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NEWS ABOUT: 2008 Beijing Olympics

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The Price of Reaching the Top

Chinese weightlifter left her family as child

(Newser) - Nearly all of Chin'a Olympic athletes come out of the country’s sports boarding schools—a system that depends on the dismal prospects of the country's poor. "A rich person would never let his child do this," the father of Athens gold medalist Chen Yanqing tells the Wall ... More »

Big Bucks Flock to Beijing

(Newser) - The Beijing Olympics are a celebration of sport, for sure, but they are happening in China, which makes them a business opportunity unlike earlier Games. Folks with deep pockets are converging on the capital to wheel and deal, with an eye to the emerging middle-class market of some 300 million... More »

First Gold for US: Women's Fencing

(AP) - Mariel Zagunis won the first US gold medal of the Beijing Olympics, leading an American sweep today in women's saber fencing. Zagunis, the 2004 saber champion, took the gold with a victory over Sada Jacobson, who took the silver. Becca Ward won the bronze. More »

Phelps Off to Quick Start with Record Swim

Wins 400-meter individual medley preliminary

(Newser) - Michael Phelps has set a new Olympic record before the race for medals has even begun, the Washington Post reports. The American swam the 400-meter individual medley preliminary in 4 minutes, 7.82 seconds. “I'm happy to get the first-race jitters sort of out," the swimmer said. "... More »

Relative of US Olympic Coach Killed in Beijing

After stabbing two, Chinese man throws himself off tower

(AP) - A knife-wielding Chinese man attacked two relatives of a coach for the US Olympic men's volleyball team at a tourist site in Beijing, killing one and injuring the other on the first day of the Olympics today, team officials and state media said. The man then committed suicide by throwing... More »

6 Events to Watch in Beijing

(Newser) - For those who won't watch every Olympic game—and who will?—Esquire has picked a few Olympic highlights to Tivo:
  • Day 1: Michael Phelps starts his second bid for eight gold medals.
  • Day 2: Kobe Bryant dribbles and shoots in the Olympics—for the first time ever.
  • Day 2: US
... More »

Olympic Collectors Go for Gold

Medals, torches, and sweaty uniforms fetch top dollar

(Newser) - The 2008 Olympics have barely begun and collectors are already jockeying for possession of Beijing memorabilia. But serious shoppers are bypassing the hundreds of official knickknacks, hoping instead to score big-ticket items such as medals and sweaty uniforms, Portfolio reports. It's serious business: A gold medal from the 1904 Games... More »

Black Community Particularly Invested in US Hoops Squad

'Redeem Team' must validate basketball's urban roots by reclaiming Olympic gold

(Newser) - The US Olympic basketball team isn’t only out to reclaim gold, Vincent Thomas writes in Slam, but also to validate the black community’s investment in the NBA. “Team USA, whether they know it or like it … is on a quest to bring gold back to America,... More »

French Relations With China 'Set Right,' Sarkozy Says

President talks human rights with leaders hosting Beijing visit

(Newser) - Nicolas Sarkozy says the relationship between France and China had been “set right again” in talks today with the Chinese leadership, AFP reports. "I had a lunch and a meeting with the Chinese president and a meeting with the prime minister. I talked about human rights, I handed... More »

Fireworks Open Olympics

Five-hour ceremony gets under way

(Newser) - The most impressive Olympic games on record began in explosive fashion today, as more than 80 heads of state and 91,000 spectators gathered in the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing. The five-hour opening ceremony began with a dazzling fireworks display, with hundreds of white-robed drummers playing in unison.... More »

China Proudly Takes the Stage

29th Olympiad seen as world's recognition of China's success

(Newser) - Beijing is buzzing with excitement as the Olympic countdown nears its end, reports the Washington Post. The nation boldly steps into the international spotlight as the 29th Olympiad begins at the auspicious hour of 8:08 pm Chinese time. China's people are eager to impress the world, and the ruling... More »

5 Obscure Olympic Pursuits

For some countries, Beijing is about judo, handball and badminton

(Newser) - Basketball, Speedo-wearing athletes and gymnastics floor routines might be the toast of NBC on this side of the ocean, but lesser-known Olympic disciplines will drive other nations to the edge of their collective seat, reports Time. Here are five:
  1. Badminton: Responsible for Indonesia's lone gold, the sport with 125-mph backhand
... More »

IOC, BBC Spar Over Beijing Air

But pollution readings by BBC tell a different story

(Newser) - The International Olympic Committee says there is nothing wrong with the air in Beijing and praised China's "extraordinary" efforts to clean up pollution ahead of the Games' kick-off tomorrow. But the BBC disagrees, reporting its own analysis that shows Beijing's air pollution at nearly four times World Health Organization... More »

10 Buzz-Worthy Olympians

Phelps, Bolt, Xiang take sport's center stage

(Newser) - Competing in 20 Olympic events and going for a record eight gold medals, American swimming phenom Michael Phelps is first off the block in the BBC's list of 10 to watch in Beijing. Here are some of the others:
  • Natalie du Toit: This South African swimmer and Paralympic gold-medalist will
... More »

Bush: 'Deep Concerns' on Rights in China

President lands in Beijing for opening ceremonies

(Newser) - President Bush landed in Beijing today for the Olympics’ opening ceremony, but not before outlining his “deep concerns” about human rights in the Chinese regime. “America stands in firm opposition to China's detention of political dissidents, human-rights advocates, and religious activists,” Bush said in a speech in... More »

Bush Readies Salvo on China's Rights Record

President's speech tomorrow will express 'deep concern,' US' 'firm opposition'

(Newser) - President Bush will urge the Chinese government toward greater openness and civil freedom, according to excerpts from a speech he’s scheduled give tomorrow in Thailand, the New York Times reports. Bush will keep his criticism mild, not wishing to use his visit to the Olympics to blast Beijing on... More »

Swimmer Takes Fur Protest to Beijing

American is first athlete to protest at Games, but display is low-key

(Newser) - Amanda Beard became the first athlete to protest at the Olympic Games today, revealing a huge nude photo of herself outside the athlete’s village in Beijing. Eschewing Darfur or Tibet, the US swimmer blasted fur clothing in the ad for PETA. “The Olympics are a great forum for... More »

Musharraf Will, Won't, Will Attend Olympic Kick-Off

He flip-flops on trip amid impeachment talk

(Newser) - Pervez Musharraf will be in Beijing tomorrow for the Olympics' opening ceremony, the foreign ministry said today, reversing an earlier announcement that he had canceled the trip. The president is battling possible impeachment at home, the BBC reports, and opposition leaders met yesterday, reportedly to discuss an ouster. The cancellation... More »

Norway Rolls Over US, 2-0

Scores 2 goals in first 4 minutes, hangs on to win

(AP) - Norway jumped on the United States from the opening whistle, getting two goals in the first four minutes today to beat the US women's soccer team, 2-0, at the Beijing Olympics. The US occassionally looked dangerous, but seemed to miss injured leading scorer Abby Wambach. It was America's first loss... More »

China's Authoritarian Gold Rush Misses Joy of Sports

Beijing may well pass US atop medals table, but citizens' share will be minimal

(Newser) - Beijing’s plan to win the most golds at the Olympics seems likely to pay off in a battle pitting “Chinese authoritarianism versus American liberty,” Matthew Forney writes in the New York Times. Unlike the US, though, China’s citizenry gets little chance to play organized sports, with... More »

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