Argentina retain men's football gold

Argentina retained the Olympic gold medal in men's football after beating Nigeria 1-0 in Saturday's final with a stunning goal from Angel Di Maria.
Di Maria, guilty of a remarkable double penalty-miss in a group game against Serbia, broke clear of the Nigeria defence and clipped the ball over Ambruse Vanzekin in the 58th minute.
Wilting in the searing heat, the Argentines survived a torrid half hour of Nigerian pressure to cling on for victory.
The mid-day showdown at the Bird's Nest was a repeat of the 1996 final, which Nigeria won 3-2 to become the first African team to win the tournament.
The Olympic soccer tournament is restricted to under-23 teams with each allowed to field up to three over-age players.
The first half was played at walking pace and there were no clear cut chances before a much-needed water break on the half hour.
Peter Odemwingie created Nigeria's first opening shortly afterwards when he broke down the left and sent a low ball across the face of the goal but Promise Isaac just failed to make contact.
Di Maria then produced Argentina's first real effort with an out-swinging 25-metre shot which was turned away by Vanzekin.
Vanzekin also had to be quick to dive at the feet of Sergio Aguero after he was set free by an incisive Lionel Messi [Images] pass after the restart.
Messi then had a shot fisted away by Vanzekin before setting up the goal.
The Barcelona player slipped a pass to Di Maria who broke clear on the halfway line and beat Vanzekin with an exquisite finish.
Nigeria sprang to life as Victor Obinna had a shot saved by Sergio Romero and Nicolas Pareja saved Argentina by blocking Victor Anichebe's effort after Promise Isaac pulled the ball back from the byline.
Argentina escaped again when an attempted clearance hit Ebenezer Ajilore and ricocheted centimetres wide of the post and an inswinging cross from Obinna was missed by two Nigerian forwards.
Nigeria were agonisingly close when Anichebe's close-range effort was saved by Romero at the second attempt.
In between, Messi was foiled by a last-ditch tackle from Apam Onyekachi.

source: www.rediff.com

China used Olympics as a catalyst for human rights abuses: HRW

New York: A leading international human rights watchdog says that the Beijing Olympics has put an end to the notion that the games are a "force for good" as it has resulted in setting back the clock with regards to respect for human rights in China.
In a statement ahead of closing ceremony, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) says it has monitored and documented "extensive human rights violations" directly linked to preparation and hosting of the games.
"The Chinese government's hosting of the Games has been a catalyst for abuses, leading to massive forced evictions, a surge in the arrest, detention, and harassment of critics, repeated violations of media freedom and increased political repression," said Asia advocacy director of HRW Sophie Richardson.
In addition, the International Olympic Committee has failed to ensure that the government fulfilled those pledges.
"Not a single world leader who attended the Games or members of the IOC seized the opportunity to challenge the Chinese government's behaviour in any meaningful way," Sophie added.

source: www.mid-day.com

Day 15 Preview: Every moment a medal

BEIJING, August 22) -- Tomorrow is the second to last day of the Beijing Games, when the second-highest number of medals in one day will be awarded. For the first time in these Olympics, every event is a medal event.
Also exciting about tomorrow is that team sports are finally peaking. Preliminary round robins, quarterfinals and semifinals -- these teams have fought through days of competition to put it all on the line in one final match.
Before giving these hard-working teams their due attention, let's look at the last big day of multiple-medal action at the National Stadium, where seven medals will be awarded on the penultimate day of the Athletics competition.
Bernard Lagat of the United States is looking to repeat his Men's 5000 meter victory from the World Championships last year, but if Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia wins the event after already having won the 10,000m, he will become the second Ethiopian to achieve the feat.
In the Women's High Jump, reigning world champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia will target her first Olympic gold and the world record of 2.09m, but defending Olympic champion Elena Slesarenko of Russia could stand in her way.
The Women's 4 x 400m Relay qualifiers saw the United States team through the fastest, and they still might call upon experienced relay runner Deedee Trotter to assist them in defending their Olympic title in tomorrow's final. Jamaica and Belarus will be hot on US heels in this event.
The US team in the Men's 4 x 400m Relay is strong apart, with a team including three medalists from the Men's 400m final (LaShawn Merritt, Jeremy Wariner and David Neville), but it remains to be seen if they can also dominate as a team. Great Britain and the Bahamas were the fastest qualifiers into the final.
Finals in the Men's Javelin Throw, Men's 800m and Women's 1500m will also be contested in the last day of big medal competition in Athletics.
Tomorrow is the final day of Diving, and the whole world is waiting to see if China can sweep all the Diving golds in Beijing. In the Men's 10m Platform, German diver Sascha Klein may be all that stands in China's way. Klein is the World No. 1 in this event. He won a surprise gold at the 16th FINA World Cup at the Water Cube earlier this year by fending off strong Chinese divers.
Zhou Luxin and Huo Liang, meanwhile, are out to stage a one-two finish for China. World No. 2 Zhou settled for second at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, as well as the World Cup in Beijing this year. Huo recently won gold in the Men's 10m Synchronized Platform event with teammate Lin Yue.
In another Chinese-dominated sport, the only man standing in the way of China taking all three Men's Singles Table Tennis medals is the 42-year-old Jorgen Persson of Sweden. World No. 1 Wang Ha will face Persson in the semifinals. Persson lost in the Sydney bronze medal match to Liu Guoliang of China, who is now the head coach of the Chinese Men's Table Tennis team.
The other semifinal match is between two Chinese players, World No. 2 Ma Lin and World No. 3 Wang Liqin, and the Table Tennis Men's Singles gold medal match between the winners will take place at 8:30 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8), right after the 7:30 bronze match.
Many finals in team sports events include a rematch between two countries that fought for gold in previous Olympics, and Women's Basketball is no exception. For the third Games in a row, Australia will try and top the United States for the gold. While the Australians have the indomitable center Lauren Jackson, the tournament's second-highest scorer, the United States captain Lisa Leslie is looking for her fourth consecutive gold medal. Both teams enter this final having won all seven of their games. They will tip-off in the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium at 10:00 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8), after China and Russia compete in the bronze medal match at 7:30 p.m.
Men's Baseball ends tomorrow with Japan and the United States playing for bronze, and Cuba and the Republic of Korea vying for gold. Japan defeated the United States 4-2 in extra innings when they met in the preliminaries, and has only finished outside the medal standings once in Olympic history when it finished fourth at Sydney.
Cuba is the defending gold medalist, with three golds and one silver in its history. If the ROK wins gold, it will be the third team to remain undefeated throughout an Olympic Baseball tournament. Cuba has done this twice, once in 1992 and again in 1996. The Baseball bronze match is at 10:00 a.m. local time, while the gold medal game happens at night at 6:00 p.m. at the Wukesong Baseball Field.
Brazil will play the United States in the Women's Volleyball final, while China faces Cuba in the bronze medal match at the Capital Gymnasium. This is the first time Brazil and the United States are playing each in the tournament, and it's Brazil's first Olympic final. The Brazilian players are led by Sheilla Castro and Marianne Steinbrecher as their main force of attack. The US team's Logan Tom is the top scorer in the tournament, with 81 spikes, 19 blocks and eight service aces. The gold medal game starts at 8:00 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8).
In Men's Hockey, the Netherlands will play Australia in a bronze medal game that is also a rematch of the Athens final (which Australia won), before Germany and Spain compete for the gold at 8:30 p.m. These two teams played each other in a pool A game, which Germany won 1-0, but with a gold medal on the line this game will be hard-fought on both sides. Spain has the ability to upstage world champions Germany, which they showed by beating defending champion Australia 3-2 in the semifinal after being down 0-2.
With Men's Football, Olympic gold medals keep seesawing between South America and Africa in the last three Olympic finals, so it is no surprise Nigeria and Argentina will be facing off tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. at the National Stadium. In the semifinals, Argentina beat Brazil 3-0, while Nigeria defeated Belgium 4-1. This is a rematch of the Atlanta gold medal match, which Nigeria won 3-2.
Women's Handball teams will compete in the event's first medal matches tomorrow. Norway and Russia have dominated the Women's competition, and they will play for gold at 3:45 p.m. at the National Indoor Stadium, while the Republic of Korea will compete against Hungary for the bronze medal at 1:30 p.m.
Although it might not be the first event that comes to mind when one thinks of team sports, Synchronized Swimming ends tomorrow with eight teams performing their Free Routines for the Team Event medals. Russia is looking to go two-for-two with their second Synchronized Swimming gold medal in Beijing, and they enter this competition in the lead after receiving the highest Technical Routine score on August 22. Russian duo Anastasia Ermakova and Anastasia Davydova, two of the eight team members, already won gold in the Duet competition.
Russia has won gold at the past two Olympic Games and the past five world championships. The team's strength is, well, its strength, which allows them to perform throws and lifts beyond the capabilities of other teams. Characterized by the team's creativity, Spain currently trails Russia 0.583 points..
Along with Synchronized Swimming, Canoe/Kayak ends tomorrow, and the Beijing Olympics say goodbye to all medal events that take place in or on the water.
In total, six gold medals will be contested in Canoe/Kayak tomorrow, and many of the same paddlers from Friday's finals in the 1000 meter events will compete in the 500 meter races. K1 1000m gold medalist Tim Brabants of Great Britain, silver medalist Eirik Veraas Larsen of Norway, bronze medalist Ken Wallace of Australia will all meet again in the K1 500m final. In the C1 500m, Spain's David Cal will hope to improve upon his C1 1000m silver medal finish the previous day.

In the Men's K2 500m, defending champions Ronald Rauhe and Tim Wieskötter of Germany are favored to win, as are China's Yang Wenjun and Meng Guanliang, the Athens gold winners in the Men's K2 500m.
The defending champion pair in the Women's K2 500m, Katalin Kovacs and Natasa Janic, is favored to repeat a gold performance, but the duo must watch out for Germany's Fanny Fischer and Nicole Reinhardt, who surpassed them in the K4 500m final.
Finals for the Women's K1 500m and Men's C2 500m will also take place tomorrow, and all races begin at 3:30 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8) at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.
In the one and only day of the Cycling-Mountain Bike event, 50 men and 30 women will have to face added curves, drops and rocks on the difficult Laoshan course. One major change from the last Olympic Games is that cyclists may change bicycle parts with the help of mechanics in designated zones along the course, and carry tools and equipment.
The leading favorite in the Men's event is defending Olympic champion Julien Absalon of France, but the course changes could favor bikers who are better handlers like Swiss Christoph Sauser.
On the Women's side, defending Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa of Norway has struggled with health problems, perhaps clearing the way for bikers like current world champion Margarita Fullana of Spain or Athens silver medalist Canadian Marie-Helene Premont.
In Rhythmic Gymnastics, Russia is looking for its third consecutive Olympic gold. Tomorrow is the Individual All-Around finals, and two Russian gymnasts, European All-Around champion Evgeniya Kanaeva and Olga Kapranova, enter with the highest scores from qualifications.
Finally, two combat sports wind down tomorrow, with Boxing awarding its first set of gold medals and Taekwondo giving out its last two.
Five gold medal bouts will take place in Boxing tomorrow at the Workers' Gymnasium, beginning at 7:00 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8). Men's fly (51kg), Men's Feather (57kg), Men's Light Welter (64kg), Men's Middle (75kg) and Men's Heavy (91kg) weight classes will compete.
In Taekwondo, the heavyweight classes enter the stage for the event's last day. In the Women's +67kg weight class, China's Chen Zhong, nicknamed "Taekwondo Queen," is a favorite and looking for her third consecutive gold medal.
In the Men's +80kg weight class, reigning world heavyweight champion Daba Modibo Keita of Mali could be set to win his country's first-ever Olympic medal, and it could be a gold.
That's day 15, when nine events will give their last medal, six events will award their first gold, and 32 medals total will be handed out in Beijing's final medal push.
Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/special/preview/n214576791.shtml

Day 15 Preview: Every moment a medal

BEIJING, August 22) -- Tomorrow is the second to last day of the Beijing Games, when the second-highest number of medals in one day will be awarded. For the first time in these Olympics, every event is a medal event.
Also exciting about tomorrow is that team sports are finally peaking. Preliminary round robins, quarterfinals and semifinals -- these teams have fought through days of competition to put it all on the line in one final match.
Before giving these hard-working teams their due attention, let's look at the last big day of multiple-medal action at the National Stadium, where seven medals will be awarded on the penultimate day of the Athletics competition.
Bernard Lagat of the United States is looking to repeat his Men's 5000 meter victory from the World Championships last year, but if Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia wins the event after already having won the 10,000m, he will become the second Ethiopian to achieve the feat.
In the Women's High Jump, reigning world champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia will target her first Olympic gold and the world record of 2.09m, but defending Olympic champion Elena Slesarenko of Russia could stand in her way.
The Women's 4 x 400m Relay qualifiers saw the United States team through the fastest, and they still might call upon experienced relay runner Deedee Trotter to assist them in defending their Olympic title in tomorrow's final. Jamaica and Belarus will be hot on US heels in this event.
The US team in the Men's 4 x 400m Relay is strong apart, with a team including three medalists from the Men's 400m final (LaShawn Merritt, Jeremy Wariner and David Neville), but it remains to be seen if they can also dominate as a team. Great Britain and the Bahamas were the fastest qualifiers into the final.
Finals in the Men's Javelin Throw, Men's 800m and Women's 1500m will also be contested in the last day of big medal competition in Athletics.
Tomorrow is the final day of Diving, and the whole world is waiting to see if China can sweep all the Diving golds in Beijing. In the Men's 10m Platform, German diver Sascha Klein may be all that stands in China's way. Klein is the World No. 1 in this event. He won a surprise gold at the 16th FINA World Cup at the Water Cube earlier this year by fending off strong Chinese divers.
Zhou Luxin and Huo Liang, meanwhile, are out to stage a one-two finish for China. World No. 2 Zhou settled for second at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, as well as the World Cup in Beijing this year. Huo recently won gold in the Men's 10m Synchronized Platform event with teammate Lin Yue.
In another Chinese-dominated sport, the only man standing in the way of China taking all three Men's Singles Table Tennis medals is the 42-year-old Jorgen Persson of Sweden. World No. 1 Wang Ha will face Persson in the semifinals. Persson lost in the Sydney bronze medal match to Liu Guoliang of China, who is now the head coach of the Chinese Men's Table Tennis team.
The other semifinal match is between two Chinese players, World No. 2 Ma Lin and World No. 3 Wang Liqin, and the Table Tennis Men's Singles gold medal match between the winners will take place at 8:30 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8), right after the 7:30 bronze match.
Many finals in team sports events include a rematch between two countries that fought for gold in previous Olympics, and Women's Basketball is no exception. For the third Games in a row, Australia will try and top the United States for the gold. While the Australians have the indomitable center Lauren Jackson, the tournament's second-highest scorer, the United States captain Lisa Leslie is looking for her fourth consecutive gold medal. Both teams enter this final having won all seven of their games. They will tip-off in the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium at 10:00 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8), after China and Russia compete in the bronze medal match at 7:30 p.m.
Men's Baseball ends tomorrow with Japan and the United States playing for bronze, and Cuba and the Republic of Korea vying for gold. Japan defeated the United States 4-2 in extra innings when they met in the preliminaries, and has only finished outside the medal standings once in Olympic history when it finished fourth at Sydney.
Cuba is the defending gold medalist, with three golds and one silver in its history. If the ROK wins gold, it will be the third team to remain undefeated throughout an Olympic Baseball tournament. Cuba has done this twice, once in 1992 and again in 1996. The Baseball bronze match is at 10:00 a.m. local time, while the gold medal game happens at night at 6:00 p.m. at the Wukesong Baseball Field.
Brazil will play the United States in the Women's Volleyball final, while China faces Cuba in the bronze medal match at the Capital Gymnasium. This is the first time Brazil and the United States are playing each in the tournament, and it's Brazil's first Olympic final. The Brazilian players are led by Sheilla Castro and Marianne Steinbrecher as their main force of attack. The US team's Logan Tom is the top scorer in the tournament, with 81 spikes, 19 blocks and eight service aces. The gold medal game starts at 8:00 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8).
In Men's Hockey, the Netherlands will play Australia in a bronze medal game that is also a rematch of the Athens final (which Australia won), before Germany and Spain compete for the gold at 8:30 p.m. These two teams played each other in a pool A game, which Germany won 1-0, but with a gold medal on the line this game will be hard-fought on both sides. Spain has the ability to upstage world champions Germany, which they showed by beating defending champion Australia 3-2 in the semifinal after being down 0-2.
With Men's Football, Olympic gold medals keep seesawing between South America and Africa in the last three Olympic finals, so it is no surprise Nigeria and Argentina will be facing off tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. at the National Stadium. In the semifinals, Argentina beat Brazil 3-0, while Nigeria defeated Belgium 4-1. This is a rematch of the Atlanta gold medal match, which Nigeria won 3-2.
Women's Handball teams will compete in the event's first medal matches tomorrow. Norway and Russia have dominated the Women's competition, and they will play for gold at 3:45 p.m. at the National Indoor Stadium, while the Republic of Korea will compete against Hungary for the bronze medal at 1:30 p.m.
Although it might not be the first event that comes to mind when one thinks of team sports, Synchronized Swimming ends tomorrow with eight teams performing their Free Routines for the Team Event medals. Russia is looking to go two-for-two with their second Synchronized Swimming gold medal in Beijing, and they enter this competition in the lead after receiving the highest Technical Routine score on August 22. Russian duo Anastasia Ermakova and Anastasia Davydova, two of the eight team members, already won gold in the Duet competition.
Russia has won gold at the past two Olympic Games and the past five world championships. The team's strength is, well, its strength, which allows them to perform throws and lifts beyond the capabilities of other teams. Characterized by the team's creativity, Spain currently trails Russia 0.583 points..
Along with Synchronized Swimming, Canoe/Kayak ends tomorrow, and the Beijing Olympics say goodbye to all medal events that take place in or on the water.
In total, six gold medals will be contested in Canoe/Kayak tomorrow, and many of the same paddlers from Friday's finals in the 1000 meter events will compete in the 500 meter races. K1 1000m gold medalist Tim Brabants of Great Britain, silver medalist Eirik Veraas Larsen of Norway, bronze medalist Ken Wallace of Australia will all meet again in the K1 500m final. In the C1 500m, Spain's David Cal will hope to improve upon his C1 1000m silver medal finish the previous day.

In the Men's K2 500m, defending champions Ronald Rauhe and Tim Wieskötter of Germany are favored to win, as are China's Yang Wenjun and Meng Guanliang, the Athens gold winners in the Men's K2 500m.
The defending champion pair in the Women's K2 500m, Katalin Kovacs and Natasa Janic, is favored to repeat a gold performance, but the duo must watch out for Germany's Fanny Fischer and Nicole Reinhardt, who surpassed them in the K4 500m final.
Finals for the Women's K1 500m and Men's C2 500m will also take place tomorrow, and all races begin at 3:30 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8) at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.
In the one and only day of the Cycling-Mountain Bike event, 50 men and 30 women will have to face added curves, drops and rocks on the difficult Laoshan course. One major change from the last Olympic Games is that cyclists may change bicycle parts with the help of mechanics in designated zones along the course, and carry tools and equipment.
The leading favorite in the Men's event is defending Olympic champion Julien Absalon of France, but the course changes could favor bikers who are better handlers like Swiss Christoph Sauser.
On the Women's side, defending Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa of Norway has struggled with health problems, perhaps clearing the way for bikers like current world champion Margarita Fullana of Spain or Athens silver medalist Canadian Marie-Helene Premont.
In Rhythmic Gymnastics, Russia is looking for its third consecutive Olympic gold. Tomorrow is the Individual All-Around finals, and two Russian gymnasts, European All-Around champion Evgeniya Kanaeva and Olga Kapranova, enter with the highest scores from qualifications.
Finally, two combat sports wind down tomorrow, with Boxing awarding its first set of gold medals and Taekwondo giving out its last two.
Five gold medal bouts will take place in Boxing tomorrow at the Workers' Gymnasium, beginning at 7:00 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8). Men's fly (51kg), Men's Feather (57kg), Men's Light Welter (64kg), Men's Middle (75kg) and Men's Heavy (91kg) weight classes will compete.
In Taekwondo, the heavyweight classes enter the stage for the event's last day. In the Women's +67kg weight class, China's Chen Zhong, nicknamed "Taekwondo Queen," is a favorite and looking for her third consecutive gold medal.
In the Men's +80kg weight class, reigning world heavyweight champion Daba Modibo Keita of Mali could be set to win his country's first-ever Olympic medal, and it could be a gold.
That's day 15, when nine events will give their last medal, six events will award their first gold, and 32 medals total will be handed out in Beijing's final medal push.
Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/special/preview/n214576791.shtml

Vijender loses semi-final, settles for bronze in Olympics

Indian boxer Vijender Kumar settled for a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics after being out-punched by Cuban Emilio Correa Bayeaux in the semi-finals of the 75 kg category in Beijing on Friday.
The 22-year-old was simply out-thought by his Cuban opponent, who negated the height and reach advantage of Vijender by fighting from a safe distance to score an 8-5 victory.
source: www.rediff.com

जमैका की फर्राटा दौड़ों में क्लीन स्वीप

बीजिंग। वेरोनिका केंपबेल ब्राउन के बृहस्पतिवार को महिला 200 मी. दौड़ का स्वर्ण जीतने के साथ ही जमैका ने बीजिंग ओलंपिक में एथलेटिक्स की सभी चार फर्राटा दौड़ों की क्लीन स्वीप कर ली जबकि अमेरिका की पुरुष और महिला चार गुणा 100 मीटर रिले टीम को बेटन गिराने के कारण क्वालीफाइंग दौर से ही बाहर कर दिया गया। वहीं चीन [46] ने ओलंपिक में स्वर्ण पदकों के मामले में अमेरिका [29] से लगभग दोगुने की बढ़त बना ली है। ब्रिटेन आश्चर्यजनक ढंग से 17 स्वर्ण पदकों के साथ तीसरे स्थान पर बना हुआ है। रूस और आस्ट्रेलिया क्रमश: चौथे व पांचवें स्थान पर है।

ब‌र्ड्स नेस्ट स्टेडियम में क्यूबा के डेरोन रॉबल्स ने 110 मीटर बाधा दौड़ का स्वर्ण पदक 12.93 सेकंड में जीता जबकि चेक गणराज्य की बारबोरा स्पोताकोवा ने महिला भाला फेंक का स्वर्ण अपने नाम किया। पुर्तगाल के नेल्सन इवोरा ने तिहरी कूद का स्वर्ण जीता। जमैका की ब्राउन ने दो सौ मीटर रेस में तूफानी गति निकालते हुए 21.74 सेकंड का समय लेकर अपने कैरियर का सर्वश्रेष्ठ प्रदर्शन किया और लगातार दूसरे ओलंपिक में स्वर्ण पदक जीत लिया। उन्होंने अमेरिका की एलिसन फेलिक्स को दूसरे स्थान पर छोड़ दिया। पुरुष और महिला चार गुणा 100 मीटर रिले में बेटन गिराने के कारण अमेरिका की टीम को अयोग्य करार दी गई और फाइनल के लिए क्वालीफाई नहीं कर पाई। फर्राटा दौड़ों में जमैका की पुरुष और महिला टीमों ने आसानी से अपनी हीट जीतकर फाइनल में जगह बनाई। अमेरिका के लिए एक अच्छी खबर यह रही कि उसके धावक लाशान मेरिट ने हमवतन और गत चैंपियन जैरिमी वारिनर को हराकर 43.75 सेकंड के समय के साथ 400 मी. दौड़ का स्वर्ण जीत लिया। वारिनर 44.65 सेकंड के साथ दूसरे और उनके हमवतन डेविड नेविले तीसरे स्थान पर रहे। 1988 के सियोल ओलंपिक में कनाडा के बेन जानसन को अयोग्य करार दिए जाने के बाद उस ओलंपिक में अमेरिका ने चारों फर्राटा स्वर्ण जीते थे। उसके बाद से अब जाकर जमैका ने सभी फर्राटा दौड़ों को क्लीन स्वीप किया है। अमेरिका के लिए 1980 के मास्को ओलंपिक के बहिष्कार के बाद यह पहला मौका है जब वह कोई फर्राटा दौड़ नहीं जीत पाया है। चेक गणराज्य की स्पोताकोवा ने 71.42 मीटर की दूरी तक भाला फेंक कर स्वर्ण पदक जीता।

महिला फुटबाल में अमेरिका ने ब्राजील से छीना सोना
बीजिंग। अमेरिका ने ओलंपिक खेलों में महिला फुटबाल प्रतियोगिता का स्वर्ण पदक जीत लिया है। अमेरिका ने स्वर्ण पदक के लिए खेले गए मुकाबले में ब्राजील को 1-0 से पराजित किया। दोनों टीमें निर्धारित समय तक गोलरहित बराबरी पर थीं। लेकिन अतिरिक्त समय में अमेरिका ने विजयी गोल दागकर स्वर्ण अपने नाम कर लिया। इससे पूर्व विश्व चैंपियन जर्मनी ने जापान को 2-0 से हराकर कांस्य पदक जीता।

साफ्टबाल में जापान ने तोड़ा अमेरिका का बर्चस्व
बीजिंग। अमेरिका की साफ्टबाल टीम ने 2000 के बाद पहली बार हार का सामना करते हुए ओलंपिक खेलों में अपना लगातार चौथा स्वर्ण पदक जीतने से वंचित हो गई। अमेरिकी टीम को जापान ने 1-3 से हरा दिया। जापान के यूकिको यूनो ने शानदार प्रदर्शन कर सिडनी ओलंपिक में 21 सितंबर 2000 के बाद पहली बार अमेरिकियों को हार झेलने पर विवश कर दिया। तब से लेकर अमेरिका ने लगातार 22 जीत दर्ज की है।

कुश्ती में रूस ने अपने नाम किया छह स्वर्ण
बीजिंग। रूस के एस मुरादोव ने ओलंपिक की कुश्ती प्रतियोगिता में अपने देश के लिए छठा स्वर्ण पदक जीता। मुरादोव ने 96 किलो फ्रीस्टाइल वर्ग खिताब जीत कर अपने देश को कुश्ती पावरहाउस साबित किया। यूरोपीय चैंपियन 23 वर्षीय मुरादोव ने फाइनल में कजाकिस्तान के ताइमुराज तिजिव को हराया। रूस ने इस बार ओलंपिक की कुश्ती प्रतियोगिता में तीन फ्रीस्टाइल और तीन ग्रीको रोमन कुल मिलाकर छह स्वर्ण पदक जीते। रूसी पहलवानों को सांतवा स्वर्ण पदक जीतने का सपना उस समय चूर हो गया जब 120 किलो भार वर्ग में पूर्व जूनियर विश्व चैंपियन बख्तियार ऐखमेदेव को पिछले ओलंपिक चैंपियन उजबेकिस्तान के अर्थर तेमाजोव ने हरा दिया। जार्जिया के रेवाजी माइंडोराशविली ने सेमीफाइनल में स्वर्ण के प्रबल दावेदार रूसी खिलाड़ी को हराने के बाद ओलंपिक कुश्ती के 84 किग्रा फ्रीस्टाइल के फाइनल में भी अपना जलवा दिखाकर सोने का तमगा हासिल किया।

कैंसर को मात दे वीज्डेन ने जीता सोना
बीजिंग। सात साल पहले ल्यूकेमिया कैंसर से ग्रस्त घोषित कर दिए जाने वाले हालैंड के तैराक मार्टेन वान डेर वीज्डेन ने ओलंपिक की मैराथन तैराकी स्पर्धा का स्वर्ण जीतकर मानवीय जिजीविषा की विजय का शानदार उदाहरण पेश किया। वीज्डेन ने खुले पानी में 10 किलोमीटर की दूरी लगभग दो घंटे में तय करते हुए बेहद नजदीकी अंतर से स्वर्ण पदक पर कब्जा किया। इस स्पर्धा को ओलंपिक में पहली बार शामिल किया गया है। वीज्डेन की यह जीत यह देखते हुए करिश्माई लगती है कि उन्हें सात वर्ष पहले डाक्टरों ने कैंसर से पीड़ित घोषित कर दिया था। डाक्टरों का कहना था कि ल्यूकेमिया कैंसर से पीड़ित वीज्डेन के जिंदा रहने की उम्मीद भी बहुत कम है। लेकिन वीज्डेन ने हार नहीं मानी और अपनी जिंदगी पर आए इस संकट का पूरी शिद्दत और साहस के साथ सामना किया। वह न केवल इस कैंसर को मात देने में सफल रहे बल्कि उन्होंने तैराकी की सर्वाधिक मुश्किल स्पर्धा को जीतकर अपनी जिंदगी का जश्न भी मनाया।

बीच वालीबाल में चीन ने खाता खोला
बीजिंग। चेन झुई और च्यांग झी ने ब्राजील की रेनाटा रिबेरो और तालिता रोचा को 21-19, 21-17 से हराकर चीन को बीच वालीबाल में पहली बार ओलंपिक पदक दिलाया। चेन और च्यांग ने 7600 दर्शकों के सामने अपने देश के लिए कांस्य पदक जीता। चीन की तियान जिया और वांग जी फाइनल में अमेरिका की केरी वाल्श और मिस्टी मे से भिड़ेगी। अमेरिकी जोड़ी ने अब तक लगातार 107 मैच जीते हैं।

जमैका की फर्राटा दौड़ों में क्लीन स्वीप

बीजिंग। वेरोनिका केंपबेल ब्राउन के बृहस्पतिवार को महिला 200 मी. दौड़ का स्वर्ण जीतने के साथ ही जमैका ने बीजिंग ओलंपिक में एथलेटिक्स की सभी चार फर्राटा दौड़ों की क्लीन स्वीप कर ली जबकि अमेरिका की पुरुष और महिला चार गुणा 100 मीटर रिले टीम को बेटन गिराने के कारण क्वालीफाइंग दौर से ही बाहर कर दिया गया। वहीं चीन [46] ने ओलंपिक में स्वर्ण पदकों के मामले में अमेरिका [29] से लगभग दोगुने की बढ़त बना ली है। ब्रिटेन आश्चर्यजनक ढंग से 17 स्वर्ण पदकों के साथ तीसरे स्थान पर बना हुआ है। रूस और आस्ट्रेलिया क्रमश: चौथे व पांचवें स्थान पर है।

ब‌र्ड्स नेस्ट स्टेडियम में क्यूबा के डेरोन रॉबल्स ने 110 मीटर बाधा दौड़ का स्वर्ण पदक 12.93 सेकंड में जीता जबकि चेक गणराज्य की बारबोरा स्पोताकोवा ने महिला भाला फेंक का स्वर्ण अपने नाम किया। पुर्तगाल के नेल्सन इवोरा ने तिहरी कूद का स्वर्ण जीता। जमैका की ब्राउन ने दो सौ मीटर रेस में तूफानी गति निकालते हुए 21.74 सेकंड का समय लेकर अपने कैरियर का सर्वश्रेष्ठ प्रदर्शन किया और लगातार दूसरे ओलंपिक में स्वर्ण पदक जीत लिया। उन्होंने अमेरिका की एलिसन फेलिक्स को दूसरे स्थान पर छोड़ दिया। पुरुष और महिला चार गुणा 100 मीटर रिले में बेटन गिराने के कारण अमेरिका की टीम को अयोग्य करार दी गई और फाइनल के लिए क्वालीफाई नहीं कर पाई। फर्राटा दौड़ों में जमैका की पुरुष और महिला टीमों ने आसानी से अपनी हीट जीतकर फाइनल में जगह बनाई। अमेरिका के लिए एक अच्छी खबर यह रही कि उसके धावक लाशान मेरिट ने हमवतन और गत चैंपियन जैरिमी वारिनर को हराकर 43.75 सेकंड के समय के साथ 400 मी. दौड़ का स्वर्ण जीत लिया। वारिनर 44.65 सेकंड के साथ दूसरे और उनके हमवतन डेविड नेविले तीसरे स्थान पर रहे। 1988 के सियोल ओलंपिक में कनाडा के बेन जानसन को अयोग्य करार दिए जाने के बाद उस ओलंपिक में अमेरिका ने चारों फर्राटा स्वर्ण जीते थे। उसके बाद से अब जाकर जमैका ने सभी फर्राटा दौड़ों को क्लीन स्वीप किया है। अमेरिका के लिए 1980 के मास्को ओलंपिक के बहिष्कार के बाद यह पहला मौका है जब वह कोई फर्राटा दौड़ नहीं जीत पाया है। चेक गणराज्य की स्पोताकोवा ने 71.42 मीटर की दूरी तक भाला फेंक कर स्वर्ण पदक जीता।

महिला फुटबाल में अमेरिका ने ब्राजील से छीना सोना
बीजिंग। अमेरिका ने ओलंपिक खेलों में महिला फुटबाल प्रतियोगिता का स्वर्ण पदक जीत लिया है। अमेरिका ने स्वर्ण पदक के लिए खेले गए मुकाबले में ब्राजील को 1-0 से पराजित किया। दोनों टीमें निर्धारित समय तक गोलरहित बराबरी पर थीं। लेकिन अतिरिक्त समय में अमेरिका ने विजयी गोल दागकर स्वर्ण अपने नाम कर लिया। इससे पूर्व विश्व चैंपियन जर्मनी ने जापान को 2-0 से हराकर कांस्य पदक जीता।

साफ्टबाल में जापान ने तोड़ा अमेरिका का बर्चस्व
बीजिंग। अमेरिका की साफ्टबाल टीम ने 2000 के बाद पहली बार हार का सामना करते हुए ओलंपिक खेलों में अपना लगातार चौथा स्वर्ण पदक जीतने से वंचित हो गई। अमेरिकी टीम को जापान ने 1-3 से हरा दिया। जापान के यूकिको यूनो ने शानदार प्रदर्शन कर सिडनी ओलंपिक में 21 सितंबर 2000 के बाद पहली बार अमेरिकियों को हार झेलने पर विवश कर दिया। तब से लेकर अमेरिका ने लगातार 22 जीत दर्ज की है।

कुश्ती में रूस ने अपने नाम किया छह स्वर्ण
बीजिंग। रूस के एस मुरादोव ने ओलंपिक की कुश्ती प्रतियोगिता में अपने देश के लिए छठा स्वर्ण पदक जीता। मुरादोव ने 96 किलो फ्रीस्टाइल वर्ग खिताब जीत कर अपने देश को कुश्ती पावरहाउस साबित किया। यूरोपीय चैंपियन 23 वर्षीय मुरादोव ने फाइनल में कजाकिस्तान के ताइमुराज तिजिव को हराया। रूस ने इस बार ओलंपिक की कुश्ती प्रतियोगिता में तीन फ्रीस्टाइल और तीन ग्रीको रोमन कुल मिलाकर छह स्वर्ण पदक जीते। रूसी पहलवानों को सांतवा स्वर्ण पदक जीतने का सपना उस समय चूर हो गया जब 120 किलो भार वर्ग में पूर्व जूनियर विश्व चैंपियन बख्तियार ऐखमेदेव को पिछले ओलंपिक चैंपियन उजबेकिस्तान के अर्थर तेमाजोव ने हरा दिया। जार्जिया के रेवाजी माइंडोराशविली ने सेमीफाइनल में स्वर्ण के प्रबल दावेदार रूसी खिलाड़ी को हराने के बाद ओलंपिक कुश्ती के 84 किग्रा फ्रीस्टाइल के फाइनल में भी अपना जलवा दिखाकर सोने का तमगा हासिल किया।

कैंसर को मात दे वीज्डेन ने जीता सोना
बीजिंग। सात साल पहले ल्यूकेमिया कैंसर से ग्रस्त घोषित कर दिए जाने वाले हालैंड के तैराक मार्टेन वान डेर वीज्डेन ने ओलंपिक की मैराथन तैराकी स्पर्धा का स्वर्ण जीतकर मानवीय जिजीविषा की विजय का शानदार उदाहरण पेश किया। वीज्डेन ने खुले पानी में 10 किलोमीटर की दूरी लगभग दो घंटे में तय करते हुए बेहद नजदीकी अंतर से स्वर्ण पदक पर कब्जा किया। इस स्पर्धा को ओलंपिक में पहली बार शामिल किया गया है। वीज्डेन की यह जीत यह देखते हुए करिश्माई लगती है कि उन्हें सात वर्ष पहले डाक्टरों ने कैंसर से पीड़ित घोषित कर दिया था। डाक्टरों का कहना था कि ल्यूकेमिया कैंसर से पीड़ित वीज्डेन के जिंदा रहने की उम्मीद भी बहुत कम है। लेकिन वीज्डेन ने हार नहीं मानी और अपनी जिंदगी पर आए इस संकट का पूरी शिद्दत और साहस के साथ सामना किया। वह न केवल इस कैंसर को मात देने में सफल रहे बल्कि उन्होंने तैराकी की सर्वाधिक मुश्किल स्पर्धा को जीतकर अपनी जिंदगी का जश्न भी मनाया।

बीच वालीबाल में चीन ने खाता खोला
बीजिंग। चेन झुई और च्यांग झी ने ब्राजील की रेनाटा रिबेरो और तालिता रोचा को 21-19, 21-17 से हराकर चीन को बीच वालीबाल में पहली बार ओलंपिक पदक दिलाया। चेन और च्यांग ने 7600 दर्शकों के सामने अपने देश के लिए कांस्य पदक जीता। चीन की तियान जिया और वांग जी फाइनल में अमेरिका की केरी वाल्श और मिस्टी मे से भिड़ेगी। अमेरिकी जोड़ी ने अब तक लगातार 107 मैच जीते हैं।

भारतीय ओलंपिक अभियान को लगे पंख

बीजिंग। भारत के लिए ओलंपिक में ऐतिहासिक रहे बीस अगस्त के दिन पहलवान सुशील कुमार ने जहां कांस्य पदक हासिल किया, वहीं मुक्केबाज विजेंदर कुमार ने अपने लिए कम से कम कांसे का तमगा सुनिश्चित करके देश के नाम पर रिकार्ड तीन पदक भी पक्के किए। इन दो और पदकों के भारत की झोली में आने से भारतीय ओलंपिक अभियान को सही मायनों में पंख लग गए हैं।
अभिनव बिंद्रा के पहले सप्ताह में स्वर्ण पदक जीतने के बाद 25 वर्षीय सुशील कुमार कुश्ती में कांस्य पदक जीतकर अचानक सुर्खियों में छा गए जबकि विजेंदर ने भारतीय खेलों के लिए ऐतिहासिक दिन में एक और स्वर्ण पदक की आस जगा दी।
सुशील और विजेंदर ने बीजिंग ओलंपिक खेलों में भारतीय खिलाडि़यों में एक के बाद एक स्पर्धाओं में बाहर होते जाने आ रही निराशा को आज उत्साह में बदल दिया। भारत के लिए कुश्ती स्पर्धा में 56 साल पहले 1952 के हेलसिंकी ओलंपिक में केडी जाधव ने जीता था। इसके बाद सुशील कुमार यह उपलब्धि हासिल करने वाले दूसरे पहलवान बन गए। सुशील और विजेंदर ने जहां देश को गौरवान्वित किया वहीं पदक के एक अन्य दावेदार जितेंदर कुमार अच्छे प्रयासों के बावजूद क्वार्टर फाइनल में हार गए।
बीजिंग ओलंपिक में सुशील कुमार द्वारा 56 वर्ष बाद लाया गया कांस्य पदक एक बार फिर से देश में पहलवानी का युग वापस लाने में सहायक होगा। यह कहना है पूर्व ओलंपियन प्रेमनाथ सोनकर, एसएस दहिया व रोशन लाल का। प्रेमनाथ पहलवान ने सुशील को बधाई देते हुए कहा कि जहां इस खेल को लोग बुरी नजर से देखने लगे थे, पर आज उस पर विराम लग गया। उन्होंने कहा कि देश में आज क्रिकेट को ही पूजा जाता है। प्रेमनाथ ने कहा कि आज हर कोई अपने बच्चों को क्रिकेटर बनाना चाहता है। ओलंपिक में अभिनव बिंद्रा ने स्वर्ण व सुशील ने कांस्य पदक जीतकर इस फिजा को बदलने में कारगर साबित हो सकते हैं। सुशील ने जिस तरह विपक्षी पहलवान को हराया है। इससे वह कोई जिगर वाला पहलवान ही लगता है। उसने अपने जिदारी दांव खेलकर जीत को अपने पक्ष में किया।
प्रेमनाथ ने कहा कि सुशील के पदक से पहलवानी के प्रति एक अलग माहौल पैदा होगा, जो पिछले कुछ वर्षो से कम हो गया था। 56 वर्ष के बाद कुश्ती में पदक आना अपने आप में सुखद अनुभव है। यह कहना था सुशील के अखाडे़ के कोच यशबीर का। उन्होंने कहा कि सुशील जब छत्रसाल अखाड़े पर आए उस दौरान उनकी उम्र मात्र 14 वर्ष थी। 25 वर्ष में उसने यह कमाल दिखाया, इससे साफ है कि इस पहलवान ने काफी मेहनत की होगी। यशबीर ने कहा कि देश को एक सुंदर मौका मिला है। सुशील के पदक से कुश्ती को अपनी पहचान फिर से मिलेगी। पूर्व ओलंपियन एसएस दहिया ने कहा कि बुधवार का दिन भारत के लिए गौरवशाली रहा। उनकी खेल बिरादरी में एक नया पहलवान शामिल हुआ है। 1952 के बाद एक पदक आने के लिए हमारे देशवासी तरस गए थे। हालांकि इसमें कई तकनीकी काम भी शामिल है, पर सुशील ने सतपाल पहलवान या छत्रसाल अखाडे़ का ही नहीं, पूरे देश में पहलवानों का सिर गर्व से ऊंचा कर दिया। सुशील के पदक से अब हमारे लिए ओलंपिक के दरवाजे खुले हैं। इसको शुरुआत माना जा सकता है। यह युवाओं को इस खेल की तरफ मोड़ने का काम करेगा। अंतरराष्ट्रीय पहलवान रोशन लाल ने कहा कि केडी जाधव के दौरान की कुश्ती और आज की कुश्ती में काफी अंतर आ चुका है। कई नियम बदल गए हैं। इन सभी को झुठलाते हुए सुनील ने जो कर दिखाया उससे पहलवानों का सिर गर्व से ऊंचा हो गया। 2007 का द्रोणाचार्य पुरस्कार पाने वाले ओलंपियन जगमिंदर ने कहा कि यह दिन कुश्ती इतिहास में हमेशा याद रहेगा। जाधव के बाद हमें ओलंपिक पदक पाने के लिए जरूर 56 वर्ष लग गए हो, पर अब यह वनवास खत्म हो चुका है। इस जीत के पीछे उसकी शानदार फिटनेस का भी कमाल है। जगत पहलवान ने कहा कि पहलवान अपना परिवार व शरीर तोड़कर बनता है। उसको हमेशा ही पैसे की कमी खलती है, दूसरे खेलों के खिलाड़ियों को प्रायोजक मिलते रहते हैं पर कुश्ती में ऐसा न के बराबर है। सुशील का पदक कार्पोरेट जगत को भी सोचने को मजबूर करेगा।
उधर, ओलंपिक के इतिहास में भारत के लिए मुक्केबाजी में पहला पदक सुनिश्चित करने वाले तेजतर्रार मुक्केबाज विजेंदर ने सात साल पहले 2001 में जर्मनी में सब जूनियर इंटरनेशनल चैंपियनशिप का स्वर्ण जीतकर ओलंपिक पदक के अपने अभियान की शुरुआत कर दी थी। बीजिंग ओलंपिक के 75 किग्रा भार वर्ग के क्वार्टर फाइनल में इक्वाडोर के मुक्केबाज कार्लोस गोंगोरा को अंकों के आधार पर 9-4 से हराकर सेमीफाइनल में प्रवेश करने वाले विजेंदर ने कम से कम कांस्य पदक मिला सुनिश्चित कर लिया है। हरियाणा रोडवेज के ड्राइवर महिपाल सिंह के यहां 29 अक्तूबर 1985 को जन्में विजेंदर ने मात्र 16 साल की उम्र में अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर स्वर्ण पदक जीतकर अपनी काबीलियत साबित कर दी थी। भिवानी के इस मुक्केबाज को इसके बाद अपने कौशल को निखारने के लिए अपने परिवार से दूर रहना पड़ा और पिछले आठ साल में उनका अधिकतर समय चैंपियनशिप में खेलते हुए या शिविर में ही बीता। विजेंदर के पिता ने कहा कि हम आठ साल से अपने बच्चे से अच्छी तरह नहीं मिल पाएं हैं। अधिकतर उससे फोन पर ही बात होती है। उन्होंने कहा कि हम तो सीधे सादे लोग हैं। मैं ड्राइवरी करता हूं और विजेंदर की मां आज भी गाय भैंस चराने जाती है। विजेंदर ने हमें पहचान दिलाई है। टीवी और मीडिया वाले हमारे घर के बाहर खड़े हैं। मैंने तो सपने में भी नहीं सोचा था कि टीवी पर नजर आऊंगा।

source: www.in.jagarn.com

Tick, tick, tick: Beijing Olympics are almost here

By STEPHEN WADE – 12 hours ago
BEIJING (AP) — Tick, tick, tick.
The official countdown clock in Tiananmen Square hits "4 Days To Go" on Monday. More than 40 million potted flowers are in bloom everywhere, even along the center medians of gritty highways. And for several days now, blue skies have taken the place of the usual gray smog.
So far, so good.

The day China has long-awaited, the day it makes its debut on the international sports stage with, literally, a cast of thousands, arrives Friday when opening ceremonies kick off the Beijing Olympics inside its stunning 91,000-seat "Bird's Nest" National Stadium.

"I hope the sky can stay blue like this, both during and after the Olympic Games," said 25-year-old Zhang Shuang, a government office worker. "This will give foreigners a good impression of the city and leave a legacy to Beijing citizens."

Though it's hot and humid, the city's morale has been lifted by several days of noticeably cleaner air, replacing the shroud of chemical haze that usually hangs over the Chinese capital.

"It's much better than I expected, there's none of the gunk in the air," said Paul Lewis, sports editor of the Auckland, New Zealand, Herald on Sunday newspaper. "There is a little haze in the air, but that reminds me of Los Angeles in 1984, but it's nothing like I've been reading about."

Even if the good weather hangs around, lingering issues could shift the focus from sports in a snap. Among them: Tibet, terrorism and Internet censorship. And since February, the country has been wracked by crisis after crisis. Deadly riots in Tibet sparked chaos and protests on international legs of the Olympic torch relay, stunning patriotic Chinese who staged counterprotests. In May, almost 70,000 people died in the Sichuan earthquake, which sparked an outpouring of sympathy around the world and muted criticisms of China's policies on Tibet, human rights, Darfur and the treatment of its Muslim minority.

To a lesser extent, there was the nuisance of an algae bloom at the Olympic sailing site, caused by water pollution.

With the games about to start, it's anyone's guess how they will end. They could showcase China's rising economic and political power of the 21st century or they could descend into a miasma of protests, police crackdowns and Chinese citizens angry with their rude guests.
The communist government says it wants the games to convey a message of friendship and has mobilized the security apparatus to ensure it.

In a rare meeting this week with foreign journalists, President Hu Jintao said the games would be successful if the sports were good and they promoted world friendship. He asked journalists to be fair and keep politics out on the sidelines.

That friendly face of the games contrasts with a much harsher side featuring 100,000 troops, commandos and policemen. They're aided by thousands of neighborhood watch groups — whose members wear red armbands — and are further augmented by watchmen and guards dressed in gray or blue uniforms.

Add to this 70,000 Olympics volunteers, and several hundred-thousand so-called "city volunteers" who fill subway stops, work in street-side tents offering tourist information, or simply stand at attention in hallways at Olympic venues.

"A safe Olympics is the biggest indicator of the success of the games," Vice President Xi Jinping, the senior-most Communist Party leader overseeing preparations, told a rally of volunteers last month. "A safe Olympics is also a key indicator of the positive reflection of our nation's image."
Victor Cha, the director of Asian Studies at Georgetown University, said the government must reach four targets to be successful.

Cha said Chinese athletes must do well in the medal count. Many pick them to win more than 40 gold medals and top the United States. Clean air is a must. Organization and logistics must go well, and political protests have to be marginalized.

"Protest by athletes doesn't really mar the games because that is something even the IOC would be opposed to," Cha said. "But I think major protests that the Chinese put down in front of television cameras, particularly if they are foreign protesters, that could look very bad."

The IOC has maintained the games are about sports, not politics. But Cha said spending $40 billion on venues and infrastructure was a political statement, and the more Chinese officials reject the tag, the more it sticks.

"When you are the biggest country in the world, and you're an illiberal regime, and you're hosting the Olympics, then it's bound to be political," Cha said. "These multibillion dollar iconic Olympic facilities are meant to show that China is not simply the Great Wall. It's modern, it's powerful, it's a player."

Tick, tick, tick: Beijing Olympics are almost here

By STEPHEN WADE – 12 hours ago
BEIJING (AP) — Tick, tick, tick.
The official countdown clock in Tiananmen Square hits "4 Days To Go" on Monday. More than 40 million potted flowers are in bloom everywhere, even along the center medians of gritty highways. And for several days now, blue skies have taken the place of the usual gray smog.
So far, so good.

The day China has long-awaited, the day it makes its debut on the international sports stage with, literally, a cast of thousands, arrives Friday when opening ceremonies kick off the Beijing Olympics inside its stunning 91,000-seat "Bird's Nest" National Stadium.

"I hope the sky can stay blue like this, both during and after the Olympic Games," said 25-year-old Zhang Shuang, a government office worker. "This will give foreigners a good impression of the city and leave a legacy to Beijing citizens."

Though it's hot and humid, the city's morale has been lifted by several days of noticeably cleaner air, replacing the shroud of chemical haze that usually hangs over the Chinese capital.

"It's much better than I expected, there's none of the gunk in the air," said Paul Lewis, sports editor of the Auckland, New Zealand, Herald on Sunday newspaper. "There is a little haze in the air, but that reminds me of Los Angeles in 1984, but it's nothing like I've been reading about."

Even if the good weather hangs around, lingering issues could shift the focus from sports in a snap. Among them: Tibet, terrorism and Internet censorship. And since February, the country has been wracked by crisis after crisis. Deadly riots in Tibet sparked chaos and protests on international legs of the Olympic torch relay, stunning patriotic Chinese who staged counterprotests. In May, almost 70,000 people died in the Sichuan earthquake, which sparked an outpouring of sympathy around the world and muted criticisms of China's policies on Tibet, human rights, Darfur and the treatment of its Muslim minority.

To a lesser extent, there was the nuisance of an algae bloom at the Olympic sailing site, caused by water pollution.

With the games about to start, it's anyone's guess how they will end. They could showcase China's rising economic and political power of the 21st century or they could descend into a miasma of protests, police crackdowns and Chinese citizens angry with their rude guests.
The communist government says it wants the games to convey a message of friendship and has mobilized the security apparatus to ensure it.

In a rare meeting this week with foreign journalists, President Hu Jintao said the games would be successful if the sports were good and they promoted world friendship. He asked journalists to be fair and keep politics out on the sidelines.

That friendly face of the games contrasts with a much harsher side featuring 100,000 troops, commandos and policemen. They're aided by thousands of neighborhood watch groups — whose members wear red armbands — and are further augmented by watchmen and guards dressed in gray or blue uniforms.

Add to this 70,000 Olympics volunteers, and several hundred-thousand so-called "city volunteers" who fill subway stops, work in street-side tents offering tourist information, or simply stand at attention in hallways at Olympic venues.

"A safe Olympics is the biggest indicator of the success of the games," Vice President Xi Jinping, the senior-most Communist Party leader overseeing preparations, told a rally of volunteers last month. "A safe Olympics is also a key indicator of the positive reflection of our nation's image."
Victor Cha, the director of Asian Studies at Georgetown University, said the government must reach four targets to be successful.

Cha said Chinese athletes must do well in the medal count. Many pick them to win more than 40 gold medals and top the United States. Clean air is a must. Organization and logistics must go well, and political protests have to be marginalized.

"Protest by athletes doesn't really mar the games because that is something even the IOC would be opposed to," Cha said. "But I think major protests that the Chinese put down in front of television cameras, particularly if they are foreign protesters, that could look very bad."

The IOC has maintained the games are about sports, not politics. But Cha said spending $40 billion on venues and infrastructure was a political statement, and the more Chinese officials reject the tag, the more it sticks.

"When you are the biggest country in the world, and you're an illiberal regime, and you're hosting the Olympics, then it's bound to be political," Cha said. "These multibillion dollar iconic Olympic facilities are meant to show that China is not simply the Great Wall. It's modern, it's powerful, it's a player."