Recent Posts
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reminded China on Wednesday to draw a line between sports and politics, after a Communist party official lashed out at independence sentiment in Tibet during the Olympic flame relay there.
"The IOC regrets that political statements were made during the closing ceremony of the torch relay in Tibet," it said, reacting to Saturday's remarks by Zhang Qingli, the Chinese Communist party secretary in Tibet.
"We have written to BOCOG (Beijing Olympics organising committee) to remind them of the need to separate sport and politics and to ask for their support in making sure that such situations do not arise again," it added in an email from its headquarters in the Swiss city of Lausanne.
In his remarks Saturday about striving for "the glory of the motherland," Zhang accused supporters of the Dalai Lama of trying to destroy the Olympics that open on August 8 in the Chinese capital.
"In order to bring more glory to the Olympic spirit, we should firmly smash the plots to ruin the Beijing Olympic Games by the Dalai clique and hostile foreign forces inside and outside of the nation," he said.
Tighter security was in place as the Olympic flame made its final stop in front of the Potala Palace, the one-time home of the exiled Dalai Lama, in a ceremony that was shortened for reasons that were not disclosed.
The global running of the Olympic flame has been mired in controversy and headline-grabbing incidents since riots broke out three months ago in Lhasa and prompted a harsh crackdown on Tibetan opponents of Chinese rule.
Tibetans in exile claim 203 people have died as the result of what they call Chinese government "repression". Beijing counters than 21 have died at the hand of "rioters," and that it had suppressed a Tibetan "rebellion".
Olympic Stadium Beijing
Personal objects from Pele were used to inaugurate an exhibition on Wednesday 25th June, to celebrate Brazil’s 50th Anniversary of their first World Cup title in Sweden, in 1958. "The King's Marks" exhibition opened in Brasilia's National Museum remembering Brazil's victorious campaign.
Among the objects on display is the radio in which the young Pele and his father, Dondinho, listened eight years earlier to Brazil's disappointing loss to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup final at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium. Pele made a bold prediction at the time.
"My father was sobbing listening to the match and I was just a kid and said 'Don't cry, I will win a World Cup to you'," Pele said.
He was only 17 years old when he helped Brazil claim its first world title in a 5-2 win over Sweden in Stockholm.
The exhibition, which will eventually go on a tour of Brazil and other countries, also includes a shoeshine box that Pele used as a kid to earn money to buy his first football boots.
In the inauguration, former Swedish midfielder Kurt Hamrin, who played in the 1958 final, gave Pele a jersey with the Swedish colours and the No. 58 on it.
Soccer Legend Pele
Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter, Zara Phillips, has pulled out of the Olympics because of an injury to her horse, the same reason she pulled out of the last Olympics. There was no mention of politics or smog in Beijing, but it does raise questions about the effect the sport has on he horses.
The 26-year-old Phillips had been among five riders selected to the eventing team by the British Olympic Association and was considered a strong medal contender.
But she was forced to withdraw after her horse, Toytown, was injured in training.
"I am very disappointed not to have the opportunity to ride at the Olympic Games and feel that Toytown deserved his chance to go," Phillips said in a statement.
"However, with horses these things happen and we still have a very strong team. I wish them every success."
A reserve rider and horse combination will now be selected by the BOA.
"This must be a huge disappointment to Zara, particularly following the pair's success over the last few years," BOA chief executive Simon Clegg said.
"Naturally, we now need to focus our full support on the rest of the team, including Zara's replacement."
A leg injury to Toytown in 2004 kept Phillips out of the Athens Olympics.
"The British team are saddened by the news, especially for Zara and her team," British equestrian team leader Will Connell said.
"We have a strong team of reserves and the team are now focused on trying to win medals."
Phillips won the individual gold on Toytown in the three-day eventing competition at the World Equestrian Games in 2006 in Aachen, Germany. She was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Her father, Mark Phillips, won a gold medal in the three-day event at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Her mother, Princess Anne, won the European title in 1971 and competed at the 1976 Montreal Olympics in the same event.
In 2005, Phillips won individual and team gold at the European Eventing Championships.
Last September, she helped Britain win its seventh consecutive team gold medal at the European Eventing Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy.
But she left in tears after Toytown stopped in the showjumping to keep her from consecutive individual golds.
Zara Phillips
There have been many posts as to what the greatest sporting movie ever made has been. While this is an interesting topic, one question arises above all others: should Kevin Costner ever be allowed to play a golfer or baseball player in a movie ever again?
My own personal favourite is the original Rocky. The film depicts the underdog overcoming all odds to get to the top
[ Click here to read more ]
Pakistan bowling legend Wasim Akram accused Australia of having "double standards" on security and said they must tour Pakistan to play September's Champions Trophy.
"They played in England despite blasts in London in 2005 and four Australians were willing to play in India despite blasts in Jaipur last month
[ Click here to read more ]
Reigning world champions Jana Rawlinson and Nathan Deakes headline Australia’s smallest Olympic track and field team since 1992, with only 41 members. Jane Saville is the most experienced member of the team, becoming just the sixtrh track and field athlete to compete at four Olympic Games. There are 24 Olympic debutants.
Four competitors were added to the squad at the final Athletics Australia (AA) selection meeting this week: pole vaulter Paul Burgess, steeplechasers Youcef Abdi and Victoria Mitchell and 4x400m relay runner Mark Ormrod
[ Click here to read more ]
German defender Philipp Lahm’s 90th minute goal sealed a 3-2 win over an injury-plagued Turkey on Wednesday night. Three times European champions Germany are now assured of a spot in the finals in Vienna on Sunday.
Germany striker Miroslav Klose had nudged his side into the lead on 79 minutes after Bastian Schweinsteiger's first-half goal had cancelled out Ugur Boral's early strike as Turkey had taken a shock lead. This was Germany's first win over Turkey since May 1992 and Fatih Terim's battered side used their never-say-die spirit forced the Germans to work hard
[ Click here to read more ]
The Exciting win by New Zealand over England, on the final ball, is set to be overshadowed by uproar. Grant Elliott was run out, after colliding with England quick bowler Ryan Sidebottom, and being knocked down.
Ian Bell then threw the ball to Kevin Pietersen at the bowler’s end, and Elliott was dismissed
[ Click here to read more ]
Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt has progressed to the third round at Wimbledon, after a commanding win over Spain’s Albert Montanes. Casey Dellacqua is the only other Australian to progress to the third round.
Hewitt is the No.20 seed, and has been battling a hip injury. He recovered from a tough five-setter against Dutchman Robin Haase in the opening round to beat Montanes 7-6 (7-4) 6-0 6-2 in windy conditions
[ Click here to read more ]
Champion marathon runner Robert de Castella has warned of a huge attrition rate at the Beijing Olympics marathon, because of the chronic air pollution. Current marathon world record-holder Haile Gebrselassie has already announced that he will not run the road race in Beijing because he fears for his health, an outcome that de Castella describes as "a bit of a tragedy".
De Castella says the conditions are the worst since the 1984 Los Angeles games, at which he ran fifth, despite holding the world record at the time
[ Click here to read more ]
|
|
Recent Comments
I've not commented on anything yet :(
|
Add Comments
Read More
Comments (1)