Claudia Beckford asked:


Carles Puyol Barcelona’s team captain is trying to put a stop to Messi’s participation in the Beijing Olympic Games with his national team as his name was announced during a press conference as part of the Argentinean squad for the upcoming event.

One of the main reasons the Barcelona team does not want to allow the Argentinean to participate in the Olympics is due to the preliminary round for the Champions League qualification being played on the same dates. Therefore; they will do everything possible to hold the young footballer to play in order to have him in full condition for the European competition.

This is indeed a very controversial situation as Messi could be suspended for the entire duration of the Olympics as it is stated in the FIFA rules that all players who do not have 23 years of age have to be released to their national teams if they are required to play. On the other hand; Puyol insists that Messi is a key player and that this is a crucial time for the Barcelona club and it would be indeed a disaster if such a player is missing from the team’s roster.

“We have a great squad, but Messi is an important player for us, one of the best in the world,” Puyol said Thursday from the team’s preseason training camp. “What’s happening with his situation is a theme that we can’t really get into since we can’t control it. Let’s hope it’s resolved and that we can count on him being with us.”

After Ronaldhino’s departure from Barcelona FC to his new Italian team the AC Milan; the Argentinean has become the main star of the Spaniard club as his contribution has been phenomenal. On the other hand; the Brazilian’s work was also of great push to Barcelona despite the last two seasons during which he was not able to perform his best due to injuries. Puyol admits that Ronaldhino will be remembered as of the best players that has been part of the Catalonian list.

Barcelona FC Sporting director Txiki Begiristain has announced that the team is working on an agreement with the Argentinean Football Association in order to come to terms with them; as he stated during an interview “On our side we want Messi to play the first leg of the Champions League (third qualifying round) and then we’ll release him to play at the Olympic Games. We understand that reaching this agreement is the best solution. If we get a good result then, without being over-confident, we should be able to let the player go.”

Up to this point the Argentinean Football Association has not accepted the terms and conditions of the deal but it could certainly prevent future disputes therefore; they will wait and see what the outcome turns out to be.

Other European clubs like Werder Bremen and Schalke do not want their Brazilian players Rafinha and Diego to be part of the Beijing Soccer Tournament and have taken the petition to the sports’ highest body the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Therefore; they will decide if the players will or will not be part of the Olympics this next month of August.

Tania Machowska asked:


The Olympic Games of 1968 was a stirring and busy event., the games were held in Mexico, Latin America, these Olympic games where almost cancelled when hundreds of students lost their lives by security forces, the authorities covered it up and 10 days later the Olympic Games started.

Tommy Smith and John Carlos Afro-Americans, gold and bronze in the 200 m, held their black gloved fist during the ceremony to express their feelings, the beginning of a revolution where black people were no longer considered to remain silent, but they were wrong the organisation punished them by banning them for live from the games, ther was no place for political statements in the Olympic Games.

The games of 1968 were the first games that held a doping tests, although it wasn’t as it is these days, the first disqualification took place: Hans Gunnar-Liljenwall was sent back home when he was positive on the use of alcohol.

But not only bad things happened, these were the first games for Jacques Rogge, the Belgian athlete who competed in yachting, he also participate the games of 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal.

Jacques Rogge was born in Gent 1942, May 2 and completed his studies as a orthopaedic surgeon, and he received an honorary doctorate. Jacques became a yachting athlete and world champion and a member of the Belgium International Rugby Team.

It was in 1990-1992 when he became the president of the Belgium Olympic and Federal Commission, in 1992 he became a member of the medical commission and became vice president in 1994, Jacques was 52 at this moment.

July 16, Jacques Rogge became the 8th President of the International Olympic Comit?

As the vice president he had a major influence to the doping abuse, they named him ‘mister clean’.

Jacques Rogge is a remarkable person, he has always remained the person he has always been, a doctor and an athlete. He once changed his 5 star hotel for the Olympic village’, this is the area where all the athletes gather during the Olympic Games, the sleep, eat and live, it has the accommodation what the athletes need but you can’t compare it with a 5 star hotel.

glenford whitter asked:


I have been following the Modern Olympic Games from as far back as the Montreal and the Moscow games in 1976 and 1980. Never have I seen so much interest and anticipation leading up to these games. Inspite of the cloud that surrounds polution in Beijing, China, the intrigue and interest continues to soar. None of the participants wants to get injury. Everyone is playing safe. Athletes are closing monitoring their progress day after day. As the clock clicks, so are our athetes working out in the gyms, jogging here and there , pondering their moves, strategies and action. No matter how effecient the authorities execute their plans in running the event, without a good show from the athletes themselves, the event will be of no avail.

EXTREMELY FAST TIMES

One reason there is so much hope is because of the extremely fast times that athletes are runnning on the track for the past three years. This along with other factor has forced the world governing body to improve its drug testing procedures to catch drug cheats. Athletes are tested at every international meet fhat they attend and there is mandatory test done on the first three athletes who past the post in that order. There are also out of competition testing available. A number of prominent athletes have tested positive which either results in two year to life ban or imprisonment.

However, athletes continue to run faster and faster. As recent as June 29, 2008 Tyson ran sizzling wind aided 9.68 seconds for the 100meters dash at USA Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon.

He also ran a smart 9.77 seconds over the same distance ealier in the heats. At the same meet, all three women in the 100 meters final went under 10.90 seconds with Muna Lee winning in 10.85 seconds. Another point to note in the history of the trials, the first five women in the same event went under 10 seconds. In the 200 meters sprints it was a simiilar story. The first three men went under 20 seconds with Walter Dix obliguing in 19.86 seconds. In the women’s event, all three women completed the course in less than 22.21 seconds with Allyson Felix declared the winner in 21.82 seconds with a following wind of about 4.72 meters per second.

Meanwhile at the Jamaica Track and Field Trials all four women dipped under 10.90 seconds in the 100 meters dash . Kerron Stewart won in a new personal best of 10.80 seconds with Veronica Campbell-Brown, the world champion relegated to fourth, in 10.88 seconds. However, in the 200 meters Veronica Campbell-Brown turned the table on Kerron Stewart. Campbell- Brown won in a world leading time of 21.94 seconds with Stewart close behind in 21.97 seconds. The 100 meters for men also lived to expectation. Usain Bolt, the record holder over the same event won in 9.86 seconds and Asafa Powell followed him with a 9.96 seconds run. In the 200 meter sprint for men, Bolt returned to win in 19.86 seconds.

IT MAY BE A TWO HORSE CONTEST

Based on the Statistics above, the sprints at this year summer games in Beijing, China may literally liken to be a two horse contest, “The Track and Field Power House” of United States of America verus “The Sprint Factory of the Carribean,” Jamaica. These two nations as it were have stamped their class on the sprints as if they own them. It appears as if the other participating countries are not a part of this contest. We may well have Tyson *** versus a Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell in the men’s 100 meters. In the women’s 100 meters, Muna Lee, Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams versus Kerron Stewart and company.

These duels seem to be main issues of talking point among those fans in the athletics circle. The world awaits with eagered breath for these type of contests. I refuse to predict the athletes who will emege as winners in their individual events., But one piont I will clearly state is that, the athletes will run some of fastest times ever run at an Olympic Game. It will be a feat to behold. It will have patrons on the edge of their seats. Record up records will be erased. It will attract the largest viewing audience ever to watch an Olympic Game.

I believe it will be emerged as the best ever Olympic Games ever held especially for Track and Field.

Will you be watching?

alexda asked:


ple devastated by the earthquake in southwestern China on May 12 may be the first recipients of donations from athletes of the 2008 Olympic Games, Olympic champion Deng Yaping said on Tuesday.

It is a tradition that Olympic athletes from various countries donate their outfits, shoes or personal belongings to people in developing countries, with an aim of encouraging youngsters in overcoming hardships. The practice will continue at this year’s Olympic Games, Deng said at a media function in Beijing.

Donation boxes will be set up in the Beijing Olympic Village, and major beneficiaries may be those children who were hit by the 8-magnitude earthquake in China’s Sichuan Province, said Deng, who is deputy director of BOCOG’s Olympic Village Department. The donations will give them love, strength and courage, she added.

Deng and five other world champions from China joined a group of 14 psychologists in a visit to a tent school in Mianyang County recently. They told the students stories about how they’ve dealt with difficulties and setbacks in their sports lives and encouraged children to strive for new lives with confidence, the Beijing Youth Daily reported.

Young people devastated by the earthquake in southwestern China on May 12 may be the first recipients of donations from athletes of the 2008 Olympic Games, Olympic champion Deng Yaping said on Tuesday.

It is a tradition that Olympic athletes from various countries donate their outfits, shoes or personal belongings to people in developing countries, with an aim of encouraging youngsters in overcoming hardships. The practice will continue at this year’s Olympic Games, Deng said at a media function in Beijing.

Mariam Ma asked:


The Olympic Games are a time of celebration for incredible physical accomplishments. However, when a country hero wins a medal, we often wait with baited breath that the tests for performance enhancing drugs come back clean. Have we really become that jaded? Unfortunately for many of us, the answer is a depressing yes.

Be honest, how often when you watch an athlete perform an amazing feat that seems to defy human limitations, do we suspect that he/she is on performance enhancing drugs? Even though there have been great advancements in sports technology in how we train and feed our bodies, there is only so much we can push our bodies. This is the cynicism that lives inside us these days: our athletic heroes fall short and are far from perfect.

When we think about sports, we often think about the strength, the grace, the picture of perfect health of the athlete. But the mental game and the spiritual game also come into play as all three components need be unified: the mind, body and soul. For competitive athletes, it is often a more difficult task to achieve spiritual and mental greatness. There is so much at stake: endorsement contracts, state prize money, prestige and to be in the record books forever as an Olympic champion. These are factors that would test any human being. Therefore, it is not only the body that needs to be trained, but how to mentally and spiritually handle the pressure as well.

It is well known that the Olympic motto is faster, higher, stronger, but did you know this other well known ideal comes from the Olympic creed?

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

Perhaps this is why the most compelling stories that come out of the Olympic games are not of the expected winners but those who have fought to attain their Olympic dreams.

There is also a lesson here for those of us who are not athletically gifted enough to compete in the Olympics: it’s the journey and the struggle that makes life more rewarding. For the future, instead of picking Olympic champions for motivational inspiration, we can be our own champions as we strive to triumph in our daily lives.

Jonathon Hardcastle asked:


Among the Greeks, fitness competitions and games were nationalistic in spirit; states were said to have been prouder of Olympic victories than of battles won. Women, foreigners, slaves, and dishonored persons were forbidden to compete. Contestants were required to train faithfully for 10 months before the games and had to take an oath that they had fulfilled the training requirements before participating. At first, the Olympic Games were confined to running, but over time new events were added. The winners of the Olympics were crowned with chaplets of wild olive, and in their home city-states male champions were also awarded valuable gifts and privileges.

As a visible focus of world energies, the Olympic Games have been prey to many factors that have thwarted their ideals of world co-operation and athletic excellence. Like in ancient Greece, nationalistic fervour has fostered intense rivalries that have at times threatened the survival of the games. Although officially only individuals are able to win Olympic medals, nations routinely assign political significance to the feats of their citizens and teams. For example, between 1952 and 1988 rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, rooted in mutual political antagonism, resulted in each boycotting games hosted by the other (Moscow, 1980; Los Angeles, 1984).

Politics has influenced the Olympic Games in other ways, from the propaganda of the ***** in Berlin (1936) to pressures leading to the exclusion of white-ruled Rhodesia from the Munich games (1972). At Munich, nine Israeli athletes were kidnapped and murdered by Palestinian terrorists.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which sets and enforces Olympic policy, has struggled with the licensing and commercialisation of the games, the need to schedule events to accommodate television networks, and the monitoring of athletes who seek illegal competitive advantage, often through the use of performance-enhancing drugs. In 1998 a scandal erupted with revelations that bribery and favouritism had played a role in the awarding of the 2002 Winter Games to Salt Lake City, Utah, and in the selection of some earlier venues.

But, regardless of the Olympic Games tensions, it is historically proven that sports have acted as a liaison between nations and have greatly contributed to their evolution. Beginning with the sociological, psychological and physiological aspects of the human nature, sports have gained the praise of people worldwide, as they have contributed to their well being. Group-oriented, since in order to be a winner one has to compete, sport brings people closer together and generates team-spirit along with mind and physical awareness. But, whether or not the contemporary Olympic Games act as an opportunity for nations to learn from one another and cooperate or are just another opportunity for people to engage in competitive and hostile rivalries, only historians of the future will be able to judge with some certainty.

Patrick Omari asked:


The subject of doping at the Olympic Games is a huge issue. The shadow of drugs loom over the event with Justin Gatlin, former world champion and 100m gold medalist from Athens 2004, currently banned after failing a drugs test. Recently, the entire Bulgarian weightlifting team were withdrawn from participating in the Beijing Games after testing positive for a banned substance. This issue that has clouded the Games in recent years suggests that the prospect of a drug-free Olympics seems doubtful.

The Olympic stage should be kept as a drug-free event, but maybe it’s time to give athletes using performance enhancing substances a stage to perform on. Modern drugs, such as Human Growth Hormone, have been enhanced so that they are becoming more difficult to detect. Yet, the testing techniques are being improved and it is possible to detect when using the correct tests. The main problem is that the testers are often one step behind the developers.

If athletes that use performance enhancing substances were given a stage to demonstrate their ability, then maybe they wouldn’t consider ‘cheating’ to enter the Olympics. A competition that had no restrictions would truly test the human body to its limits. I think everyone would be interested in how fast it is physically possible to run and how much the human body could possibly lift? This would clear the way to allow the Olympics to become a drug-free event testing the ‘un-altered’ human body to its limits.

Testing at Olympics would still have to remain strict yet the procedures are becoming more stringent. Recently Tyson *** has run the fastest 100m of all time. Yet his time of 9.68s was not a world record as the following wind was too strong. The United States Anti Drugs Agency have used him in ‘Project Believe’, promoting the American as a ‘natural’ role model. *** submits six blood and urine samples a fortnight, which allows a detailed profile of his chemical balance to be built. Taking drugs would demonstrate a drastic deviation from his baseline profile.

Gay, world record holder Usain Bolt and former record holder Asafa Powell could provide a memorable showdown in this years Beijing Games. The last real showdown in the mens 100m was in the 1988 Seoul Olympics between Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson. Twenty years ago Ben Johnson was infamously stripped of his gold medal and his 9.79s world record time after testing positive for steroids.

David Horne asked:


Basketball at the 2008 Olympic Games will be held at Wukesong Indoor Stadium in Beijing from August 9-24, 2008.

Basketball is definitely a global sport that has shown continued growth over recent years. The USA with the NBA and its college basketball system undoubtedly has the toughest competitions in the world that attracts the world’s best players. However, the USA has not always dominated the Olympics and on several occasions they have been embarrassed by some unexpected defeats to lesser known teams.

The USA always enters the Olympics as favourites but their inability to gel and play as a team has brought about some bad losses. The question will be is will they have a team of players who play like individuals or will they put aside their egos and play as a team. If they play as a team then they should win the gold medal.

In 1972 the Soviet Union beat the USA to win the gold in a controversial game. After 1988 the Olympics opened the sport up for professional players to play which saw the greatest basketball team of all time to compete in 1992. The “Dream Team” lead by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were just unbeatable and put on a show for all the world to see. Most of the players on the other teams were star struck by playing against these legends of the game.

In 1992 Michael Jordan was the team’s second highest scorer with 14.9 points per game and he had a tournament high 37 steals. The U.S. defeated Croatia 117-85 in the final and as a result Michael Jordan earned his second Olympic gold medal.

David Stern of the NBA has stated a number of times that they wish to expand and promote the game of basketball in China. As a result they have played and will continue to play more exhibition games in China. The presence of China’s greatest player, Yao Ming in the NBA has helped to increase the popularity of basketball in China.

The following teams have already qualified for the Beijing 2008 Olympics: Angola (African Champion), Argentina (Americas runner-up), Australia (Oceania Champion), China (host), Iran (Asian Champion), Lithuania (European Bronze medallist), Russia (European Champion), Spain (World Champion) and USA (Champion of the Americas).

The remaining three positions for the Beijing Olympics will be decided in the twelve team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men that will take place in Athens, Greece on July 14th. The tournament will involve the following teams: Cameroon and Cape Verde (Africa), Brazil and Canada (Americas), Lebanon, Puerto Rico and the Republic of Korea (Asia), Greece, Germany, Croatia, and Slovenia (Europe) and New Zealand (Oceania). The draw for this tournament will be held on July 20, 2008 in Athens.

The semi finals are scheduled to be played on August 22nd and the finals two days later on August 24th. Although the Americans often underplay the importance of the Olympic Games it is guaranteed that this time they will want to restore their global dominance in basketball by coming out and performing at their best. Anything less than a gold medal will be taken as a failure by many players and supporters in the USA.

Adam Singleton asked:


Britain’s capital city is gearing up for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games which will be held in London and the surrounding areas during the summer season. London hosted the Olympic Games in 1908 and 1948 so the 2012 event will be the third time the games have been held in Britain.

The opening ceremony on 27 July heralds the beginning of a sixty day festival of sport and culture which organisers are hoping will be a memorable event for athletes and spectators alike.

An internationally recognised event such as the Olympic Games takes a great deal of careful planning and organisation and the funds available play a major role in making the games achievable to begin with.

The National Lottery have played a key role in making the 2012 Olympic Games possible, with an estimated £2.2bn of lottery money being donated towards the event, half of which is coming from Olympic themed lotteries. The remainder of the funding is being raised from existing sports funding and this is by far the largest single project ever funded by the National Lottery.

The British lottery is one of the few lotteries in the world with an increasing income and Camelot, operator of the National Lottery in Britain, have a commendable record for raising money, particularly for worthwhile and charitable causes.

A new lottery Scratchcard, Olympic Champions, was launched to help raise funds for London 2012. The Olympic Champions Scratchcard costs £2 and offers players the chance to win a variety of instant cash prizes, ranging in value from £2 to £60,000.

The new scratch card is one of a series of games expected to raise the required funds by 2012 and is just one way in which British residents can take part in supporting the Olympic Games.

The money raised by the National Lottery will partly fund the venues and infrastructure required to host the Olympic Games as well as facilitating work that will lead to increased participation in sport from members of the London community whilst also improving community services and facilities for local residents.

One of the reasons why London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games relates to issues of environmental and social sustainability so making improvements to the city of London, and beyond, is an important part of the overall process and something that National Lottery funding is playing a key role in.

With a helping hand from lottery funding, the Olympic project is the largest urban renewal project in east London since the development of the Canary Wharf business district in the 1980s. Additions such as an 80,000-seat main stadium, aquatic centre and facilities for athletes will all help to rejuvenate East London and improvements to public transport will benefit anyone living in, or simply visiting, the city.

Thousands of jobs will be created as a result of these urban improvements with as many as 50,000 jobs being created from the east London development alone.

jackyluo asked:


Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will be chasing more than gold at the Beijing Olympics with the coveted world No 1 place suddenly at stake following the Spaniard’s stunning Wimbledon triumph.

Federer has occupied the top spot in the rankings for 232 weeks while Nadal has had to be content with life in the Swiss star’s slipstream for 155 of those.

But the tournament in China could witness the latest dramatic switch in tennis’ balance of power, which seemed impossible just a few weeks ago.

Ahead of the French Open, where Nadal cruised effortlessly to a fourth successive title, the Mallorcan was too busy looking over his shoulder at the imminent danger posed by Novak Djokovic who was poised to take over his No 2 slot.

But after becoming the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to complete the elusive Roland Garros-Wimbledon double, Nadal is now poised to knock Federer off his perch if a complicated series of scenarios work in his favor.

The defining moment could come on the north American hardcourts, in Beijing or at the US Open where Federer is the defending champion.

Either way, the 22-year-old Nadal is eager for the Olympics to get underway.

“To play in the Olympics is very special, because when you’re very young you always see the Olympic Games on television,” said Nadal who’ll be making his singles debut in Beijing having played doubles with Carlos Moya at Athens four years ago.

“You represent your country, that’s the same as the Davis Cup, but at the same time it’s completely different. When I play Davis Cup I always have this big motivation and I think in the Olympics I am going to have the same.”

Despite Nadal’s triumphs at Wimbledon and at Roland Garros, Federer doesn’t take kindly to suggestions that he should be preparing to hand over his No 1 spot to his Spanish rival.

“You write what you want,” he snapped after losing the five-set thriller at the All England Club, his 12th defeat in 18 matches with Nadal.

“I’m going to try and win the Olympics and the US Open and then we can talk again.”

The Federer-Nadal rivalry will be one of the most fascinating at the Games with commercial backers and the game’s rulers licking their lips in anticipation.

If TV viewing figures are any guide, a gold-medal clash between the sport’s heavyweights will be big box office.

In the United Kingdom, more than 13 million viewers watched the culmination of the Wimbledon final, a huge 47.6 percent of the TV audience.

Federer finished fourth at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and was knocked out in round two at Athens by Thomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.