Olympic Games BEIJING, olympic diary

Kenyan athletes to be in Beijing Olympic marathon

admin — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:23:35 +0000

Kenya will send a team to participate in the marathon competition of the Beijing Olympic Games, said the head of the Kenya National Olympic Committee following a statement from the world marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie that he intends to opt out of the marathon in Beijing.

”It is an individual decision up to himself (Gebrselassie). We will send Kenyan runners for the marathon competition of the Beijing Olympics. It will have no problem,” said Dr Kipchoge Keino, IOC member and also Chairman of Kenya National Olympic Committee, in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Thursday.

Gebrselassie, who won two Olympic gold medals in 10,000 meters in Atlanta and Athens, told western media on March 10 that he will not compete in the Beijing Olympic marathon because the city’s air pollution may damage his health. But the Ethiopian runner said he would still take part in the 10,000 meters of the global sports fiesta.

As a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Keino will go to Beijing to attend the meeting of the IOC Coordination Committee slated for March 26-27.

”I have gone to Beijing several times and never experienced anything. We wish the weather condition will be good during the Games and I am sure the Chinese government and people will make all the possible efforts to make the Olympics a success, including the air quality,” said the former Olympic gold medalist.

An analysis of Bejing’s air quality indicates that the health of the vast majority of athletes competing in the summer Olympic Games will not be impaired, said the IOC on Monday after studying a set of air quality data taken by the Beijing Environment Protection Bureau in August 2007.

As a former world-class runner, Keino understood well the desire of athletes. “Athletes have prepared for the Olympics for four years and they are looking forward to participating into the Games,” he said.

The chairman has said Kenya has nearly 50 to 60 athletes who have been qualified to attend the Olympics. They have been training hard in the past four years, aiming at better performance in Beijing

http://news.xinhuanet.com/

San Francisco mayor says Olympic torch won’t pass through Chinatown

admin — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:18:46 +0000

The Olympic torch likely will not pass through Chinatown when it comes to San Francisco next month on its way to the Beijing Games.

The decision was based on the difficulty of planning the torch’s procession through Chinatown’s narrow streets, Mayor Gavin Newsom said Thursday.

San Francisco is the only North American city to host the torch on April 9.

The torch relay has triggered protests by human rights activists calling for an end to China’s heavy-handed rule over Tibet. Newsom said no one would be prevented from demonstrating as the torch travels through the city.

City officials have debated whether the city should use the event to criticize China’s human rights record.

A Board of Supervisors committee heard more than four hours of public testimony Thursday about a proposed resolution calling for public officials to make a statement that the torch is “received with alarm and protest.”

The committee passed a resolution that deleted the criticisms of China, and instead welcomed two other torch events — the Tibetan Freedom Torch and the Global Human Rights Torch.

http://www.iht.com/

Canada qualified for Beijing

admin — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:33:10 +0000

It is the first time that the Canadian team of gymnastics transports Kyle Shewfelt and not the reverse.

While the heart of the formation looked of a wheelchair the two broken legs, Brandon O’ Neill, David Kikuchi and company were ensured that the Olympic champion on the ground can defend his title in Beijing in 2008.

Canada was to finish among the 12 first so that the whole team qualifies itself for the OJ… it took the 11th rank of the qualifications by team of world of Stuttgart. (more…)

Morocco faces Cameroun on September 9

admin — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:31:34 +0000

The Moroccan players will fly away today in Cameroun. The match against cameronais announces itself difficult.
On August 26, Morocco had its Guinean counterpart on the score of 2 goals with one, the Olympic national team then confirmed at the time of this match, its claims with a qualification for the Olympic Games of Beijing 2008.
After one period of preparation in the center of Maâmoura, the Olympic national team will fly away today in Garoua to confront Cameroun.
(more…)

Eleven cities interested by the 1st Olympic Games of Jeunesse(été) in 2010

admin — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:28:00 +0000

GENEVA Eleven cities were proposed by their respective Olympic National Committee (CNO) to accomodate the 1st Olympic Games of Youth (be) in 2010, announced to Monday the Olympic International Committee (CIO). The cities, quoted alphabetically, are as follows: Algiers (Algeria), Athens (Greece), Bangkok (Thailand), Belgrade (Republic of Serbia), Ciudad Guatemala (Guatemala), Debrecen (Hungary), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Moscow (Federation of Russia), Poznan (Poland), Singapore (Singapore) and Turin (Italy), announces the CIO in an official statement
The CNO had until August 31, 2007 at midnight to inform the CIO which a city under their jurisdiction was interested to go candidate to accomodate this event, the CIO affirms. The eleven candidates cities for the Olympic Games of Youth (be) have now until next 26 October to prepare and present their candidates’ file while answering the questionnaire of the CIO. After analysis of the files by a group of experts of the Olympic Movement, a list of the cities selected to accomodate the Olympic Games of Youth will be drawn up and given for examination to the commission of evaluation of the CIO.

Bush

admin — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:26:27 +0000

The American president George W Bush will go to the Olympic Games of Peking the summer 2008, invited by his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao. “It invited us, Laura, me and our family to come to the Olympic Games. And of course, I burned to accept “, said Mr. Bush to the journalists.

Pakistan will take part in the special Olympic Games 2007 in Shangai

admin — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:24:42 +0000

Approximately 100 athletes and official will represent Pakistan with the next special Olympic Games of summer of Shangai, China, announced Wednesday Pakistan. The Pakistani quota, composed of 66 athletes, 22 trainers and eight official, will contribute in swimming, in athletics, with the badminton, the cricket, football, the basketball, the tennis and the table tennis. The special Olympic Games 2007 should proceed in Shangai from the 2 to October 11. Approximately 10 000 athletes of 170 countries will take part in this event.

ISLAMABAD

Hicham El Guerrouj: “I remain faithful to the values of the sport”

admin — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:04:36 +0000

Usually rather reserved with respect to the press, the young dad, well in his tennis shoes, agreed to reconsider, for you, ten years of an exceptional career. He also speaks to us about his projects. Many! Without make-up, but with much of decency.

You began very early, at age the 14 years, to then connect the competitions as of 20 years… From where you comes this gift for the basic race? (more…)