OLYMPIC 2008 UPDATES @ PMR SIBU

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Kayaker Adam van Koeverden to carry flag for Canada

Olympic and world champion Kayaker Adam van Koeverden has been named as Canada's flag bearer for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC).
Koeverden made his Olympic debut four years ago in Athens when he claimed bronze in the K-1 1000m and gold in the K-1 500m. From 2004 through 2007 Koeverden has dominated the World Cup circuit with 21 World Cup gold medals.
"We are very proud to have Adam van Koeverden carrying Canada's flag into the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games," said COC president Michael Chambers, as reported by the COC website. "Adam typifies the Canadian Olympic Committee's passion for sport excellence and integrity, and represents Canada with pride on every occasion."

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Viktor Ruban of Ukraine prevented Park Kyung-mo of the Republic of Korea from winning ROK's first Men's Individual Olympic title with the very last arrow of their gold medal match at the Olympic Green Archery Field on Friday.
In a tightly-contested gold medal match, the No. 3 seed Ruban defeated the No. 4 seed Park 113-112.
Ruban was lucky to have been in the gold medal match having barely made it through the semifinals. To shoot in the gold medal match, Ruban had to break a 112-112 tie with Bair Badenov of the Russian Federation in a two-arrow shoot off.

Zhang Juanjuan of China broke the Republic of Korea's 24-year stranglehold on the Women's Individual event, claiming the gold medal with the last arrow of a riveting final against Park Sung- hyun at the Olympic Green Archery Field

Olga Kaniskina crosses the line

Olga Kaniskina of Russia crossed the finish line to win gold in the Women's 20km Walk at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in 1 hour 26.31 minutes on August 21, breaking the previous Olympic record of 1 hour 29.05 minutes.

Xue Chen sends a shot to Talita Rocha and Renata Ribeiro

Xue Chen and Zhang Xi of China won their country's first medal in Beach Volleyball by defeating Brazilan duo Renata Ribeiro and Talita Rocha 21-19, 21-17 in 39 minutes to win a bronze medal.

Ramazan Sahin wins the gold for Turkey. Ramazan Sahin brought the Turkish delegation their first gold medal in Beijing Men's Freestyle Wrestling 66 kilogram final

Melaine Walker celebrates after winning the gold medal

Melaine Walker of Jamaica set an Olympic record to win the Women's 400m Hurdles

New 200 meter world record holder Usain Bolt complete an Olympic gold sprint double -- both in world record times. Bolt blasted out of his blocks and crossed the finish line 19.30 seconds later to slice two-hundredths of a second off the previous mark of 19.32

Chinese sailor Yin Jian Athens silver medalist won China's first ever Olympic Sailing gold medal by clinching the Women's RS:X (Windsurfer) title

Russian duo Anastasia Davydova and Anastasia Ermakova won the first Synchronized Swimming gold medal of Beijing 2008 in the Duet Free final. It was the four-time world champions' third Olympic gold, having won both the Duet and Team gold medals in Athens.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Badminton

In Badminton, China's Lin Dan ("Super Dan" to his army of fans) made light work of beating World No. 2 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in straight sets to take the Men's Singles crown.

Reigning Wimbledon champions Serena and Venus Williams of the United States defeated French Open champions Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain to take the Women's Doubles gold medal.

Spain's Rafael Nadal added Olympic gold to his growing list of major championship wins after beating defending champion Fernando Gonzalez of Chile in the Tennis Men's Singles final.

Another great name surely having his final Olympic fling was Ethiopian middle distance legend Haile Gebrselassie. The 35-year-old two-time winner of the Men's 10000 meters returned for one final crack at capturing his title for the third time – which was ultimately claimed by fellow Ethiopian and defending champion Kenenisa Bekele in an Olympic record of 27 minutes 01.17 seconds. Gebrselassie came in a creditable sixth but will surely not grace the Olympic stage again. His broad grin will be missed.

Germany's Britta Steffen completed a freestyle sprint double by taking gold in the Women's 50m Freestyle final in an Olympic record of 24.06sec to add to the 100m Freestyle gold she won on Friday. Torres, representing the United States, claimed the silver medal, with 16-year-old Australian Cate Campbell – some 25 years her junior – earning the bronze medal.

Phelps smiles with the American flag wearing his eighth gold

Olympic champion China Guo Jingjing

Guo Jingjing

Defending Olympic champion Guo Jingjing gave China its fifth Diving gold of the Olympic Games, winning the Women's 3m Springboard with a score of 415.35 in the final. Julia Pakhalina of Russia, bronze medalist in Athens and gold medalist in Synchronized Springboard in Sydney, finished in second place with 398.60 points. Wu Minxia of China, who won gold with Guo in Synchronized Springboard, finished third with 389.85 points.

Guo won her fourth Olympic gold and her sixth Olympic medal, breaking Fu Mingxia's record of most Olympic medals by a Chinese female diver. Her score of 415.35 is the highest score ever in the event and her victory extends China's two-decades of Diving dominance – the nation has won the Women's 3m Springboard in six straight Olympic Games. The 27-year-old Chinese diver has previously stated that she will retire after competing in Beijing.

Three-time Olympian Julia Pakhalina, who turns 31 in September, won her fifth Olympic medal with a consistent performance throughout the competition. She finished the semifinals in second-place and was one step behind Guo through the entire final.

Wu Minxia moved into third place after an 85.50-point fourth dive that topped the field. She finished more than 15 points clear of Blythe Hartley of Canada to win her fourth Olympic medal. She finished in second place in Women's Springboard in Athens.

The Official Mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace -- and good wishes from China -- to children all over the world.Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic FlameEach of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow.When you put their names together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games..Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky -- all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentationSpreading Traditional Chinese Good Wishes Wherever They Go.In the ancient culture of China, there is a grand tradition of spreading good wishes through signs and symbols. Each of Fuwa symbolizes a different blessing -- and will honor this tradition by carrying their good wishes to the children of the world. Prosperity, happiness, passion, health and good luck will be spread to every continent as Fuwa carry their invitation to Beijing 2008 to every part of the globe.At the heart of their mission -- and through all of their work -- Fuwa will seek to unite the world in peace and friendship through the Olympic spirit. Dedicated to helping Beijing 2008 spread its theme of One World, One Dream to every continent, Fuwa reflect the deep desire of the Chinese people to reach out to the world in friendship through the Games -- and to invite every man, woman and child to take part in the great celebration of human solidarity that China will host in the light of the flame in 2008.

Jing Jing

Jingjing makes children smile -- and that's why he brings the blessing of happiness wherever he goes. You can see his joy in the charming naivety of his dancing pose and the lovely wave of his black and white fur. As a national treasure and a protected species, pandas are adored by people everywhere. The lotus designs in Jingjing's headdress, which are inspired by the porcelain paintings of the Song Dynasty (A.D.960-1234), symbolize the lush forest and the harmonious relationship between man and nature. Jingjing was chosen to represent our desire to protect nature's gifts -- and to preserve the beauty of nature for all generations. Jingjing is charmingly naïve and optimistic. He is an athlete noted for strength who represents the black Olympic ring.

Huan Huan

In the intimate circle of Fuwa, Huanhuan is the big brother. He is a child of fire, symbolizing the Olympic Flame and the passion of sport -- and passion is the blessing he bestows. Huanhuan stands in the center of Fuwa as the core embodiment of the Olympic spirit. And while he inspires all with the passion to run faster, jump higher and be stronger, he is also open and inviting. Wherever the light of Huanhuan shines, the inviting warmth of Beijing 2008 -- and the wishful blessings of the Chinese people -- can be felt. The fiery designs of his head ornament are drawn from the famed Dunhuang murals -- with just a touch of China's traditional lucky designs. Huanhuan is outgoing and enthusiastic. He excels at all the ball games and represents the red Olympic ring.

Ying Ying

Like all antelopes, Yingying is fast and agile and can swiftly cover great stretches of land as he races across the earth. A symbol of the vastness of China's landscape, the antelope carries the blessing of health, the strength of body that comes from harmony with nature. Yingying's flying pose captures the essence of a species unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, one of the first animals put under protection in China. The selection of the Tibetan Antelope reflects Beijing's commitment to a Green Olympics. His head ornament incorporates several decorative styles from the Qinghai-Tibet and Sinkiang cultures and the ethnic design traditions of Western China. Strong in track and field events, Yingying is a quick-witted and agile boy who represents the yellow Olympic ring.

Nini

Every spring and summer, the children of Beijing have flown beautiful kites on the currents of wind that blow through the capital. Among the kite designs, the golden-winged swallow is traditionally one of the most popular. Nini's figure is drawn from this grand tradition of flying designs. Her golden wings symbolize the infinite sky and spread good-luck as a blessing wherever she flies. Swallow is also pronounced "yan" in Chinese, and Yanjing is what Beijing was called as an ancient capital city. Among Fuwa, Nini is as innocent and joyful as a swallow. She is strong in gymnastics and represents the green Olympic ring.