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9th October 2007

USA baseball team going for gold

The US has high hopes for winning gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. It could well be the last time baseball will be appearing at the Olympic Games, so the pressure is on.

On dropping baseball from the Olympic Games, USA Baseball Executive Director and CEO Paul Seiler said, “We are disappointed in the decision of the IOC. One thing that wasn’t really made clear to the general public after the vote is that baseball is still an Olympic sport in 2008, and our focus right now is on having the best Games possible in 2008.”

Everyone involved in baseball is hoping that a good show is put on during the Beijing Olympics, so baseball will be reinstated.

“USA Baseball could not be more thrilled with the roster we have compiled,” said Bob Watson, general manager of professional teams for USA Baseball.

“The roster has a good mix of youth and experience on this team, specifically in Phillips and Gronkiewicz, two players who helped us win in 2006. We’re confident that this team will perform well, and it will only help further our preparation for Beijing next summer.”

Read more: United States aims for baseball gold in sport’s final scheduled Olympics

Beach Volley Ball Ground - Chaoyang Park

It might be far away from the beach, but the site of the beach volleyball for the Beijing Olympics in Chaoyang Park is a pleasant enough space in central Beijing, but a little bit out of the bustle and traffic of the city.

Address: 1 Nongzhan Nanlu, Chaoyang District

Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball

Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball

Beijing Olympics Beach Volleyball

Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball

8th October 2007

10 Amazing new buildings in China 10 replies

With the Olympics just less than one year to go, China is on a building-spree in Beijing and Shanghai. They have invited a number of leading overseas architects to do the designs - with some controversial, but impressive results.

1. Beijing National Stadium

Beijing National Stadium Birds Nest

The Beijing National Stadium is the home for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games athletics and opening and closing ceremonies. It has been dubbed the ‘Bird’s Nest’ by local residents.

2. National Swimming Center

The National Swimming Center was built along environmentally friendly lines inline with the goals of the Beijing Olympics. The exterior is made from teflon, with solar energy being used to heat the pools. Pool water which is normally dumped as waste, will be re-used. Rainwater will be stored in tanks to fill the pools.

3. Beijing International Airport

Beijing International Aiport

The new terminal of the Beijing International Airport will make it one of the biggest in the world covering over 1 million square meters. In terms of passenger numbers, it will soon be in the top ten airports of the world, handling 43 million passengers a year initially and 55 million by 2015.

4. National Grand Theater

National Grand Theater

The new National Grand Theater built not far from Beijing’s historic Forbidden City, had been likened to a huge shimmering UFO. It is a 490,485 square-foot glass and titanium building that was built to be kept lower than the nearby National People’s Congress. It was designed by French architect Paul Andreu, known for Paris’s Terminal 2E building which collapsed and killed four people.

5. CCTV building Beijing

CCT building Beijing

The CCTV building with two towers leaning inwards has redefined thinking as to how skyscrapers can be built.

6. The Commune Building Beijing

Commune building Beijing

The Commune is built alongside the Great Wall of China. It comprises of 12 buildings designed by Asia’s leading architects with a budget of $1 million for each house. It is currently being run as a hotel.

7. Shanghai World Financial Center

Shanghai Financial Center

Located on former marshland, in the futuristic Pudong, Shanghai, the new skyscraper will become the world’s tallest building with 101 floors.

8. Linked Hybrid, Beijing

Hybrid Building Beijing

The Linked Hybrid building will house 2,500 Beijing residents in a mammoth 700 apartments. It will have the world’s largest geothermal heating and cooling systems, with water being pumped up from 100 meters below the earth.

9. Dongtan Eco City , Dongtan

Dongtan Eco City Dongtan

The complex will house 50,000 people and will be targeted for completion by the 2010 Shanghai Expo. It will be built along eco-friendly lines in terms of water usage, waste and renewable energy.

10. Donghai Bridge, Shanghai/Yangshan Island

Donghai Bridge

One of the world’s longest bridges crossing the sea, the Donghai Bridge connects Shanghai to Yangshan Island. It was built to the tune of $1.2 billion.

International softball competition to be played in Beijing

To test the venue for next years Olympic Games in Beijing. the Beijing Feng Tai Softball Field will be held from October 9th to the 14th. Four of the world’s top softball teams will be competing in the event: Australia, Canada, Chinesee Taipei and China.

“It’s a great opportunity to play against stronger teams than us, like Australia and Canada. We’ll test our young players and gain experience from the event,” said China’s coach, Wang Lihong.

Read more: Int’l women’s softball tournament to be held in Beijing

Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard latest Godaddy girl

Amanda Beard godaddy

Olympic swimmer and Playboy magazine cover girl has joined the team of internet company’s Go Daddy girls.

“No doubt about it, she’s very hot, but more importantly our new Go Daddy Girl is a world-class athlete and an excellent role model,” CEO Bob Parsons said.

“I feel like my personality just meshes very well with everyone that has already joined Go Daddy, so this is exciting for me,” Amanda said. “I’m really excited for the next couple years.”

Amanda Beard has won seven medals at three Olympic Games and is hoping to compete in the next Beijing Olympic games in 2008.

She appeared on the July cover of Playboy magazine posing for a nude spread, where she was dubbed, “the world’s sexiest athlete nude.”

The controversy which is created after appearing in a magazine like Playboy only creates more advertising opportunities.

7th October 2007

Thailand hoping for three taekwondo berths at the Beijing Olympics

Thailand is hoping for at least three taekwando berths at the Beijing Olympics. Chonnapas Preamwaew’s bronze in Manchester qualifiers gave Thailand its first taekwondo berth. Their next chance is in Vietnam at the Asian qualifiers.

“In Vietnam, it will also be very tough,” Thai taekwondo offiicial Preecha Tortakul said. “Many countries including Iran and Jordan will be fielding strong competitors so we shall be satisfied if we get two more places.”

Thailand won a bronze medal for taekwondo in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

Read more: Thailand aims for three taekwondo berths for Beijing Olympics

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


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