http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v8dA8hMf84
Su li wen from Taiwan (chinese taipei)
I will post more as they are available.
:)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v8dA8hMf84
Su li wen from Taiwan (chinese taipei)
I will post more as they are available.
:)
SOME BWT COVERAGE!!!
"the first time in the Olympic history for a tournament of a non-Olympic event to be held in an Olympic host city during the Games"
Quote:
Beijing 2008 Wushu tournament kicks off in Beijing
www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-21 21:09:28
BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Wushu, also called martial arts, a non-Olympic but Chinese traditional sport, made a shinning appearance on Thursday in Beijing where the 29th Olympic Games is going on.
The four-day Beijing 2008 Wushu Tournament, which attracts 128 athletes from 43 countries and regions, kicked off at the Beijing Olympic Sports Center where some Olympic handball matches had been held.
It was the first time that a non-Olympic tournament was launched in a city which is hosting an Olympic Games.
"With the approval of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Beijing 2008 Wushu Tournament is co-sponsored by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG), the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) and the Chinese Wushu Association," said Wang Xiaolin, the secretary-general of IWUF.
"It is the first time in the Olympic history for a tournament of a non-Olympic event to be held in an Olympic host city during the Games," Wang noted.
"The IOC approval shows its recognition and support to the sport event originated from China and its respect to the Chinese culture," Wang said.
"The holding of the tournament showcases the magnificence of the Wushu, and signifies 'the People's Olympics', one of the themes of the Beijing Olympic Games," he added.
As for the issue of the inclusion of Wushu in the Olympic Games, Wang admitted that there is still a long way to go.
There are a total of 15 gold medals up for grabs in the Beijing 2008 Wushu Tournament which features Taolu (set routines) and Sanshou Boxing (free combat).
Sun Jianming, head coach of the Japanese Wushu team, told Xinhua, "Wushu is more popular in Asia than in Europe and America. Statistics show that in Japan there are about a million people practising Wushu, the Taijiquan in particular."
"Many medical organizations in Japan encourage the people to practise Taijiquan for keeping healthy," said Sun, who went from China to Japan 22 years ago to be a Wushu tutor.
Japanese athlete Koki Nakata, 24, said, "I started to practise Wushu at the age of 16. The technique of Wushu is so amazing that I could not give it up in the past eight years."
"I am a fan of Jackie Chan, the world famous Wushu master and movie star," he added.
my brothers and I all agreed that the medical team and judges should have stopped her from playing/competing.
Su was standing with the good right leg, and kicking away with hurt left knee.
Su fell and stood up again and finished her games of 3 rounds.
the cruciate lig of her left knee may be ruptured.
--
no so much about pains to bear.
may be the spirits of sportsmanship
and a promise to her dad with cancer that she would do "all" she could to win the gold for him.
--
many people in tears including coaches and judges.
Su ended with the 5th place.
--
:(:cool::rolleyes::confused:
http://www.casttv.com/olympics/taekwondo
this is a link to watch tkd games.
:)
A little bit of taekwondo controversy today. Think it could cost tkd their spot in the Olympics?
youtube took away a lot of tkd games vid.
nothing I can do about it.
:(
Cuban banned for life after kicking ref in the head. What an idiot!:rolleyes:
Quote:
Matos' bad behavior followed a day of confusion on the mats and ended the four-day taekwondo competition, which was marred by several protests against judge's calls.
OTOH, his opponent was obviously "in error" with the following statement:Quote:
Originally Posted by TaichiMantis
"To me it was obvious he was unable to continue," Chilmanov said. "His toe on his left foot was broken."
The Cuban's kick to the ref's head may have been the best shot of the entire event.
Guess it just took "motivation"? (above & beyond the "quest for gold")
Quote:
Originally Posted by SPJ
http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/new...ss=news_Sports
Taiwan's possibly only gold medal winner worth more than gold.
:cool:
anyone else see this?
china won over the mongolian guy but I didn't see why? technical?
anyone else think their 'boxing' stances were really low?
and, christ, dudes less than 106???
Yea but that wasn't has biased as the Light Heavy final. The Irish guy got wh0red in my opinion. Even Teddy Atlas at times couldn't understand why some punches weren't scored.
and also the fight befoe was light flyweight.
Chinese guy won against the mongolian because the mongolian bowed out claiming his right shoulder hurt too much to continue. It was not apparently seriously damaged but, whatever.
In the light heavyweight bout it LOOKED really even between the Irish boxer and the Chinese. I'd have been hard pressed to determine a winner. That being said the judges favored the Chinese boxer something fierce and I think a lot of people will be calling the Irish boxer as the rightful winner as a backlash against the rotten judging.
The super heavyweight bout however did not suffer from a pro-China bias in judging. The Italian dominated the fight and the score reflected this.
Finally I can get a good night's sleep again...
Quote:
Kicked out: Cuban banned for life
By the Associated Press
Posted Saturday, August 23, 2008 5:42 AM ET
BEIJING (AP) -- Cuba's Angel Matos deliberately kicked a referee square in the face after he was disqualified in a bronze-medal match, prompting the World Taekwondo Federation to recommend he be banned for life.
Cuba's Angel Matos has been disqualified for life after kicking a referee in the Men's 80Kg Bronze medal match
"We didn't expect anything like what you have witnessed to occur," said WTF secretary general Yang Jin-suk. "I am at a loss for words."
Yang also recommended Matos' coach be banned.
Matos was winning 3-2, with 1:02 left in the second round, when he fell to the mat after being hit by his opponent, Kazakhstan's Arman Chilmanov. Matos was sitting there, awaiting medical attention, when he was disqualified for taking too much injury time. Fighters get one minute, and Matos was disqualified when his time ran out.
Matos angrily questioned the call, pushed a judge, then pushed and kicked referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden, who will require stitches in his lip. Matos spat on the floor and was escorted out.
"This is an insult to the Olympic vision, an insult to the spirit of taekwondo and, in my opinion, an insult to mankind," Yang said.
Matos' coach was unapologetic.
"He was too strict," Leudis Gonzalez said, referring to the decision to disqualify Matos. Afterward, he charged the match was fixed, accusing the Kazakhs of offering him money.
Although the arena announcer said Matos and his coach were banned effective immediately, Yang said due process must be followed before officially banning the two.
In his first match, Matos defeated Italy's Leonardo Basile, then beat China's Liu Xiaobo 2-1 in the quarterfinals. But he lost to South Korean Cha Dong-min in the semis to land in the bronze-medal match.
"To me it was obvious he was unable to continue," Chilmanov said. "His toe on his left foot was broken."
But Chilmanov added: "Rules are rules. I'm happy with my medal."
Matos won the gold medal in this division - the men's over 80-kilograms (176 pounds) - at the 2000 Sydney Games, dedicating the victory to his mother, who died on the day of the opening ceremony. At the 2004 Athens Games, he finished 11th.
Matos' bad behavior followed a day of confusion on the mats and ended the four-day taekwondo competition, which was marred by several protests against judge's calls.
Earlier Saturday, China's double gold medalist Chen Zhong crashed out in the quarterfinals after initially being declared the winner.
World champion Maria del Rosario Espinoza, the eventual winner in the women's over 67-kilogram (147.4 pounds) class, was to fight Chen in the semifinals but the judges overturned an earlier ruling and made Britain's Sarah Stevenson the winner of the quarterfinal bout in which Chen scored in the closing seconds of the second round and then Stevenson tagged her with a head kick - worth two points - in the third.
The judges ruled Stevenson's kick wasn't solid enough for points, and Chen was declared the winner 1-0. After Britain protested, the result was changed to put Stevenson in the semifinal.
The decision brought loud jeers from the crowd. China did not appeal.
It was the first time a match result has been overturned since taekwondo became an official Olympic sport in 1990.
"It's been a really tough day, an emotional rollercoaster," Stevenson said. "I would have been devastated if they hadn't changed the decision."
Stevenson won bronze, along with Brazil's Natalia Falavigna.
Cha made it four-for-four gold medals for South Korea. In taekwondo, countries are allowed to enter only four athletes.
Cha fell behind when Alexandros Nikolaidis of Greece nailed him with a head kick 15 seconds into the bout. But he came back with a body kick and a head shot of his own to take back the lead, adding another point to go 4-3 going into the third round.
Nikolaidis evened it out at 4-4 with a body kick, but Cha scored with just 18 seconds left to claim the gold in the men's over-80 kg (176 pounds) division.
Nikolaidis said he felt the judging was bad in the gold-medal match as well.
"I don't think in press conferences we should discuss referees and things," he said. "But I think I deserved a couple of things that didn't come to me."
Daba Modibo Keita of Mali, the 2007 world champion, was defeated in overtime in the quarterfinals by Nigeria's Chika Yagazie Chukwumerije, who ended up with the other bronze.
I was wondering if anyone would report it from this angle... I should have guessed it would come from the Japanese...
Meanwhile, here's a Jackie pic:Quote:
Beijing Olympics held firmly on China's terms
Hiroyuki Matsumoto and Wakako Yuki / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers
BEIJING--The Beijing Olympics, which ended Sunday with the host nation grabbing a list-topping 51 gold medals, proved to be "run by China for the benefit of China," while the International Olympic Committee lauded the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee for its management of the Games.
The Opening Ceremony held on Aug. 8 was attended by heads of state and leaders from an unprecedented 80-plus countries to make it a gala occasion for Olympic diplomacy. At the center stage of this diplomacy was Chinese President Hu Jintao, who declared the Games open while giving the impression that the dignitaries had gathered in Beijing to congratulate the host nation.
The way the Games were managed received high praise. A member of the Japanese gymnastics team said everything was perfect, and that athletes were provided with a far more favorable environment than previous Olympics.
Organizers touted the motto "Volunteers' smiles are the best advertisement for Beijing." Indeed, an abundance of unpaid workers offered services at the Games. Special car and bus lanes for Olympic participants and others enabled smooth transportation between venues.
The food served at the Olympic Village proved popular among athletes. Kosuke Kitajima, who took gold for the second time in a row in the men's 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke races, said, "Compared with the two other Olympics I've taken part in, the food [at the Beijing Games] was the tastiest."
On the security front, although there were frequent small-scale terrorist attacks in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, security in the capital was untroubled. In Beijing, luggage inspections were held at subway ticket gates and more than 10,000 knives were confiscated, while Beijing-bound trains were routinely inspected. A small missile base was built at a site adjacent to the Olympic venues, in case of emergency.
There were no instances of large-scale trouble because potentially disturbing elements were removed by making maximum use of public authority. There was, however, a succession of incidents in which human rights activists and foreign reporters were detained and treated violently by the Chinese authorities. Further, two Beijing residents were ordered to serve one year of labor education for "disrupting public order" after they protested against an order to move out of their homes for an Olympic-related development project.
The Beijing Olympics also were characterized by what some people labeled "unprecedented egotism on the part of the host city."
Symbolic of this was an event for a traditional Chinese martial arts held from Thursday to Sunday at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. The venue hosted an international meet for Chinese martial artists that was not part of the official Olympics. Preliminary rounds of Olympic handball games were held at the same gymnasium until Wednesday.
Medals handed out at the martial arts event were engraved with logos minus Olympic emblems, but which when seen from a distance, were indistinguishable from genuine Olympic medals.
A 20-year-old Russian woman who won one of the martial arts events said emotionally, "It feels like I'm taking part in a real Olympic event." But the martial art meet could be seen as nothing more than a "fake Olympic event."
China repeatedly asked the IOC to approve the traditional martial art as an official Olympic event, but this request was never granted.
The IOC therefore initially took a dim view of the martial art meet being held at the same time as the Olympics. But the Chinese organizers paid little heed to the IOC's opinion, going so far as allowing participants to stay in the Olympic Village alongside Olympic athletes. Eventually, the IOC approved the meet as a "cultural program." IOC President Jacques Rogge himself visited the venue for the event and served as a presenter at a medal ceremony.
The Chinese organizers were keen to hold the event as China otherwise might have lost face given the fact judo was admitted as an official Olympic event when Tokyo hosted the Games in 1964, while South Korea's taekwondo was introduced as an unofficial Olympic event when Seoul hosted the Games in 1988.
President Hu himself reportedly urged the IOC to allow the martial art meet to be held, indicating that hosting the event was the state will of China.
After all, the Beijing Olympics were held to bolster the pride of the host nation.
As a footnote, I just got a copy of this but haven't listened to it yetQuote:
Olympics, It's Hard to Say Goodbye
2008-08-23 11:06:00
Chinese superstars Jackie Chan, Liu Huan, Andy Lau and Chow Wah Kin (from right to left) pose for photos at the Beijing Olympic Park on Friday, August 22, 2008. The four stars sang the song "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" together to mark the conclusion of the Beijing Olympics.
Quote:
Jackie Chan Releases Olympic Album
2008-08-07 21:40:23
One day before the Beijing Olympics opening, Jackie Chan released an official Olympic album and became the only male singer authorized to do so.
The "Official Album for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games - Jackie Chan's Version" is one of the two solo albums with authorization granted by the Beijing Olympics organizing committee, reported Sina.com.cn. The Web site broadcasted the launch ceremony at the Olympic Park on Thursday.
The other record to be released soon is by songstress Tan Jing, according to Yu Binghan, who produced both albums.
Chan's album includes 10 songs he sang for the "Official Album for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games," a star-studded compilation released on April 30. Tracks include "We Are Ready" and "Welcome to Beijing."
"The album is an extension of the official compilation," Yu Binghan told Sina. "We chose Jackie because he is the best-known Chinese celebrity, and also because he has done a lot for the Olympics."
Chan received his Olympic volunteer certificate from the organizing committee on August 3 at the inauguration ceremony for China Story, a project promoting Chinese culture and for which he and Tan Jing will together sing the theme song.
He is also set to promote Chinese culture to foreign broadcasters during the games, Sina reported.
Chan wore sports clothes to his album's launch ceremony, and said the garments were one of the 101 sets that he has had custom made for Olympic occasions.
Each set is printed with Olympic rings and features different Chinese characters. The one he wore Thursday reads "Peace" and "Friendship."
He said that he would put the costumes up for auction after the Olympics and donate the proceeds to charity.
I can't believe NBC played an except of China Cat Sunflower in one of their segments.
Check out the pic of Max in this USA TODAY piece - not his most shining moment but at least you can recognize him.
Here's some CCTV wushu coverage I was forwarded.Quote:
Kung-fu makes Olympic showcase debut
By Calum MacLeod, USA TODAY
BEIJING — The fighters are gloved up like boxers, and enter to pumping rock music too. In action, they grapple like wrestlers, and launch kicks to their opponent's body armor like taekwondo athletes. Then a gong, not a bell, sounds to end each round.
This is Chinese kung-fu, making its Olympic debut … almost.
The Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 kicked off Thursday at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. Approved by the International Olympic Committee, but not a formal part of its Summer Games, the four-day tournament showcases the mother of all martial arts.
Wushu, as kung-fu is better known in China, boasts a history stretching back thousands of years. But the sport is now determined to move from Hollywood movies and ancient Chinese temples, into the mainstream of Olympic sports. Fifteen gold medals are up for grabs by 128 athletes from 43 countries and regions.
"This is a great day," said Wang Xiaolin, president of the Chinese Wushu Association and head of the International Wushu Federation, who has led the push for Olympic recognition.
"For the first time we have the chance to show off the image of wushu during the Olympics. Look at the fierce fighting of sanshou," he said, referring to the full-contact discipline.
"But wushu is also a very cultural and civilized sport," he said. "Defense is crucial, and in taolu (the other main discipline), you will get a feeling of beauty when you watch. Wushu is a harmonious, tolerant activity. "
Wang said that although wushu originated in China, there are now 120 countries in his federation. "We look forward to the day when wushu is an official Olympic sport," he said, but declined to offer a timetable. "We are trying."
Sarah Ponce of San Diego, though disappointed after her quarterfinal loss to Walaa Mohamed Abdelrazek of Egypt, said she still found it "awesome" to be competing in the home of her sport.
Ponce, 31, took up wushu 10 years ago so she could take on her brother and his friends. She has relished the Beijing experience, especially staying in the main Olympic Village.
"We get to interact with the real Olympic athletes," said Ponce, who then argued her experience is much the same and that the sport should be formally recognized.
"I've trained for 10 years to get to this point," she said.
Tat-Mau Wong, vice president of the U.S. Wushu Federation, said the sport is booming there. "I have 1,000 students at my school in San Francisco, and we have got a lot more because of Kung-fu Panda," the recent hit film.
Wong said there are close to 100,000 people practicing wushu in United States. "It can grow into a very popular sport."
Quote:
Wushu champ gives RP a reason to celebrate
By Tarra Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:01:00 08/26/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Upon seeing the tiny athlete with a gold medal around his neck, passengers on the immigration queue broke into applause. Tourists posed with him for photos and a passenger pointed a kid to the medalist passing by.
In a country deprived of Olympic joy when athletes from the regular sports failed in their courageous bid to land a medal, 24-year-old Willy Wang arrived Monday giving people who saw him at the airport reason to celebrate.
“I am happy because we got a gold in the Olympics,” said Wang, who prepared just as hard—and as long—as the athletes who were counted on to deliver the country’s first Olympic gold medal.
Wang, who prepared for the event for eight months, won the gold in wushu, a demonstration event whose results do not count on the official medal standings.
“Even if it’s a special event, I am happy that we won a gold,” said the Filipino-Chinese world champion in heavily accented Filipino.
Wang, who started training in the martial art when he was 12, snagged the gold in the demonstration event held on the side of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where most of the country’s overmatched delegation failed to make it even past the preliminary stages of their events.
Wang’s victory marked the only time the Philippine national anthem was played in Olympic City.
Wang shared that other Filipino athletes in Beijing were happy about his win despite missing their own medal goals in the quadrennial.
“Their training was really hard, they did all the preparation and they did not get any medals, but at least I got one for the country. My friends [from other events] are happy about it,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer while waiting at the baggage carousel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.
He believes wushu has a strong chance to become an Olympic event soon, but not within the slowly expiring shelf life of his career.
“By the next Olympics, I might already have retired, because that’s still a long time away, four years,” Wang said. “Maybe [I’m retiring] next year, because I’m old [for the sport], I’m already 24.
“I’d like to do business instead, maybe [with] computers,” he said with a grin.
Wang arrived on a Philippine Airlines flight around 5:40 p.m. Monday along with officials of the Philippine delegation, among them Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco and the team’s chief of mission, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella.
Said Cojuangco of Wang’s sport: “I think it has a good prospect because the Chinese are really working hard to get it in, there’s a big effort to get it in.”
Asked about the Philippine team’s performance, he said: “They performed as best as they can. They broke their own Philippine records. They did the way we expected them to do, only the competition was really tough.”