Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

**nobodynoone** · 30-07-08, 12:12

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Everything You Want To Know

PERSIANHUB Official Sport Events

**nobodynoone** · 31-07-08, 13:08

Medal Standing

**nobodynoone** · 31-07-08, 13:09

Beijing welcomes you

**nobodynoone** · 31-07-08, 13:10

China Beijing Olympic National Stadium - Bird's Nest

China 2008 Olympic Game, Beijing Makeover

**nobodynoone** · 06-08-08, 03:56

U.S. cyclists wear masks upon arrival in Beijing

Some American cyclists were wearing black masks when they arrived today at the airport in Beijing.

"I suspect it was their choice, you would have to talk to them as to what prompted them to do this," Darryl Seibel, a spokesman for the U.S. Olympic Committee tells Reuters. "I will say this: I am not a scientist, but in my view that was unnecessary."

The level of pollutants in the air was particularly bad yesterday. Right now, Beijing is "shrouded in a light gray haze," according to the Associated Press.

The International Olympic Committee will receive hourly updates about air pollution when the games begin Aug. 8, but one official says he's "confident the air quality will not prove to pose major problems."

Arne Ljungqvist, head of the IOC medical commission, tells AP that public perceptions are part of the problem.

"The mist in the air that we see in those places, including here, is not a feature of pollution primarily but a feature of evaporation and humidity," Ljungqvist said. "We do have a communication problem here. Once the misconception has become sort of established in the minds of people, it's not that easy to get the right message through."

Shroud of smog envelops Chinese capital

As you can see, Beijing is once again shrouded in thick smog. The top photo was taken today. The bottom one was taken on Saturday.

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Environmental Protection classified today's pollution level as "fairly good."

"Car restrictions and other pollution-reduction measures are paying off, and the air quality in July has improved compared with last year. Traffic-related pollution had dropped significantly since July 20," deputy director Du Shaozhong tells reporters, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

BBC News says its tests -- here's a chart -- show that the level of particulate matter in the city is "almost six times higher than the recommended level." "The International Olympic Committee has said endurance events lasting more than one hour could be delayed if the pollution is too bad," the broadcaster reports. "But it remains unclear how bad the pollution has to be before an event is postponed."

In addition to air testing machines, CTV says the Chinese government is using "human sniffers" to track the source of bad smells.

**nobodynoone** · 06-08-08, 06:29

Dana Hussein Abdul-Razzaq

Sprints
Iraq
Age: 21

She was a long shot, and she knew it. But five years into a sprinting career started and developed through war and sectarian strife, surely 21-year-old Dana Hussein Abdul-Razzaq deserved that chance to compete in Beijing. It's a shame she won't — on July 24 the IOC decided Iraq wasn't welcome in Beijing because of the government's "serious interference" with the country's Olympic affairs. Essentially, the Shiite-heavy government dissolved the Sunni-dominated National Olympic Committee.

In Saddam Hussein's Iraq, Dana never got a chance to run. Her parents were too scared to let her anywhere near sports, a field controlled by the dictator's ruthless son Ouday — known for torturing athletes who underperformed. So when the U.S. invaded in 2003, Dana laced up her sneakers and took to the track. Since then, she's dodged more than just tufts of grass on the crushed 1980s concrete that serves as her training ground. Threats, checkpoints, and very real bullets have been just three of the obstacles. And with her trainer, a Sunni, (she's a Shiite), she has also sprinted improbably past three brutal years of sectarian killings. One of only two Iraqis to compete in track and field this summer, Hussein is proud and determined to represent Iraq, despite the odds. Still, her dreams extend beyond the medals. Says Hussein: "Sports can unify the Iraqi people — no Sunnis, no Shiites, just sport for the country."

Olympic panel ends ban, says Iraq can go to games

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - The International Olympic Committee agreed Tuesday to allow Iraq to participate in the Beijing games, reversing itself after Baghdad pledged to ensure the independence of its national Olympics panel.

The decision followed last-minute talks between Iraqi officials and the IOC ahead of Wednesday's deadline to submit competitors' names for track and field events. The Olympics begin Aug. 8.

Iraq is now expected to send two athletes to Beijing to compete in track and field. The decision came too late for five other hopefuls in archery, judo, rowing and weightlifting. The deadline to submit names for those sports expired last week.

Iraq's National Olympic Committee was dissolved by the Baghdad government in May, prompting the IOC to suspend the Mideast country from the Olympics for political interference.

The IOC had insisted the old committee be reinstated even though four members were kidnapped two years ago. Their fates remain unknown.

The agreement worked out Tuesday calls for Iraq to hold free elections for its national Olympic committee under international observation.

"The National Olympic Committee will have fair elections before the end of November," said Pere Miro, head of the IOC's department for relations with national Olympic committees.

In the meantime Iraq's Olympic organization will be run by an interim committee proposed by its national sports federations and approved by the IOC, he said.

"We want to forget all the past," Iraq's government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told The Associated Press after signing the agreement at a news conference. "We want to have real representation for the Iraqi teams and the Iraqi supporters."

The breakthrough came after eight hours of talks Tuesday at the IOC's headquarters in Lausanne involving Miro and Husain al-Musallam, director-general of the Olympic Council of Asia.

Hours before the talks, a delegation of Iraqi groups in Switzerland came to IOC headquarters to deliver a letter to Olympic officials expressing dismay at their country's suspension and requesting the decision be overturned.

The IOC last suspended Iraq in May 2003 — weeks after U.S.-led troops toppled Saddam Hussein's regime. That ban occurred after the IOC learned of the abuse of athletes by Saddam's son Uday, the country's former Olympic chief.

The suspension was lifted a year later, allowing Iraq to take part in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens where it fielded 25 athletes.

Iraq's soccer team made it to the semifinals, prompting celebrations throughout a country where sports fans have had little to cheer about in recent years as the war claimed the lives of athletes, coaches and staff.

The Olympic cycling coach, national wrestling coach, a soccer federation member and a prominent volleyball player have been killed, most in 2006 during the height of sectarian slayings.

The two athletes who will represent Iraq at Beijing have benefited from an IOC solidarity program that allowed them to train at sports facilities abroad, IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said.

Although the duo failed to meet the qualifications to go to Beijing, they were allowed to take part under the IOC's wild card scheme designed to ensure every country is represented at the games.

The fact that they are unlikely to add to Iraq's overall tally of one bronze medal since its first appearance at the Summer Olympics in 1948 is of no great concern, said al-Dabbagh.

"Sport is really important for us in Iraq right now," he said. "It brings the people together."

bellosimo · 08-08-08, 05:01

3 SAAT TA opening ceremony!

:Jump ing:

: Jumping:

:Jumpi ng:

:J umping:

:Jumpin g:

:Ju mping:

:Jumping :

:Jum ping:

:Jump ing:

: Jumping:

:Jumpi ng:

:J umping:

**nobodynoone** · 08-08-08, 11:50

OPENING CEREMONY

nimamc · 08-08-08, 18:10

**nobodynoone** · 09-08-08, 03:26

Emmons wins first gold medal of the Games

(BEIJING, August 9) -- Katerina Emmons of the Czech Republic won the first gold of the Beijing Olympic Games today when she won the Women's 10m Air Rifle.

Emmons, 24, was in scintillating form, breaking Olympic records in both the qualification and final rounds.

In the qualification round, Emmons shot a perfect 400, which equaled the World Record and set a new Olympic Record. The previous Olympic Record was 399.

In the final round, Emmons shot 103.5, giving her a final score of 503.5, which eclipsed the previous record of 502.0 set by China's Du Li at Athens 2004.

The gold medal is Emmons' second Olympic medal, following her bronze at Athens 2004 in the same event.

Emmons never looked threatened throughout the event, despite solid shooting performances by silver medalist Lioubov Galkina of Russia and bronze medalist Snjezana Pejcic of Croatia, who shot final scores of 502.1 and 500.9 respectively.

The day was full of disappointment for Athens 2004 gold medalist Du Li of China and World No. 1 Sonja Pfeilschifter of Germany. Du finished fifth after shooting poorly in the final, finishing with a total score of 499.6. Pfeilschifter just missed out on making the final round.

The United States' Jamie Beyerle finished fourth after performing well in the final, shooting a total score of 499.8.