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7th October 2007

Beijing reduces subway fares

Today Beijing’s subway authorities reduced its subway fares to 2 RMB from 3 RMB, for any a one way journey regardless of the distance or the number of transfers taken.

The government is hoping that the fare reduction will help reduce traffic on the roads and pollution in the city. The subway is already crowded enough so they have also pledged to increase the number of trains running.

New subway line opens in Beijing 1 reply

A new subway line in Beijing opens today. Line 5 runs north-south of the city for 27.6 kilometers and has 23 stops. The line has take around five years to build.

A far cry from Beijing’s first subway trains, line 5 is equipped with start of the equipment and comfort. LCD screens provide up to the minute weather and train information.

Passengers can change to the line from Chongwenmen, Dongdan, Yonghegong and Lishuiqiao station.

Beijing Subway

Beijing Subway

LCD screens announce the times of the next train.

Beijing Subway

No guns or knives on the train please.

Beijing Subway

BMX star builds Beijing track replica in Austraia

Luke Madill is so intent on training for the Beijing Olympics, he has built a replica of the BMX track at his own home in Cranebrook, Australia.

“Having a training facility at home makes a huge difference,” he says. “This way I can focus 100 per cent on my training. I step out my back door, and I’m at the track.”

Madill suffered a serious injury while he was training for the Australian BMX championships in Adelaide, where he crashed and hit his head. His back was broken in three places and suffered a break in his neck. With a possibility of never walking again, let along riding a BMX bike, Madill was back in the saddle after 6 months of painful therapy.

He will be facing stiff competition from rivals, Kama Kazi (formerly Jamie Hildebrandt before changing his name by deed poll), Jared Graves, Billy Jollifee and Khalen Young

Read more: Here comes the gun

Jennie Reed looking to Beijing Olympics

Jennie Reed has now won 13 US national keiren cycling titles.

“For me, getting a national title isn’t as exciting as it used to be,” Reed said.

She is now preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She did not perform so well in Athens placing 10th out of a field of 12.

“I think the whole experience of having so much stimulus, there’s nothing that could have prepared me for that,” Reed said. “Trying to rest when you have that much stimulus, my body never felt rested when I was there. So when I go again, I’ll know how to prepare for that.”

Read more: Cyclist Jennie Reed looking ahead to 2008 Olympics

Marion Jones to face jail time

Rather than staying in the athlete’s village for the Beijing Olympics, the once fastest woman in the world, will likely be behind bars. Marion Jones spent most of here fortune on defending drug allegations. She finally confessed to taking performance enhancing drugs, lying to investigators and using counterfeit cheques.

In tears she said, “It is with a great amount of shame that I stand before you and tell you that I have betrayed your trust. You have the right to be angry with me.”

She will be stripped of her five world and five Olympic medals.

Read more: Golden Girl’s world in tatters

6th October 2007

Osaduik from Canada hoping to qualify for marathon

Canadian marathon runner, Steve Osaduik is hoping to qualify for the Beijing Olympics at the Royal Victoria Marathon. To qualify he needs to run the marathon in under the Canadian standard of 2:12.

“Maybe I will do it Sunday,” said Osaduik who won the event last year with a time of 2:16:49.

Read more: Osaduik hopes to qualify for Olympics at Sunday’s marathon

5th October 2007

Selling fake Olympic goods in Beijing

Before I came to Beijing I had read quite a bit about authorities clamping down on the sale of fake and un-official goods. It seems though that people are still getting away with it. Beijing Olympic T-shirts sell for a fraction of the cost at road side stalls, than in the official Olympic good stores.

Renting an apartment in Beijing for the Olympics

Do you want to visit Beijing during the Olympics, but afraid of what a hotel might cost? If you are planning to stay in Beijing for at least a month for the Olympics, renting an apartment for your stay could be an option to help you to cut down the costs of your trip. Beijing is currently in a mammoth building frenzy of hotels, offices, shopping centers and apartment complexes.

Since the Olympics will run for just 18 days, the city could face a glut of available real estate. Since most foreigners and domestic Chinese tourists will probably stay in hotels, the prices are expected to skyrocket and more than likely will be fully booked well before the start of the Olympic Games.

It could be possible to come to the city a few weeks before the start of the Olympics, rent an apartment and then spend some time either traveling around China or sightseeing in Beijing before the start of the Olympics.

Currently with less than one year to go before the Olympic Games, a comfortable furnished one bedroom apartment can be rented for around US$500 a month. This includes an internet connection. This puts the cost at around $17 a day. Most apartments at this price will also have a kitchen so you can save further money by cooking your own meals.

Some new apartments in Beijing are even equipped with gyms and swimming pools. Another advantage is that you could pool your funds with some other travelers and rent a bigger place to share the costs.

To begin your apartment search, the best place to start is by looking at classified websites like “the Beijinger“. The agents listed on this website speak English. You usually have to pay one month’s rent for the deposit and if you are only staying a short time you may have to pay all of the rent up front. You will be required to show your passport, but it doesn’t matter what visa you have - even tourists can rent an apartment in China.

South and North Korea to operate railway during Olympic games

South and North Korean leaders met just recently and agreed to operate the railway linking the two countries while the Olympic Games are being held in Beijing.

The opening of the railway will allow people from South Korea to travel to Beijing by train.

Read more: S Korea, DPRK agree to operate inter-Korean railways during 2008 Olympics

FIVB World Volleyball Cup in Japan

The FIVB World Volleyball championships will be held in Japan from November 18th to December 2nd for the men’s event and from November 2nd to November 16th

The competing countries for the men’s event are as follows:

1. Japan (host country)

2. Spain (Europe champion)

S3. U.S.A. (Norceca champion)

4. Brazil (South America champion)

5. Australia (Asia champion)

6. Egypt (Africa champion)

7. Russia (Europe vice-champion)

8. Puerto Rico (Norceca vice-champion)

9. Argentina (South America vice-champion)

10. Tunisia (Africa vice-champion)

11. Bulgaria (wild card)

12. Korea (wild card)

The competing countries in the women’s volleyball event are as follows:

1. Japan (host country)

2. Italy (Europe champion)

3. Cuba (Norceca champion)

4. Brazil (South America champion)

5. Thailand (Asia championship: best after Japan and China)

6. Kenya (Africa champion)

7. Serbia (Europe vice-champion)

8. Peru (South America vice-champion)

9. Korea (Asia championship: best after Thailand)

10. U.S.A. (Norceca vice-champion)

11. Poland (wild card)

12. Dominican Republic (wild card)

See the FIVB website for more details.


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