The Olympic torch has arrived on the Chinese mainland after stops on the Chinese island territories of Hong Kong and Macau. The torch will criss-cross the vast country before arriving in Beijing on August 6.
(Map: Newscom)
Tags: Beijing Olympics, Olympic Torch
The United States Women’s Field Hockey Team won the Olympic qualifying tournament in Kazan, Russia on April 24, going 6-0 in the tournament. They defeated Belgium in the gold medal game 3-1.
The United States team joins a 12-team field that includes China, Germany, Argentina, the Netherlands, England, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Spain, and South Africa. The twelfth spot will be filled in a qualifier in Victoria, Canada on Sunday.
The US team leaves for Beijing on August 1.
(photo: Newscom)
Tags: , Beijing Olympics, us field hockey team
The Olympic Torch hit Chinese soil on Friday, at least that of the territory of Hong Kong. The eight-hour relay was relatively free of protest (as was expected) and criss-crossed the city, using 120 runners, including Hong Kong’s only Olympic golf medal winner, windsurfer Lee Lai-Shan.
Pictured above is the conductor of the Hong Kong Orchestra, Yip Wing-Sie crossing Victoria Harbor with the torch.
(photo credit: Newscom)
Tags: Beijing Olympics, hong kong, Olympic Torch
Beijing marked the 100-day countdown to the Olympics yesterday with much celebration. Among the events were a concert with 100 singers, a song and dance presentation at the Forbidden City, and a mini-marathon around the National Stadium and the Olympic Aquatic Center.
(photo © Newscom)
Tags: 100 days, Beijing Olympics, marathon, national stadium
The Olympic Torch ended the international portion of its relay Tuesday in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The Torch will now travel to Hong Kong on Wednesday to begin the 100 days celebration and its relay throughout mainland China.
(photo © newscom)
Tags: Beijing Olympics, ho chi minh city, Olympic Torch
Have you played Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games? Being huge Olympics lovers, my family picked up this game a few months ago and we still haven’t gotten tired of it! The game features Nintendo star, Mario, versus Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog (but you can play with any variety of characters from either series). At first, I wasn’t sure how this game could possibly work but once we started playing, I was completely blown away. My only warning - your arms are going to hurt so bad from using them so much on certain events but it’s well worth it!
The first official game of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics features events in the following categories: athletics, gymnastics, shooting, rowing, archery, aquatics, fencing, and table tennis. I really can’t decide which ones are my favorite but I definitely have the hardest time with aquatics and table tennis. I will say, though, that Peach (who I typically avoid using in games) is probably the most well-rounded and gave the best results.
In athletics, you will find track and field events like running, javelin throw and long jump. The gymnastics category features things like trampoline and vault (the vault is incredible but you’ve really got to time it just right!). Shooting, archery, fencing and table tennis are pretty straight-forward and are basically what you would expect. The rowing, however, involves hitting the buttons in specific combinations (as prompted on-screen) along with doing a rowing motion with the Wii remote so it can be tricky (I really love this event, though!). Aquatics is swimming and diving but the swimming is so hard! I can’t do it properly and my arms just give out by the end of the race.
Here’s a quick video promo for the game:
All in all, I would recommend this game because it’s physical, fun and a great way to get excited about the upcoming Summer Olympics!
image via Amazon.com
The torch for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games made it’s way to North Korea, marking the first time the Olympic symbol was taken to the Asian nation. According to the Associated Press, it was protest-free as it was presided over by the head of the country’s rubber-stamp parliament, Kim Yong Nam, who often acts as a ceremonial state leader.
While the relay has been marred by anti-China demonstrations as the torch has travelled the world, North Korea, a communist ally of China, has openly criticized the violence and vowed to be free of protests. The country’s leader, Kim Jong Il, did not attend the festivities but was “paying great interest to the success of the Olympic torch relay.”
Here’s a video about the relay and the plans to take the torch to the top of Mount Everest.
The US State Department issued a travel alert on Friday for US citizens traveling to China for the Beijing Olympic Games, which begin on August 8. The release from the State Department says,
“Any large-scale public event such as the upcoming Olympic Games may present an attractive target for terrorists. There is a heightened risk that extremist groups will conduct terrorist acts within China in the near future. In light of these security concerns, U.S. citizens traveling in China are advised to use caution and to be alert to their surroundings at all times, including at hotels, in restaurants, on public transportation and where there are demonstrations and other large-scale public gatherings.”
The advisory notes that the Chinese government has increased security at airports in recent months and advises Americans to register at the US Embassy in Beijing while in China.
The alert expires on October 31, 2008.
Tags: Beijing Olympics, state department, travel alert
The Beijing Olympic Games are just slightly more than 100 days away. Just how much do you know about the Olympic Games and their history and traditions? For instance, did you know…?
CBC News is reporting that a construction worker found three-time Olympian, Harry Geris, dead in London, Ontario Canada yesterday. He was 60 years old. An autopsy will be performed but the police do not suspect foul play. His body was discovered behind a high school where he was delivering wrestling mats for a tournament.
A “gentle giant” in the Canadian wrestling world, Geris “competed as a heavyweight wrestler for Canada’s national team at the Olympics in Mexico City in 1968, Munich in 1972 and Montreal in 1976. He was also a 10-time national champion.”
What a sad loss. We extend our condolences to the family and wrestling community.
The Olympic Torch is just part of what Light the Torch covers. We discuss the coming Beijing Olympics as well as future and past Olympic Games, Olympic athletes, and Olympics issues and news.
Written by Jeanne Dupuis [email], and Sandy Mitchell [email] for b5media.
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