white clouds and the Olympic slogan “One World, One Dream” in Chinese.

A few days ago, my cab driver tried to beat the traffic by going through the back alleys.

If he had taken the other route, I would have forgotten this living space for the local residents and perhaps migrant workers. As it was, I noticed a dark-coloured mop hung up to dry on top of the wall panel right above one of the 10 characters for the “One World One Dream” Chinese slogan.

“Of course, Beijing is very beautiful, especially now, but these are all money,” replied my cabby when asked if Beijing would be able to keep its “green image” after the Games.

Well, “the new Beijing” showing its thousands of years of history and culture as well as its modernism, development and technological prowess has, of course, been the talk of town.

But the lip-sync controversy involving two little girls, which has marred the splendid opening ceremony, has also been put on the international spotlight.

(If you have not heard of it yet, here’s the gist of the so-called mini Olympic scandal: a representative of the Chinese government did not like the looks of Yang Peiyi, seven, who was chosen to sing at the opening ceremony. So he had a prettier and cuter substitute, Lin Miaoke, nine, to stand in front of the world at the Bird’s Nest to lip-sync “Ode to the Motherland” along to Yang’s voice.)

And now people are also paying attention to details like whether Peiyi would be included in the closing ceremony today.

In general, netizens here have expressed roaring support for little Peiyi.

A web portal ran a poll on the popularity of Lin versus Yang and more than 68% voted for Yang out of some 34,660 users who took part in the poll.

Hurdler Liu Xiang’s withdrawal, no doubt, triggered an immense shockwave and various opinion polls here showed that many reacted with understandable sympathy. But there are people who condemned the poster boy of China as “a fake”, unfortunately.

For tonight’s closing, those who have seen the rehearsals say “the show will be an entertainment spectacular” and advise that we keep our eyes on the part when the Olympic flame is extinguished.

And you may have heard by now that two of Britain’s hottest celebrities – David Beckham and Leona Lewis – will be featured in the “London’s Eight Minute” section after London Mayor Boris Johnson receives the Olympic flag.

According to London 2012 director of ceremonies Bill Morris, it will be “simple and creative.”

“Don’t over analyse what we are doing,” Morris told a press conference earlier at the 2008 Beijing International Media Centre.

“Enjoy it, join in the fun, join in the celebrations and what we hope is this will simply mark the start of those celebrations,” he said.

And don’t say I didn’t tell you not to miss the Shaolin kungfu (martial arts).

About 200 exponents from Shaolin Tagou Wushu School established by Master Liu Baoshan, whom I interviewed some years ago, will surprise us with what they can do in their “special shoes”!

As for me, I am still choosing which of the places with giant screens in the Chinese capital I will go to for tonight’s closing ceremony!

Oso

08-27-2008, 07:54 PM

Wall Street Journal - There's a nice video version if you follow the link.

that's a great article.

the vid: everything else was pinyin pronunciation except the T in taoist...or do I have that backwards???? whichever, it was all one except for that.

Oso

08-27-2008, 07:58 PM

Chinese guy won against the mongolian because the mongolian bowed out claiming his right shoulder hurt too much to continue. It was not apparently seriously damaged but, whatever.

ok, cool, thanks...was watching while eating at a restaurant and missed what happened

In the light heavyweight bout it LOOKED really even between the Irish boxer and the Chinese. I'd have been hard pressed to determine a winner. That being said the judges favored the Chinese boxer something fierce and I think a lot of people will be calling the Irish boxer as the rightful winner as a backlash against the rotten judging.

well, I'll probably always bet on an Irish boxer over most anyone else ;)

The super heavyweight bout however did not suffer from a pro-China bias in judging. The Italian dominated the fight and the score reflected this.

someone was telling me that the scoring was the problem...that at least 3 of the judges had to hit the button all within a second of each other for it to count...if the timing wasn't right then the score didn't count.

sounds like there needed to have been trials to qualify as a judge!

SPJ

08-28-2008, 07:43 AM

Yes. everyone is reading and watching closely about the protest zones or parks.

the existance of the ideas and physical place are a giant leap/step forward already.

foreigners are foreigners. they get deportation when the worst comes worst.

however, chinese would get labor camp re-education etc.

the first big scale of freedom of "expression" came about when si chuan earthquake hit, all tv stations and internet are free to report the scales of calamities--

--

there is a political/party commisar system in place.

the police station is the place to apply for protest permit, but it is the political/party commisar to grant approval or not.

there are political/party machines/staff in the government, the military, along with the regular personale.

--

It is nice to know, all olympians competed and went home safely.

that is what everyone wanted or wished for or hoped for.

utilization of the protest parks or not.

next stop. london 2012.

:)

SimonM

08-28-2008, 08:28 AM

someone was telling me that the scoring was the problem...that at least 3 of the judges had to hit the button all within a second of each other for it to count...if the timing wasn't right then the score didn't count.

sounds like there needed to have been trials to qualify as a judge!

This is true. At least 3 judges had to hit the score button within 1 second of each other to count a point. That being said there were CLEAR hits that the Irish boxer was landing that just didn't get any score and there were IFFY hits that the Chinese boxer was landing that did. That's not down to poor reaction times. The judges showed a bias.

Now, again, the Irish and Chinese boxers were close. I'm pointedly not saying "the Irish guy won". I'm saying that the score should have been **** close to a tie with it possibly going either way and instead it was listed as if the Chinese boxer dominated.

SimonM

08-28-2008, 08:29 AM

next stop. london 2012.

:)

Ahem... Vancouver 2010.

GeneChing

08-28-2008, 11:10 AM

From China Daily (with a quote from Tat)

Wushu battles for place at Olympics (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-08/23/content_6963015.htm)
China Daily
Updated: 2008-08-23 07:47

You've seen it in the Matrix. Bruce Lee was its most famous proponent. An animated panda tickled audiences this year. Now practitioners hope that wushu, more commonly known as kungfu, will be contested at the Olympics.

Wushu's backers are trying to cram the millennia-old art on to a packed Olympics calendar, arguing a growing following. They claim a victory for a sport that for the first time held an unofficial competition on the sidelines of the Games in Beijing.
Zhao Qingjian of China performs during men's Daoshu (broadsword play) of the Beijing 2008 Wushu Competition in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. Zhao Qingjian ranked first in men's Daoshu competition with a score of 9.85. (Xinhua/Liu Lihang)

China's growing clout, hit films such as Kung Fu Panda and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and international stars Jet Li and Jackie Chan have helped the martial art lure devotees from Vietnam to Sweden.

"They have boxing at the Olympics. They have taekwondo. This is all that in one package," Sarah Ponce, 32, said after a sparring match. She took three months off her job to train and paid her own way from the United States to China.
Andrzej Topczewski of Poland performs during men's Daoshu (broadsword play) of the Beijing 2008 Wushu Competition in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. Andrzej Topczewski ranked 9th in men's Daoshu competition with a score of 9.25. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

But it might take more than a decade before wushu's signature whirling kicks and lightning punches will be seen at the Games.

Sports for the 2012 Olympics have been decided and wushu is not shortlisted for 2016. Its advocates are holding out for 2020.

The Games in Beijing showcased 28 sports. In London, the number will fall to 26 after the exit of baseball and softball. And a slew of other sports will be vying for a place in 2016, such as squash, rugby, golf and karate.

The International Wushu Federation is one of the IOC's 31 recognized federations along with cricket, golf, karate, rugby and squash, meaning a spot on the program is not impossible.

"Wushu will need to prepare for submitting a strong file in 2011," Jan Fransoo, president of the Association of the IOC Recognized International Sports Federation, said.

The 2020 Games will be determined seven years before.

Ever since Bruce Lee wielded his double-section staff, more popularly known as the nunchuks, wushu has evolved into a graceful art similar to gymnastic floor exercises.

This week in Beijing, practitioners compete in a range of events: sanshou or full-contact sparring akin to Thai boxing; nanquan or graceful somersaults and punching manoeuvres; daoshu, or flashy Chinese sabers.

"We know it's not easy, but we're working quite hard. We are widening our worldwide presence and promoting wushu as a sport internationally by having more demonstrations abroad," Han Jianming, spokesman for the Chinese Wushu Association, said.

Tat Mau Wong, vice-president of the USA Wushu-Kung Fu Federation, admitted that cash is hard to come by in a country that swears by basketball, baseball and football.

Still, some are happy to make it to the Beijing Olympics.

"Although it is not an official Olympic event, this is the first time wushu has come so close to the Olympics," Ma Lingjuan, ranked first in a weapons competition, said.

"This is a great opportunity to show the world wushu."

And more from the Philippines

Wushu athletes get P1.5m (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=sports6_aug28_2008)
By Peter Atencio

FOUR wushu athletes, who have won medals in the special event of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, stand to receive at least P1.5 million in incentives.

Wushu Federation of the Philippines chairman Francis Chan yesterday got this commitment from the First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Chan said during a press conference yesterday that Arroyo has assured a total of P1 million in bonuses after Willy Wang won the gold medal in nanquan event.

PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez informed Chan of the government sports agency’s commitment to hand out P500,000 as a reward for the one gold, one-silver and two bronze output of the Filipino wushu competitors.

The P500,000 incentive, according to Ramirez, was approved after the PSC board discussed what should be given to wushu’s medalists in an early morning meeting.

Incentives amounting to more than P15 million was supposed to be given to the first Filipino gold medalist in the Beijing Olympics.

But wushu was not included because it was not considered a regular event.

“Official or not, they, the wushu athletes, brought glory and honor to the country,” said Chan.

Wang’s teammates Mary Jane Estimar took silver while Marian Mariano and Benjie Rivera got bronze medals.

Chan said the federation has also gotten commitments from businessman Ramon Ang for additional incentives through San Miguel Corp. He also revealed that Pagcor is also setting aside a still undetermined amount.

“This will really inspire the athletes to go on,” added Chan.

Lucas

08-28-2008, 11:38 AM

crazy ness

冠木侍

08-30-2008, 12:55 PM

From China Daily (with a quote from Tat)

Master Wong is one nice fellow. I'm actually surprised he took time out of his busy schedule to say something :D

GeneChing

09-08-2008, 05:43 PM

See the official IWuF site for complete results (http://iwuf.org/admin_01.asp?id=418).

Shaolinlueb

09-09-2008, 10:17 AM

Ahem... Vancouver 2010.

winter and summer = 2 different things. ;)

london 2012.

i know summer people who could give 2 cares about winter and vice versa.

GeneChing

09-10-2008, 09:57 AM

This article is so misguided. First of all, there's a huge application process to become an Olympic sport that we are all painfully aware of now. Second, the full-contact part is slightly off, since wushu embraces sanshou and taolu. Third, I'm not sure we showed wushu to the world at all. I was watching and didn't see any coverage on NBC, Telemundo or MBC. The only coverage I saw was here on the web.

Plea for cricket in 2012 (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-olympics/article-23553481-details/Plea+for+cricket+in+2012/article.do)
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard
10.09.08

A campaign has been launched to include cricket in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Labour Assembly member Murad Qureshi has set up an online petition and Facebook page. He wants the sport to be included in its Twenty20 form, in which matches normally take between two and three hours.

Traditionally, each Olympic host nation includes a national sport as a "demonstration" event. China showcased Wushu, a full-contact sport derived from traditional martial arts.

Mr Qureshi said: "If the Chinese can show Wushu to the world, I can see no reason why London shouldn't have cricket in 2012. It is this country's summer game after all." He will present the petition to the International Olympics Committee and London Organising Committee next month. To sign it go to: www.twenty20for2012.com

lkfmdc

09-10-2008, 10:10 AM

GeneChing

09-10-2008, 11:17 AM

The Olympics now has recognized sports and International Federations (IFs - funny acronym). These are not official sports, but akin to the old demo sport concept. Wushu is an IF. There are the current IFs (some are really weird): Air sports, Bandy, Billiard Sports, Boules, Bowling, Bridge, Chess, Cricket, DanceSport, Golf, Karate, Korfball, Life Saving, Motorcycle Racing, Mountaineering and Climbing, Netball, Orienteering, Pelote basque, Polo, Powerboating, Racquetball, Roller Sports, Rugby, Squash, Sport climbing, Surfing, Sumo, Tug of War, Underwater Sports, Water Skiing, Wushu. The Wushu Tournament Beijing was held in the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium during the Olympics (Olympics: 8/8/8-8/24/8, WTB: 8/21/8-8/24/8), not after, not on the other side of Beijing. As for the sanda issue, the IOC accepted wushu as an IF, and that IF governs both taolu and sanda. Neither taolu or sanda was an official sport, but both are still under the IF and both were represented at the WTB.

lkfmdc

09-10-2008, 11:39 AM

Wushu is an IF.

it is a big "if" ;)

The Wushu Tournament Beijing was held in the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium during the Olympics (Olympics: 8/8/8-8/24/8, WTB: 8/21/8-8/24/8)

we BOTH know it was not part of the Olympics, we also both know many people tried to mis-lead people into thinking it was, if it walks like a duck.....

not on the other side of Beijing.

that was called sarcasm, maybe you got the flavor?

As for the sanda issue, the IOC accepted wushu as an IF, and that IF governs both taolu and sanda. Neither taolu or sanda was an official sport, but both are still under the IF and both were represented at the WTB.

A sport can not be considerd for inclusion if it does not offer equal participation for men and women. While Taolu DOES, San Shou/San Da at the time of review had still not offered competition for women at an international level. Not only incredibly sexist, and offensive, but incredibly stupid as well

GLW

09-10-2008, 11:51 AM

And the likelihood that Wushu will get the nod - well, there would have to be a change in the number of events allowed or an event would have to be dropped so that Wushu could replace it.

Not likely.

Now, for an Olympic question.

Originally, when the uneven parallel bars was added for women't gymnastics, it was obvious why men did not do it. The bars at that time were closer together and the moves included that bounce where the mid body hit the lower bar while the gymnast was holding on to the upper one. A technique that works OK for a female but would make a male sing soprano pretty quickly....

Now, the bars have been spaced much wider apart. It is now impossible for the bounce move to be done unless the woman was built like Yao Ming. It is now an event with a lot of arm work, twists, changes from one bar to the next with the arms, and such... so there now seems to me to be no physical reason a male could not do it...

Is this just an instance of tradition being a female event and all (like there is no real reason the balance beam could not also be a male thing) or is there another reason?

GeneChing

09-12-2008, 11:27 AM

nice to see martial arts medalists get props in other countries. in retrospect, i was disappointed that there wasn't more coverage of the lopez family.

Martial Arts Gold Medalists Look Forward to Chuseok (http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200809/200809120007.html)
Choi Min-ho, judo gold medalist at the Beijing Olympics (right), and Lim Su-jeong, taekkwondo gold medalist Judoka Choi Min-ho and taekwondo player Lim Su-jeong delighted Koreans when they won gold medals in the Beijing Olympics. The Chosun Ilbo met with the wonder boy and girl of martial arts at the Olympic Park in Songpa district, Seoul with Chuseok or Korean Thanksgiving a few days away.

Although both of them are most familiar in sportswear, they looked just as attractive in traditional Korean clothes. Top Korean costume designer Lee Young-hee, who made hanbok for the heads of state attending the G7 Conference in Busan in 2006, presented the outfits to the two. Lim changed into a dark gray skirt and dark red jacket. It wasn't easy to imagine a fighter when the hem of her long skirt delicately flowed over her flower shoes. Told that this was the same style as the hanbok actress Lee Young-ae wore at the Venice Film Festival, Lim smiled. "I'm honored,” she said. “Am I good enough to be compared with her?"

Choi says he has been meaning to buy a traditional Korean costume. “Is this really a gift?" he asked.

Chuseok was lonely in the past for both of them. Athletes are fated to fight with themselves every moment to win in contests. They have to shed tears alone to stand on the Olympics stage. There is no end to the challenges they must conquer.

Asked what he recalls about past festivals, Choi hesitated and then said, "I remember nothing other than running in the hills in my hometown of Kimcheon alone at dawn. I exercised every waking minute."

Choi once suffered from insomnia due to the stress from training. In distress, he phoned his mother and asked her to send him some sleeping pills. Within a few days, a parcel arrived. It contained no medicine but a few books and a letter. The letter said, "A pharmacist says drugs hamper physical exercise. But you fall asleep whenever you read a book, so please read these books in bed." Since then, he has never suffered from sleeplessness.

Nothing much was different with Lim Su-jeong. "Once I got so depressed that I didn't exercise during a festival and took a rest at home. Selected as a national athlete in the first year of high school, I attracted a lot of attention. But my performance was poor. I fell into a slump when the training formula didn't suit me. Because of my depression, I even had clinical treatment. During the festival then, I just wanted to be alone."

But this Chuseok is likely to be full of happy memories for both athletes. Choi, on the eve of Chuseok, will go to the Daegu Stadium, the home ground of the Samsung Lions baseball team, accompanied by people from his hometown, to throw the first ball. "The baseball team is providing us with two buses and asked me to come along with all the people from my village,” he said. “And I'm going to the baseball stadium with my friends and relatives."

Lim is taking a two-day trip with her friends. "Friends of mine who don't do sports were sorry for not being able to see me. But I was rather angry, complaining that they don't understand me. I'm sorry for them. Taking the trip together, I hope to have time for a heart-to-heart.”

Will there be any discreet dates? Lim denies having a boyfriend. But Choi confides he befriended a flight attendant after the Athens Olympics who is the sister of his friend. After several meetings, they fell in love.

Lim cites ssireum (Korean wrestling) champion and popular comedian Kang Ho-dong as her ideal future spouse. "I like an ordinary man with charisma, like Kang Ho-dong."

Upon return home with their gold medals, the two have been busy with events and TV appearances and say they are too busy to think about anything. But their joy is palpable.

Once they are through with the best Chuseok of their lives, they return to their rigorous training routines and start the long and lonely struggles for the London Olympics. They promise they will be back.

TenTigers

09-15-2008, 06:22 PM

Here are the top nine comments made by NBC sports commentators so farduring the Summer Olympics that they would like to take back:

1. Weightlifting commentator: 'This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria. I saw her snatch this morning during her warm up and it was amazing.'

2. Dressage commentator: 'This is really a lovely horse and I speak from personal experience since I once mounted her mother.'

3. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: 'I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.'

4. Boxing Analyst: 'Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious.'

5. Softball announcer: 'If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again.'

6. Basketball analyst: 'He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn't like it. In fact you can see it all over their faces.'

7. At the rowing medal ceremony: 'Ah, isn't that nice, the wife of the IOC president is hugging the cox of the British crew.'

8. Soccer commentator: 'Julian ****s is everywhere. It's like they've got eleven ****s on the field.'

9. Tennis commentator: 'One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them... Oh my God, what have I just said?'

=

GeneChing

09-17-2008, 09:42 AM

This is the same Zhonghua School that was featured in The Martial Arts Master of Ceremonies By Chen Xinghua and Chi Chien in our 2008 July/August issue (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=769).

'Space walkers' thrill athletes (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2008-09/17/content_7034609.htm)
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-17 11:45

Remember the huge globe at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics? Circling the 18m-high, 16-ton globe were performers doing the kind of weightless walk usually seen in outer space. They were from Zhonghua Martial Arts School from Shandong province.

Last Saturday night, some 126 performers, aged between 6 and 82, put up a show for the Paralympic athletes and volunteers at the Xiangyun Theater inside the Olympic Park.

The 17 numbers combined martial arts, acrobatics and song and dance. The audience was even invited to challenge the performers on stage.

Students from the Zhonghua Martial Arts School are regular performers at events connected to the Paralympics, just as they were at the Olympics. They also performed at the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games and held three shows at the athletes' village and the Olympic park.

One of the top 10 martial arts schools in China, Zhonghua Martial Arts School offers students both the regular primary school and middle school courses as well as martial arts training.

SimonM

09-17-2008, 10:02 AM

winter and summer = 2 different things. ;)

london 2012.

i know summer people who could give 2 cares about winter and vice versa.

I have a few events I follow in both. I give them equally weighted significance.

GeneChing

10-08-2008, 09:23 AM

Interesting choice - go for the $ instead of 3X Olympic gold.

Enfant terrible Ishii two-times Japanese judo (http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQfvaF-3NwnP4y5iLwUWcT48rb1g)
8 hours ago

TOKYO (AFP) — Japanese judo is feeling two-timed by Olympic champion Satoshi Ishii, who is getting ready for the world of mixed martial arts only two months after saving the Japanese sport's pride at Beijing.

The 21-year-old will miss the 2012 London Olympics because the tradition-bound Japanese judo authority bans grapplers from turning professional.

An enfant terrible with his no-holds-barred fighting style and rough way of speaking that upsets the sport's purists, Ishii was one of only two Japanese men to claim medals in Beijing, winning him a major fan base at home.

But the over-100kg star sat out the world judo team championships here on Sunday, citing a fresh injury, just as a press report said he was "determined" to join mixed martial arts.

The hybrid sport, which combines techniques from judo, karate, kick-boxing and wrestling, has become a popular fixture on Japanese television, with colourful personalities and rowdy battles.

Ishii sounded unusually cautious when he explained his intentions on Tuesday.

"I am interested in joining the world of mixed martial arts, but for now I'm focused on graduating from school," the crewcut-sporting judoka said.

He is due to leave Tokyo's Kokushikan University, famous for its elite athletic programmes, in March. Media reports said that several martial arts organisations are interested in him.

"I still have time and there is no use being hasty," he said.

But judo leader Kazuo Yoshimura was furious.

"This guy turns everybody into an enemy. He'd better get out without delay," Yoshimura, director of technical development at the All-Japan Judo Federation, told reporters.

He added that he had already counted Ishii out of his plan for the London Games.

It would be impossible for Ishii to win a ticket to London, anyway, if he does not regularly compete in international events to earn points under new International Judo Federation rules to make the sport a global tour.

His possible departure from judo will deprive stylish Japan of a unique weapon against doggedly unorthodox fighters from the rest of the world.

"Judo is a brawl guided by rules," the flexible and hard-working Ishii said after winning his second national championship in April to earn his first-ever spot in the Olympics or the worlds.

Relatively small at 108kg and 181cm, he can win by both perfect execution of skills and crafty tactics to pick up minimal points. He has not lost a bout since stepping up to the over-100kg late last year, sweeping the Austria and Kazakh Open titles.

He has also amused the largely self-effacing nation with a big mouth that runs counter to the etiquttes of judo.

When he shook hands with mild-mannered prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, who stepped down last month due to low approval ratings, Ishii said: "His pureness came through. He's probably not popular because he's not so wicked."

He would follow other Olympic and world judo champions into professional martial arts -- but at an extraordinary young age.

Four-time world heavyweight and open champion Naoya Ogawa turned a professional wrestler in 1997 at age 29. In 2002, Barcelona Olympic gold medallist Hidehiko Yoshida joined a mixed martial martial arts league, called Dynamite, at 32.

Dutchman Willem Ruska, the 1972 Olympic double champion, turned a professional wrestler in 1976.

In the end, Ishii may meet his own target.

"My ultimate goal is to become the strongest man in the world," he said after his triumph in Beijing. "I will become the strongest in the world."

lkfmdc

10-08-2008, 09:31 AM

It's truly a shame Judo in Japan is so closed minded. They are closed minded to even ways to advance their own game within Judo! There is no professional Judo so the horizons for atheltes are short.

SimonM

10-08-2008, 09:40 AM

Seems like hide-bound traditionalists such as Kazuo Yoshimura need to learn to move with the times.

It's not just a Kung Fu problem. :D

sanjuro_ronin

10-08-2008, 09:42 AM

There is no pro judo anywhere...

SimonM

10-08-2008, 09:50 AM

The regulatory body in Japan seems to think that MMA is de-facto pro judo according to that article.

GeneChing

10-08-2008, 01:59 PM

We're releasing the Uighurs. Some might remember my article Protestors Disrupt Tai Chi Demo at the American Olympic Torch Run in our 2008 July/August issue (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=769) where I raised the Uighur issue. How many martial arts magazines get political that way, I ask you? :cool:

17 Guantanamo inmates ordered freed by judge (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/08/MNV913D4UQ.DTL&hw=uighurs&sn=001&sc=1000)
Del Quentin Wilber, Washington Post
(10-08) 04:00 PDT Washington - --

A federal judge ordered on Tuesday that 17 Chinese Muslims held at the Guantanamo Bay military prison be released into the United States by Friday, agreeing with the detainees' lawyers that the Constitution bars holding the men indefinitely without cause.

It was the first time that a U.S. court has ordered the release of a Guantanamo detainee, and the first time that a foreign citizen held there has been ordered brought to the United States.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina issued the landmark ruling in the case of a small band of captives, known as Uighurs, who have been held at Guantanamo for nearly seven years and are no longer considered enemy combatants by the U.S. government.

At a hearing packed with Uighurs who live in the Washington area, Urbina rejected government arguments that he had no authority to order the men's release. He said he had such authority because the men were being held indefinitely, and it was the only remedy available. He cited a June decision by an appellate court that found evidence against the Uighurs to be unreliable.

Urbina said in court that he ordered the release "because the Constitution prohibits indefinite detention without cause." He added, "The separation of powers do not trump" the prohibition against holding people indefinitely without trial.

A government appeal of the decision is likely.

Urbina scheduled a hearing for Friday with the Uighurs present to take testimony on how they might be monitored in the Washington area. He said the Uighurs would be in the custody of 17 Uighur families in the Washington area.

Members of the area's Uighur community reacted to the decision with jubilation. "We won!" one attendee exclaimed after the hearing, setting off a loud cheer.

Unlike other captives, the men cannot be sent to their home country because the Chinese government considers them terrorists and might torture them. U.S. authorities released five Uighur detainees to Albania in 2006, but no other country wants to risk offending China by accepting the others.

The Uighurs' attorneys argued that the men have been confined too long on flimsy evidence and pose no security threat to the United States. The lawyers have suggested that authorities could supervise them much as they monitor criminal defendants released pending trial. Later, the government could find the Uighurs another home, the lawyers have said.

Monday's hearing was originally scheduled to examine whether Urbina had the power to order the release of at least five of the Uighurs. Their attorneys filed court papers asking Urbina to also consider releasing 12 other Uighurs who remain in custody.

Over the years, more than 500 detainees have left Guantanamo Bay, an unknown number of whom ultimately were set free.

Scores of detainees are challenging their detentions in federal court after winning a Supreme Court ruling in June that gave them the right to have their cases reviewed by federal judges under the legal doctrine of habeas corpus.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon has been conducting closed-door hearings in the cases of more than 20 of those detainees and intends to hold habeas hearings at a brisk pace, beginning later this month. First in line are six Algerians who were picked up in Bosnia in late 2001. Each detainee is scheduled to have a hearing over a six-day period.

In those cases, judges must weigh government evidence to decide whether the detainees are being held fairly.

In this case, Urbina had only two options: leave the Uighurs at Guantanamo Bay or order them released into the United States.

Justice Department lawyers have argued in court papers and at hearings that only the president has the authority to allow the men into the country. They also said the judge is barred from ordering their entry if they have ties to terrorist groups.

In court documents, they have contended that one of the men received training from a group that was later determined by the Bush administration to be a terrorist organization.

The Uighurs are natives of northwestern China who have been demanding an independent homeland. Chinese authorities consider them separatists. Over the years, some have sought military training in other countries.

In 2001, most of the Uighurs now in Guantanamo Bay were living in camps in Afghanistan until U.S. air strikes drove them into Pakistan. They were captured there and turned over to U.S. authorities.

SimonM

10-08-2008, 02:31 PM

Although I acutally consider Xinjiang to be part of China I still am happy to see people being released from that internment camp.

GeneChing

10-09-2008, 08:59 AM

So we're keeping those Uighurs in GitMo because if we let China have them back, China will torture them... :confused:

Chinese Muslims' release into US blocked for now (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/10/08/national/w150945D84.DTL&hw=uighurs&sn=001&sc=1000)
By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, October 9, 2008
(10-09) 05:14 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) --

A group of Chinese Muslims set to be freed into the U.S. this week from Guantanamo Bay found their freedom stymied yet again after a simple government plea: What's a couple more weeks or so in jail after nearly seven years?

That in essence was the Bush administration's argument to a federal appeals court in a 19-page emergency request that maintained there would be only "minimal harms" if the detainees were to stay at Guantanamo a while longer.

Late Wednesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit agreed, halting the 17 men's release for at least another week to give the government more time to make arguments in the case.

The appeals court set a deadline of next Thursday for additional filings, when it will be left up to the judges to decide how quickly to act — and in whose favor.

"Our hope is that the Court of Appeals will not stand in the way of justice," said Jason Pinney, a lawyer representing the detainees. "After seven years of unlawful imprisonment, it's time for these men to be released. The government should not be permitted to continue down this path on interminable delay."

The three-judge appeals panel that halted the detainees' release included Judges Karen Henderson and A. Raymond Randolph, both appointees of the first President Bush, and Judge Judith W. Rogers, who was appointed by President Clinton.

The appeals court's move comes after U.S. District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina on Tuesday made a dramatic decision ordering the government to free the detainees by Friday. Urbina said it would be wrong for the Bush administration to continue holding the detainees, known as Uighurs (pronounced WEE'gurz), since they are no longer considered enemy combatants.

"We are pleased that the Court of Appeals granted our request for a temporary stay, and we look forward to presenting our case," Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said after the appeals court issued its one-page order.

The Bush administration had asked the appeals court to block Urbina's order no later than Wednesday. The detainees were scheduled to arrive in Washington early Friday and appear in Urbina's courtroom for release to local Uighur families who have agreed to help them settle into the United States.

The government said the detainees at the U.S. naval base in Cuba had admitted receiving weapons training in Afghanistan and were a national security risk.

The Bush administration also said it was continuing "heightened" efforts to find another country to accept the Uighurs, since the detainees might be tortured if they are turned over to China.

"There are extensive efforts. We oppose the idea of their release here," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Wednesday.

In Beijing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said: "Some people may worry whether these people could be tortured in China. I believe this is biased. China is a country under the rule of law, and forbids torture by any Chinese authorities, be they judiciary or public security."

Albania accepted five Uighur detainees in 2006 but has since balked at taking others, partly for fear of diplomatic repercussions from China.

Uighurs are from Xinjiang — an isolated region that borders Afghanistan, Pakistan and six Central Asian nations — and say they have been repressed by the Chinese government.

The Uighur detainees were captured in Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2001.

China has long said that insurgents are leading an Islamic separatist movement in Xinjiang. The Beijing government has repeatedly urged the U.S. to turn the Uighurs over to Chinese authorities.

"We have raised our position to the U.S. and we hope they will take this position seriously and repatriate these 17 people to China shortly," Qin said Thursday.

The Uighurs' case is among dozens currently being reviewed by federal judges after the Supreme Court ruled for a third time in June that foreign detainees at Guantanamo have the right to sue in U.S. civilian courts to challenge their imprisonment.

Emi MacLean, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, which is representing many of the detainees, called Wednesday's decision a major blow. After telling the Uighurs they would be freed, lawyers will now have to tell them "their detention is once again indefinite."

"It's hard to believe there is any sense of justice in a situation like that," she said.

SimonM

10-09-2008, 09:24 AM

So why not just treat these guys as any other refugee status claimant. Assess if there is veracity to their request for refugee status. Assess if they pose a REAL threat to the stability of the nation they want to take refuge in. If they face a serious threat of persecution and do not pose a threat than let them stay. If this is not the case send them to China. Keeping them in a concentration camp isn't right though.

GeneChing

10-09-2008, 02:27 PM

In our country, if we label you as a terrorist, we can hold you. Of course, if Canada or the UK would like to take them, be our guest... :p

bakxierboxer

10-09-2008, 02:40 PM

In our country, if we label you as a terrorist, we can hold you. Of course, if Canada or the UK would like to take them, be our guest... :p

I second that!
("other types" may yet be negotiable)

GeneChing

10-21-2008, 04:13 PM

Do you know what a diptych is? It's two thirds of a triptych.

Here's a triptych:
Panel 1 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=751)
Panel 2 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=762)
Panel 3 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=773)

Here's part 1 of a diptych:
Wushu is Now (Almost) an Olympic Event by Anthony Roberts (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=791)

Part two will appear in our next issue, on the newsstands December 4, 2008. To quote the ever irascible lkfmdc "YOU MUST RUN OUT AND BUY THIS ISSUE (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showpost.php?p=884236&postcount=6)" Don't worry. This thread will pop up again to remind you when the time comes.

SimonM

10-22-2008, 06:05 AM

In our country, if we label you as a terrorist, we can hold you. Of course, if Canada or the UK would like to take them, be our guest... :p

I bet China would take 'em. ;)

GeneChing

12-04-2008, 02:43 PM

Beijing in their own words: American Athletes Reflect on the Wushu Tournament Beijing By Elly Duchamp, 2009 January/February (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=797).

ngokfei

12-04-2008, 03:41 PM

I must say I was quite suprise to see these articles being printed in your magazine.

But I guess since Tiger Claw is probably the major source of money for the WKF Athletes that this didn't sit well with the owners.

can we expect more "hard fact" based articles in future?

common it feels great doesn't it?

GeneChing

12-05-2008, 05:44 PM

Our charitable branch, the Tiger Claw Foundation, (http://tigerclawfoundation.org/) is happy to support martial artists on many levels. We were proud to support the athletes of the U.S.A. Wushu (Taolu and Sanshou) team at Beijing and made sure that every dollar of our support went directly to them. As part of our sponsorship, we asked all five members to tell their tales. It was the best reporting we could get for this historic event, not from the sidelines, not even from ringside, from inside the rings.

I was very happy with the way the piece turned out in the end.

We always strive to have are facts as hard as possible. In fact, we all practice Iron Facts here. We bang our facts against mung bean filled bags (http://www.martialartsmart.com/20-40.html) and rub liniment (http://www.martialartsmart.com/20-41.html) into them daily. ;)

Lucas

10-09-2009, 10:16 AM

lol i just found this picture and i have to post it for its complete awesomeness

http://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/41000/The-Mandarin-Man--41235.jpg

GeneChing

12-07-2009, 03:43 PM

With the Winter Olympics on the horizon, this seems strangely appropo.

Why Fake Snow Is Filling Beijing's Bird's Nest
By Chengcheng Jiang / Beijing Friday, Dec. 04, 2009

In August, soccer giants Inter Milan and Lazio met here for the Italian Super Cup final. In October, a luxurious retelling of Puccini's opera "Turandot" came through for a week-long residence; in November, Formula One stars Michael Schumacher and Jensen Button zoomed around in a rally car race; and next month, thousands of tourists are expected to flood in when the doors are thrown open on a new wintersports wonderland.

No, this is not some Italian alpine retreat — this is Beijing's iconic Bird's Nest Olympic stadium. Eighteen months after the most ostentatious Olympics of all time, the organizers of the Beijing Games are finally facing a reckoning as they try to figure out how to keep their prized centerpiece stadium in the black. It is a quandary that has been faced by almost every other Olympic host city: how to ensure your gleaming new stadium doesn't become a municipal albatross after the two-week Olympic fiesta leaves town. But in Beijing, which does not boast a regular calendar of large-scale sporting events at the best of times, the problem is even more acute. (See pictures of what becomes of Olympic stadiums.

This time last year, none of this was a problem — the venue simply filled itself. Upwards of 50,000 tourists swelled in every day, shelling out over $7 (RMB 50) apiece just to get into the novel structure — and much, much more to pose for pictures alongside the official Olympic mascots or to stand at the medal podium itself. For the first few months after the Games, the daily operations cost of some $30,000 (RMB 200,000) was easily matched with ticket revenue.

But as Beijing Olympic fever faded, so has interest in its crown jewel. The early plan for the stadium was that it would become the home base for Guoan, Beijing's local soccer team and the current Chinese league champions. But even that team, arguably most popular in the country, seldom attracts more than 10,000 spectators a game, and the team backed out of an agreement to move their meagre fanbase into the 90,000 seater stadium before the Olympics even started. China's struggling national soccer team fares little better in the spectator stakes. (See pictures of the Beijing Olympics.)

The empty seats have left CITIC Investment Holdings, the private management company that ran the Birds Nest, scrambling for other activities to draw the crowds and pay the bills. The result has been a hodgepodge of bizarre offerings. Alongside the rally cars and operas, the Birds Nest has also hosted a mass Tai Chi exercise event and a pop concert by kungfu legend Jackie Chan.

"Happy Snow and Ice Season," kicking off Dec. 19, is the latest get-rich-quick scheme. The program will see the stadium transformed into a frosted extravaganza, complete with a ski-slope, ice rink and 3.7 square miles of artificial snow that is heralded to be one-and-a-half feet deep. There's a lot riding on all that fake fluff; the winter sports park is also the first initiative at the Bird's Nest since the venue came under new management in August. The challenge of maintaining the stadium as a viable and profitable initiative evidently proved too much for CITIC, which quietly offloaded its management rights back to the government just 12 months into a 30-year contract.

Observers speculate that it will be easier for the Beijing government to arrange its own permits to organize the kind of ambitious programs that could keep the stadium out of the red. CITIC is rumored to have abandoned at least one project after state interference in the process. "The government believed it would make a greater profit by running the venue itself," the former deputy general manager of the stadium was quoted as saying after the handover, after he had left his own position. As he told the state-run China Daily, "There was no freedom for me, so I had to quit." The stadium's new managers now hope that the nation's prized Bird's Nest won't be fated to be an empty one.