Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://politiktoons.blogspot.comand also at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)
Showing posts with label 2008 Beijing Olympics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2008 Beijing Olympics. Show all posts
Friday, October 03, 2008
Politiktoons No. 53: The Baby-Olympians
Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://politiktoons.blogspot.comand also at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Cambodian athletes return back home at the end of the Beijing Olympics
Cambodian athletes and trainers taking a picture with King Norodom Sihamoni (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)26 August 2008
By Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the original article in French
Cambodia’s participation of the Beijing Olympics was very much appreciated in spite of the absence of medals. The efforts made by the Chinese hosts to welcome Khmer athletes were judged satisfactory.
Hem Thon, the swimming coach, indicated that the conditions for the preparation of the athletes were much better than those in previous games. The visit of King Sihamoni, who was visiting China, to the sport residence, was very appreciated. The royal family donated $600 to each athlete. Hem Thon reported about the king during his visit to the athlete residence: “The king was happy to meet the athletes during this world competition. He wished them great success and he also wished that they earn an important spot in this international arena.”
Cambodia which never won a single medal yet in any Olympic games, qualified 4 athletes to the competition: two swimmers and two runners. As for swimming, Hem Thon saluted the performance of Cambodian swimmers who are making rapid progress. Hem Thon Ponloeu broke his own record in the 50-m free-style swimming in 27.39 seconds, whereas the Thai swimmer made it in 28 seconds. Hem Thon Vitinin also broke her own record in the 100-m free-style swimming in 31.48 seconds, beating Thailand (32.14 seconds) and Japan (32.48 seconds). “The training method is the right one. With such a progress of the performances, we hope to win medals in 2011, during the SEA Games,” Hem Thon explained.
For his part, Hem Bunting –Cambodia’s best marathon runner who earned two medals during the last SEA Games in Thailand by beating his own personal records by 7 minutes – ended the Olympic marathon in 2:33 hours, about half an hour after the Kenyan Wansiru Samuel Kamau, the world champion. Bunting, who is participating the Olympics games for the first time, showed his perseverance and did not quit the race, unlike 25 other runners from developing countries. Hem Bunting placed himself 73 among the 76 runners who completed the marathon. “I cannot maintain the same performance as during the SEA Games because I have muscle problems in my foot. Furthermore, the trail in Beijing included 20 turns, this slowed me down and they worsened my muscle problem,” Hem Bunting said. Nevertheless, he acknowledged his defeat, but he considered it as an experience for his upcoming competitions. He also failed during his first participation at the SEA Games, before finally winning his two medals. Hem Bunting believed that the king was nevertheless satisfied with his performance.
In the future, Hem Bunting said that he will train intensely so that he can shine in the international arena.
Hem Thon, the swimming coach, indicated that the conditions for the preparation of the athletes were much better than those in previous games. The visit of King Sihamoni, who was visiting China, to the sport residence, was very appreciated. The royal family donated $600 to each athlete. Hem Thon reported about the king during his visit to the athlete residence: “The king was happy to meet the athletes during this world competition. He wished them great success and he also wished that they earn an important spot in this international arena.”
Cambodia which never won a single medal yet in any Olympic games, qualified 4 athletes to the competition: two swimmers and two runners. As for swimming, Hem Thon saluted the performance of Cambodian swimmers who are making rapid progress. Hem Thon Ponloeu broke his own record in the 50-m free-style swimming in 27.39 seconds, whereas the Thai swimmer made it in 28 seconds. Hem Thon Vitinin also broke her own record in the 100-m free-style swimming in 31.48 seconds, beating Thailand (32.14 seconds) and Japan (32.48 seconds). “The training method is the right one. With such a progress of the performances, we hope to win medals in 2011, during the SEA Games,” Hem Thon explained.
For his part, Hem Bunting –Cambodia’s best marathon runner who earned two medals during the last SEA Games in Thailand by beating his own personal records by 7 minutes – ended the Olympic marathon in 2:33 hours, about half an hour after the Kenyan Wansiru Samuel Kamau, the world champion. Bunting, who is participating the Olympics games for the first time, showed his perseverance and did not quit the race, unlike 25 other runners from developing countries. Hem Bunting placed himself 73 among the 76 runners who completed the marathon. “I cannot maintain the same performance as during the SEA Games because I have muscle problems in my foot. Furthermore, the trail in Beijing included 20 turns, this slowed me down and they worsened my muscle problem,” Hem Bunting said. Nevertheless, he acknowledged his defeat, but he considered it as an experience for his upcoming competitions. He also failed during his first participation at the SEA Games, before finally winning his two medals. Hem Bunting believed that the king was nevertheless satisfied with his performance.
In the future, Hem Bunting said that he will train intensely so that he can shine in the international arena.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The unexpected friendship of US President George Bush
Translated from French by Luc SârThe unexpected friendship of US President George Bush
By N. Sihanouk
08 August 2008
By N. Sihanouk
08 August 2008
Grandiose and very beautiful, very successful opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics Games.
In a portion of the podium reserved for Chinese and foreign VIPs (heads of state, national leaders, retired Prime Ministers), the PRC protocol placed not far from one another the illustrious President George Bush, the father of the current US President, the illustrious Lee Kuan Yew of the Republic of Singapore, N. Sihanouk of Cambodia.
Unforgettable event: President George Bush stood up, smiling and affable, to come and warmly shake my hand. I stood up to greet him and tell him: “Sir, I admire you so much!”. The US President was visibly touched. He thanked me by shaking my hand warmly a second time.
H.E. Lee Kuan Yew and I are old friends. We had a lot of pleasure and we were very moved to see each other again.
In the podium reserved for heads of state and current heads of government, my son Preah Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, was placed not far from the illustrious President Hu Jin Tao of the glorious PRC, next to the illustrious US President Bush (son).
US President Bush was very amicable with Preah Sihamoni.
(Signed) N. Sihanouk
In a portion of the podium reserved for Chinese and foreign VIPs (heads of state, national leaders, retired Prime Ministers), the PRC protocol placed not far from one another the illustrious President George Bush, the father of the current US President, the illustrious Lee Kuan Yew of the Republic of Singapore, N. Sihanouk of Cambodia.
Unforgettable event: President George Bush stood up, smiling and affable, to come and warmly shake my hand. I stood up to greet him and tell him: “Sir, I admire you so much!”. The US President was visibly touched. He thanked me by shaking my hand warmly a second time.
H.E. Lee Kuan Yew and I are old friends. We had a lot of pleasure and we were very moved to see each other again.
In the podium reserved for heads of state and current heads of government, my son Preah Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, was placed not far from the illustrious President Hu Jin Tao of the glorious PRC, next to the illustrious US President Bush (son).
US President Bush was very amicable with Preah Sihamoni.
(Signed) N. Sihanouk
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Cambodian 100m Sprinter Titlinda Sou at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Valentina Nazarova of Turkmenistan (L), Chandra Sturrup of Bahamas (2nd L), Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad and Tobago and Titlinda Sou of Cambodia (R) sprint during their women's 100m heat in the athletics competition of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium August 16, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Fathia Ali Bourrale of Djibouti (front) and Titlinda Sou of Cambodia look at the scoreboard after their women's 100m heat in the athletics competition of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium August 16, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake Sacrava's Politiktoons No. 36: The Wall Climbing-Sport
Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://politiktoons.blogspot.comand also at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)
Friday, August 15, 2008
Photo of Cambodian swimmer Ponloeu Hemthon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Ponloeu Hemthon of Cambodia removes his goggles after his men's 50m freestyle swimming heat at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, August 14, 2008. REUTERS/Jason ReedThursday, August 14, 2008
Chinese Look Askance as Phelps Swims Into History [-A quick diversion to the Beijing Olympics]
Dear KI-Media Readers,
I apologize for this quick diversion to the Beijing Olympics, I couldn't contain my awe at seeing Michael Phelps, this young US swimmer, accomplishing his feats, day after day, in Beijing. The article below also highlights the mentality difference between the east and the west, between the US and China. While watching the distribution of medals to the various athletes, I always dream that maybe one day, I will have the joy to see a Khmer athlete on the podium. ... How I wish that day will come soon...
Thank you for bearing with me,
Heng Soy
I apologize for this quick diversion to the Beijing Olympics, I couldn't contain my awe at seeing Michael Phelps, this young US swimmer, accomplishing his feats, day after day, in Beijing. The article below also highlights the mentality difference between the east and the west, between the US and China. While watching the distribution of medals to the various athletes, I always dream that maybe one day, I will have the joy to see a Khmer athlete on the podium. ... How I wish that day will come soon...
Thank you for bearing with me,
Heng Soy
Michael Phelps has won five gold medals so far in Beijing, but there are empty seats in the Water Cube aquatics center for his races. (Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times)August 13, 2008
By JERÉ LONGMAN
The New York Times
BEIJING — Before he swam to two more victories Wednesday and became the most successful Olympian in any sport with 11 career gold medals, Michael Phelps received a text message from a former high school buddy.
“Dude, it’s ridiculous how many times a day I have to see your ugly face,” wrote the friend, identified by Phelps as Tyler Kohler.
While Phelps is generating incredible attention in the United States with one record-breaking performance after another, his incandescent attempt to win eight gold medals at the Beijing Games is receiving curiously subdued attention in the country where it is taking place.
There are empty seats in the Water Cube aquatics center for his races, state-run Chinese newspapers are providing muted coverage and a number of people interviewed on the Olympic Green said that their favorite American athletes here were not swimmers but N.B.A. stars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
The world record Phelps set in the 200-meter freestyle Tuesday was relegated to the world report on page 30 of Wednesday’s editions of Titan Sports, a popular Chinese sports newspaper. Another sports daily, The First, played Phelps’s record on page 32, with two photographs and a brief article. A third publication, the Guangming Daily, a leading paper for intellectuals that is not read by the mass public, did not mention Phelps at all.
“I don’t know the name,” said Yang Quilian, 30, a technician working at the gymnastics stadium Tuesday, a day after Phelps participated in an astonishing 4x100-meter relay that also took gold. She thought a minute, then said, “Is he the boy in the relay? He did a great job.”
Generally, people interviewed did know Phelps and said they liked him and respected his otherworldly swimming ability. His races are carried live on television — though rarely if ever replayed — and generate excitement inside the Water Cube. He even has a nickname here, the Flying Fish.
Still, swimming is not an especially popular sport in China. Its elite female swimmers have faded after being involved in embarrassing doping scandals in the 1990s. And no Chinese man had won an Olympic medal in swimming until Zhang Lin took silver in the 400-meter freestyle on Sunday after training with an Australian coach.
In that light, Phelps’s achievements might be the equivalent of a Chinese athlete winning a host of gold medals in badminton at an Olympics held in the United States.
As could be expected, the Chinese news media are more concerned about their own athletes’ victories in such sports as gymnastics, diving, badminton, table tennis, fencing and weight lifting. All of China is eagerly awaiting the 110-meter hurdles, where the country’s most popular Olympian, Liu Xiang, hopes to defend his gold medal from the 2004 Athens Games.
Phelps also seems to be overshadowed in popularity here by such American N.B.A stars as Bryant and James. The league has also heavily invested in China in recent years. Its games are popular and widely viewed. Bryant and James — two of the world’s greatest players — have made several trips through China and Asia in association with Nike, making appearances, taking part in clinics, boosting their name recognition.
While the Olympics are engaging, they are a novelty held once every four years. The N.B.A., meanwhile, has a season running from late October into June.
“The N.B.A. is best,” said Yang Xiu, 23, who works at a newspaper kiosk in the Main Press Center at the Olympics. “We watch almost every game. We know almost every detail, how tall a player is, who can shoot, who can pass. I know Phelps’s race, but I am more familiar with the N.B.A. I can’t swim but I can play basketball.”
A concern about inflaming Chinese nationalism might be another factor at work in the restrained coverage of Phelps, said Susan Brownell, a Fulbright scholar from the United States who is studying the Olympics at Beijing Sport University.
Late last year, or early this year, Brownell said, her colleague, Yi Jiandong, wrote a blog on a popular Web site about how many medals Phelps might win, which brought a vehement response.
“It incited a lot of attacks on him from ultranationalists, who thought that by simply describing Phelps’s quest, he was saying the U.S. was better than China,” Brownell said, adding that the blog was eventually removed from the site, QZone.
“My guess,” Brownell said, “is that with China doing so well, winning so many gold medals, leading the count, it may be an editorial policy that if you give too much attention to Michael Phelps, there could be a danger of inciting ultranationalism: ‘Why are you writing about him when China is doing so well?’ They are sensitive to ultranationalism. They know the world is watching. They don’t want any ugliness.”
A spokesman for Octagon, the management company that represents Phelps, declined to comment beyond saying that Phelps drew a lot of news media and fan attention when he visited China several times in advance of the Games to raise his visibility. Phelps is not likely to be distressed — or even to notice — the modest play he is receiving from the Chinese news media.
For much of the world, he is the main draw at the Games. He draws huge crowds of reporters to his formal postrace news conferences and brief postrace chats, which take place in a kind of cattle chute known as the mixed zone. And he stands to make a $1 million bonus from Speedo, the swimwear company, for winning eight gold medals, which should more than compensate for any lack of buzz.
Wednesday, Phelps spoke in awed tones of the coverage he is receiving in the United States.
“It’s pretty cool to have a country behind you and on your side,” Phelps said. “No matter where any Americans are in the world, they’re watching and cheering. It’s a pretty special feeling.”
It might be said that Phelps occupies a special niche — most popular international athlete not competing directly against a Chinese star. For instance, the Cuban hurdler Dayron Robles, who recently broke Liu’s world record, is viewed as a real threat to China’s most popular athlete. Conversely, there is no Chinese star being left in Phelps’s wake, so there is no reason not to appreciate his accomplishments.
“He’s big time,” said Sang Lan, a former Chinese national gymnastics champion in the vault. “He’s not only defeating his competition, he’s challenging himself all the time.”
Some comments posted on message boards affiliated with Tsinghua University in Beijing were bombastically generous in Phelps’s favor.
“If he was Chinese, his accomplishments would make him even more popular than Yao Ming and Liu Xiang combined,” said one commenter. Another said, “He is definitely one of the 25 greatest athletes of this century; no, actually, he’s one of the top five in all history.”
By Sunday, when Phelps is expected to win his eighth gold medal, perhaps the Chinese news media will respond with the same wide coverage as their American counterparts, said Zhang Chao, 22, a college student. He spread his hand across the top of the front page of a newspaper in the Main Press Center kiosk and said, “Maybe he will be here.”
“Dude, it’s ridiculous how many times a day I have to see your ugly face,” wrote the friend, identified by Phelps as Tyler Kohler.
While Phelps is generating incredible attention in the United States with one record-breaking performance after another, his incandescent attempt to win eight gold medals at the Beijing Games is receiving curiously subdued attention in the country where it is taking place.
There are empty seats in the Water Cube aquatics center for his races, state-run Chinese newspapers are providing muted coverage and a number of people interviewed on the Olympic Green said that their favorite American athletes here were not swimmers but N.B.A. stars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
The world record Phelps set in the 200-meter freestyle Tuesday was relegated to the world report on page 30 of Wednesday’s editions of Titan Sports, a popular Chinese sports newspaper. Another sports daily, The First, played Phelps’s record on page 32, with two photographs and a brief article. A third publication, the Guangming Daily, a leading paper for intellectuals that is not read by the mass public, did not mention Phelps at all.
“I don’t know the name,” said Yang Quilian, 30, a technician working at the gymnastics stadium Tuesday, a day after Phelps participated in an astonishing 4x100-meter relay that also took gold. She thought a minute, then said, “Is he the boy in the relay? He did a great job.”
Generally, people interviewed did know Phelps and said they liked him and respected his otherworldly swimming ability. His races are carried live on television — though rarely if ever replayed — and generate excitement inside the Water Cube. He even has a nickname here, the Flying Fish.
Still, swimming is not an especially popular sport in China. Its elite female swimmers have faded after being involved in embarrassing doping scandals in the 1990s. And no Chinese man had won an Olympic medal in swimming until Zhang Lin took silver in the 400-meter freestyle on Sunday after training with an Australian coach.
In that light, Phelps’s achievements might be the equivalent of a Chinese athlete winning a host of gold medals in badminton at an Olympics held in the United States.
As could be expected, the Chinese news media are more concerned about their own athletes’ victories in such sports as gymnastics, diving, badminton, table tennis, fencing and weight lifting. All of China is eagerly awaiting the 110-meter hurdles, where the country’s most popular Olympian, Liu Xiang, hopes to defend his gold medal from the 2004 Athens Games.
Phelps also seems to be overshadowed in popularity here by such American N.B.A stars as Bryant and James. The league has also heavily invested in China in recent years. Its games are popular and widely viewed. Bryant and James — two of the world’s greatest players — have made several trips through China and Asia in association with Nike, making appearances, taking part in clinics, boosting their name recognition.
While the Olympics are engaging, they are a novelty held once every four years. The N.B.A., meanwhile, has a season running from late October into June.
“The N.B.A. is best,” said Yang Xiu, 23, who works at a newspaper kiosk in the Main Press Center at the Olympics. “We watch almost every game. We know almost every detail, how tall a player is, who can shoot, who can pass. I know Phelps’s race, but I am more familiar with the N.B.A. I can’t swim but I can play basketball.”
A concern about inflaming Chinese nationalism might be another factor at work in the restrained coverage of Phelps, said Susan Brownell, a Fulbright scholar from the United States who is studying the Olympics at Beijing Sport University.
Late last year, or early this year, Brownell said, her colleague, Yi Jiandong, wrote a blog on a popular Web site about how many medals Phelps might win, which brought a vehement response.
“It incited a lot of attacks on him from ultranationalists, who thought that by simply describing Phelps’s quest, he was saying the U.S. was better than China,” Brownell said, adding that the blog was eventually removed from the site, QZone.
“My guess,” Brownell said, “is that with China doing so well, winning so many gold medals, leading the count, it may be an editorial policy that if you give too much attention to Michael Phelps, there could be a danger of inciting ultranationalism: ‘Why are you writing about him when China is doing so well?’ They are sensitive to ultranationalism. They know the world is watching. They don’t want any ugliness.”
A spokesman for Octagon, the management company that represents Phelps, declined to comment beyond saying that Phelps drew a lot of news media and fan attention when he visited China several times in advance of the Games to raise his visibility. Phelps is not likely to be distressed — or even to notice — the modest play he is receiving from the Chinese news media.
For much of the world, he is the main draw at the Games. He draws huge crowds of reporters to his formal postrace news conferences and brief postrace chats, which take place in a kind of cattle chute known as the mixed zone. And he stands to make a $1 million bonus from Speedo, the swimwear company, for winning eight gold medals, which should more than compensate for any lack of buzz.
Wednesday, Phelps spoke in awed tones of the coverage he is receiving in the United States.
“It’s pretty cool to have a country behind you and on your side,” Phelps said. “No matter where any Americans are in the world, they’re watching and cheering. It’s a pretty special feeling.”
It might be said that Phelps occupies a special niche — most popular international athlete not competing directly against a Chinese star. For instance, the Cuban hurdler Dayron Robles, who recently broke Liu’s world record, is viewed as a real threat to China’s most popular athlete. Conversely, there is no Chinese star being left in Phelps’s wake, so there is no reason not to appreciate his accomplishments.
“He’s big time,” said Sang Lan, a former Chinese national gymnastics champion in the vault. “He’s not only defeating his competition, he’s challenging himself all the time.”
Some comments posted on message boards affiliated with Tsinghua University in Beijing were bombastically generous in Phelps’s favor.
“If he was Chinese, his accomplishments would make him even more popular than Yao Ming and Liu Xiang combined,” said one commenter. Another said, “He is definitely one of the 25 greatest athletes of this century; no, actually, he’s one of the top five in all history.”
By Sunday, when Phelps is expected to win his eighth gold medal, perhaps the Chinese news media will respond with the same wide coverage as their American counterparts, said Zhang Chao, 22, a college student. He spread his hand across the top of the front page of a newspaper in the Main Press Center kiosk and said, “Maybe he will be here.”
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Politiktoons No. 32: 888's Fireworks
Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.comand also at http://politiktoons.blogspot.com)
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Cambodia plants 600 trees to welcome Olympic Games in Beijing
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Banteay Meanchey provincial authority Friday planted 600 trees in its capital town to welcome the opening of the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Khmer-language newspaper the Kampuchea Thmey said Saturday.
"Eight o'clock in the evening, Aug. 8, 2008, is a luck time for us and means good fortune in Feng-shui theory. Therefore, we are planting 600 trees and also organize football tournament to welcome the Olympic Games to open in China and memorize the friendship between Cambodian and China, too," provincial governor Ong Eoeurn was quoted as saying.
This sports gala was very important for the diplomatic relationships between the two countries, which would make the bilateral ties closer, as Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni attended the opening ceremony of the games, he said.
"It is a great day for our best friend China to organize the event," he added.
The trees planted Friday are usually called "royal plant" or "king tree" in Cambodia. They are expected to blossom during the Khmer New Year in mid-April.
Led by Tourism Minister and National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) president Thong Khon, the Cambodian Olympic delegation will join swimming and tracking matches at the games in Beijing.
"Eight o'clock in the evening, Aug. 8, 2008, is a luck time for us and means good fortune in Feng-shui theory. Therefore, we are planting 600 trees and also organize football tournament to welcome the Olympic Games to open in China and memorize the friendship between Cambodian and China, too," provincial governor Ong Eoeurn was quoted as saying.
This sports gala was very important for the diplomatic relationships between the two countries, which would make the bilateral ties closer, as Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni attended the opening ceremony of the games, he said.
"It is a great day for our best friend China to organize the event," he added.
The trees planted Friday are usually called "royal plant" or "king tree" in Cambodia. They are expected to blossom during the Khmer New Year in mid-April.
Led by Tourism Minister and National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) president Thong Khon, the Cambodian Olympic delegation will join swimming and tracking matches at the games in Beijing.
King Norodom Sihamoni at the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Cambodian King Sihamoni Norodom waves during the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni attends the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium, August 8, 2008. The stadium is also known as the Bird's Nest. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard 
Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni attends the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium, August 8, 2008. The stadium is also known as the Bird's Nest. REUTERS/Eric GaillardFriday, August 08, 2008
Beijing puts on a show for the world
Fireworks go off over the National Stadium to the start of the opening ceremony on Friday, August 8, 2008, to kick of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, China. (George Bridges/MCT)
Dancers and acrobats perform as preliminary entertainment to the start of the opening ceremony on Friday, August 8, 2008, to kick of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, China. (David Eulitt/Kansas City Star/MCT)August 8, 2008
By DAVID CRARY
Associated Press Writer
BEIJING — China commandeered the world stage Friday, celebrating its first-time role as Olympic host with a stunning display of pageantry and pyrotechnics to open a Summer Games unrivaled for its mix of problems and promise.
China welcomed scores of world leaders to an opening ceremony watched by 91,000 people at the eye-catching National Stadium and a potential audience of 4 billion worldwide. It was depicted as the largest, costliest extravaganza in Olympic history, bookended by barrages of some 30,000 fireworks.
President Bush and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin were among the glittering roster of notables who watched China make this bold declaration that it had arrived. Bush, rebuked by China after he raised human-rights concerns this week, is the first U.S. president to attend an Olympics on foreign soil.
The games, said International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, “are a chance for the rest of the world to discover what China really is.”
The story presented in Friday’s ceremony sought to distill 5,000 years of Chinese history — featuring everything from the Great Wall to opera puppets to astronauts, and highlighting achievements in art, music and science. Roughly 15,000 people were in the cast, including 2,008 drummers in the opening sequence, all under the direction of Zhang Yimou, whose early films often often ran afoul of government censors for their blunt portrayals of China’s problems.
The show, according to an advance script, steered clear of modern politics — there were no references to Chairman Mao and the class struggle, nor to the more recent conflicts and controversies. The extravaganza was taped for broadcast 12 hours later in the United States.
A record 204 delegations were set to parade their athletes through the stadium — superstars such as basketball idols Kobe Bryant and Yao Ming, as well as plucky underdogs from Iraq, Afghanistan and other embattled lands. The nations were marching not in the traditional alphabetical order but in a sequence based on the number of strokes it takes to write their names in Chinese. The exceptions were Greece, birthplace of the Olympics, which was given its traditional place at the start, and the 639-member Chinese team, which lined up last.
The American flag-bearer was 1500-meter runner Lopez Lomong, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, who spent a decade of his youth in a refugee camp in Kenya. He’s a member of the Team Darfur coalition, representing athletes opposed to China’s support for Sudan. On Friday he avoided any criticism and said the Chinese “have been great putting all these things together.”
China welcomed scores of world leaders to an opening ceremony watched by 91,000 people at the eye-catching National Stadium and a potential audience of 4 billion worldwide. It was depicted as the largest, costliest extravaganza in Olympic history, bookended by barrages of some 30,000 fireworks.
President Bush and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin were among the glittering roster of notables who watched China make this bold declaration that it had arrived. Bush, rebuked by China after he raised human-rights concerns this week, is the first U.S. president to attend an Olympics on foreign soil.
The games, said International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, “are a chance for the rest of the world to discover what China really is.”
The story presented in Friday’s ceremony sought to distill 5,000 years of Chinese history — featuring everything from the Great Wall to opera puppets to astronauts, and highlighting achievements in art, music and science. Roughly 15,000 people were in the cast, including 2,008 drummers in the opening sequence, all under the direction of Zhang Yimou, whose early films often often ran afoul of government censors for their blunt portrayals of China’s problems.
The show, according to an advance script, steered clear of modern politics — there were no references to Chairman Mao and the class struggle, nor to the more recent conflicts and controversies. The extravaganza was taped for broadcast 12 hours later in the United States.
A record 204 delegations were set to parade their athletes through the stadium — superstars such as basketball idols Kobe Bryant and Yao Ming, as well as plucky underdogs from Iraq, Afghanistan and other embattled lands. The nations were marching not in the traditional alphabetical order but in a sequence based on the number of strokes it takes to write their names in Chinese. The exceptions were Greece, birthplace of the Olympics, which was given its traditional place at the start, and the 639-member Chinese team, which lined up last.
The American flag-bearer was 1500-meter runner Lopez Lomong, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, who spent a decade of his youth in a refugee camp in Kenya. He’s a member of the Team Darfur coalition, representing athletes opposed to China’s support for Sudan. On Friday he avoided any criticism and said the Chinese “have been great putting all these things together.”
Cambodian Olympics marathoner Hem Bunting
Cambodian Hem BunTing (L) trains with 19-year-old Sou Titlinda (R) in Phnom Penh July 12, 2008. Cambodia's Hem Bunting is certain his rivals' preparations for the Beijing Olympics marathon would have been a lot different to his. Unlike his fellow athletes, Bunting has no coach or sponsor and trains on the busy potholed streets of the impoverished nation's capital Phnom Penh. Picture taken July 12, 2008. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Cambodia's marathon runner Hem Bunting (L), silver medalist in the 24th Southeast Asian Games in 2007, practices at the National Olympic stadium in Phnom Penh in this July 12, 2008 file photo. Born to a peasant family in a remote province of northeastern Cambodia 23 years ago, Bunting is one of only four athletes representing the war-scarred Southeast Asian nation in Beijing. REUTERS/Chor SokuntheaThursday, August 07, 2008
Cambodian marathoner running through poverty
Cambodian marathoner Hem Bunting (Photo: BBC)Thu Aug 7, 2008
By Ek Madra
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia's Hem Bunting is certain his rivals' preparations for the Beijing Olympics marathon would have been a lot different to his.
Unlike his fellow athletes, Bunting has no coach or sponsor and trains on the busy potholed streets of the impoverished nation's capital Phnom Penh.
He accepts he has to do it all by himself.
"I have been mostly training alone," Bunting told Reuters after a hazardous jog dodging potholes and motorcycles.
"I sometimes can't find a good place to practice because our national stadium is always being used by footballers.
"I've been doing this four years, but I do it because I love to run," added Bunting, whose best time is 24 minutes shy of the marathon world record.
Born to a peasant family in a remote province of northeastern Cambodia 23 years ago, Bunting is one of only four athletes representing the war-scarred Southeast Asian nation in Beijing.
He lives off just $30 a month and the $10 running shoes which helped him win two Southeast Asian Games medals last year have seen better days.
LONELY RUNS
"I think the one that costs $200 would be more suitable for an Olympic marathon," added Bunting, who said his energetic puppy sometimes joins him on his otherwise lonely runs.
"I have no money, what can I do?"
Cambodia has never won an Olympic medal and its greatest sporting success came in 1970 when its athletes won two silvers and three bronzes at the Asian Games in Bangkok.
A brutal civil war and a subsequent Olympic ban ensured there were no more after that.
Although a generous gesture, it is unlikely long-serving Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will have to pay the $10,000 he has promised athletes for a Beijing podium finish.
Cambodia has no budget for athletes and its sports chiefs have used handouts from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ensure 14 officials accompany its two swimmers and two runners in the Chinese capital.
The National Olympic committee, once accused of being freeloaders by Hun Sen, believes there is little point sending a bigger team.
"The Olympics Games is 10 times tougher than even the Asian Games," Olympic committee chief Meas Sarin told Reuters.
"We really don't have a hope of winning any medals."
Unlike his fellow athletes, Bunting has no coach or sponsor and trains on the busy potholed streets of the impoverished nation's capital Phnom Penh.
He accepts he has to do it all by himself.
"I have been mostly training alone," Bunting told Reuters after a hazardous jog dodging potholes and motorcycles.
"I sometimes can't find a good place to practice because our national stadium is always being used by footballers.
"I've been doing this four years, but I do it because I love to run," added Bunting, whose best time is 24 minutes shy of the marathon world record.
Born to a peasant family in a remote province of northeastern Cambodia 23 years ago, Bunting is one of only four athletes representing the war-scarred Southeast Asian nation in Beijing.
He lives off just $30 a month and the $10 running shoes which helped him win two Southeast Asian Games medals last year have seen better days.
LONELY RUNS
"I think the one that costs $200 would be more suitable for an Olympic marathon," added Bunting, who said his energetic puppy sometimes joins him on his otherwise lonely runs.
"I have no money, what can I do?"
Cambodia has never won an Olympic medal and its greatest sporting success came in 1970 when its athletes won two silvers and three bronzes at the Asian Games in Bangkok.
A brutal civil war and a subsequent Olympic ban ensured there were no more after that.
Although a generous gesture, it is unlikely long-serving Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will have to pay the $10,000 he has promised athletes for a Beijing podium finish.
Cambodia has no budget for athletes and its sports chiefs have used handouts from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ensure 14 officials accompany its two swimmers and two runners in the Chinese capital.
The National Olympic committee, once accused of being freeloaders by Hun Sen, believes there is little point sending a bigger team.
"The Olympics Games is 10 times tougher than even the Asian Games," Olympic committee chief Meas Sarin told Reuters.
"We really don't have a hope of winning any medals."
2nd batch of Cambodian Olympic delegation departs to Beijing [-All of them are merely tourists]
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The second batch of Cambodia's Olympic delegation left here on Thursday for Beijing to attend the Olympic Games, which is scheduled to open on Friday.
The batch of delegation has five members, including Tourism Minister and National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) president Thong Khon, NOCC secretary general Mea Sarun, another swimmer and two youths attending the Olympic Summer Camp.
"I am very glad to go to Beijing for the Olympics," Thong Khon told Xinhua at the Phnom Penh International Airport.
Earlier on Wednesday, the first batch of the delegation departed to Beijing, including a marathon runner, a sprinter and their coach, one swimmer and the coach, one team leader, an official and one doctor.
Cambodia first attended the Olympics in 1959, then quit for a long time due to civil war. It resumed its participation in 1996 to attend the Atlanta Olympics and later sent delegations to the Sydney Games in 2000 and the Athens Games in 2004.
The batch of delegation has five members, including Tourism Minister and National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) president Thong Khon, NOCC secretary general Mea Sarun, another swimmer and two youths attending the Olympic Summer Camp.
"I am very glad to go to Beijing for the Olympics," Thong Khon told Xinhua at the Phnom Penh International Airport.
Earlier on Wednesday, the first batch of the delegation departed to Beijing, including a marathon runner, a sprinter and their coach, one swimmer and the coach, one team leader, an official and one doctor.
Cambodia first attended the Olympics in 1959, then quit for a long time due to civil war. It resumed its participation in 1996 to attend the Atlanta Olympics and later sent delegations to the Sydney Games in 2000 and the Athens Games in 2004.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Cambodian Olympians quietly depart for Beijing
Aug 6, 2008
DPA
DPA
Phnom Penh - Cambodia's handful of Olympians departed for Beijing Wednesday with no fanfare, few hopes, but lots of Olympic spirit and hopes of seeing some of the world for the first time.
Cambodia is fielding two swimmers, a sprinter and a marathon runner, none of whom claim hopes of medals, but all of whom are proud to represent Cambodia, which is duly proud of them.
It has been a mixed journey for the four athletes.
For instance marathon runner Hem Bunting, 23, who changed from football to running only five years ago because his mother thought football was too dangerous, nearly boycotted the games last month when he found himself too broke to buy shoes.
National Olympic Committee President and Tourism Minister Thong Khon dipped into his own pocket to keep Bunting on track.
At least one Cambodian swimmer who dropped out before she could be ranked gave the reason for her retirement as the poor quality of the water in the nation's threadbare Olympic Stadium swimming pool in the capital, which her mother said gave her hives.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng welcomed the team off from Phnom Penh International Airport Wednesday, wishing them luck, but otherwise, their subdued departure went almost unnoticed.
Cambodia is fielding two swimmers, a sprinter and a marathon runner, none of whom claim hopes of medals, but all of whom are proud to represent Cambodia, which is duly proud of them.
It has been a mixed journey for the four athletes.
For instance marathon runner Hem Bunting, 23, who changed from football to running only five years ago because his mother thought football was too dangerous, nearly boycotted the games last month when he found himself too broke to buy shoes.
National Olympic Committee President and Tourism Minister Thong Khon dipped into his own pocket to keep Bunting on track.
At least one Cambodian swimmer who dropped out before she could be ranked gave the reason for her retirement as the poor quality of the water in the nation's threadbare Olympic Stadium swimming pool in the capital, which her mother said gave her hives.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng welcomed the team off from Phnom Penh International Airport Wednesday, wishing them luck, but otherwise, their subdued departure went almost unnoticed.
1st group of Cambodian delegation leaves for Beijing
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The first group of Cambodia's Olympic delegation left here on Wednesday for Beijing to attend the Olympic Games, which is scheduled to open on Friday.
The group of delegation has eight members, including a marathon runner, a sprinter and their coach, one swimmer and the coach, one team leader, an official and one doctor.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng, who went to the Phnom Penh International Airport to see the delegation off, praised their morale and wished them success.
In addition, a reporter from local Chinese newspaper the Cambodia Sin Chew daily also went with the delegation on Wednesday to cover the Beijing Olympics.
Other delegation members, including Tourism Minister and National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) president Thong Khon, NOCC secretary general Mea Sarun, another swimmer, an official and two youths attending the Olympic Summer Camp, will depart to Beijing on Thursday.
Cambodia first attended the Olympics in 1959, then quit for a long time due to civil war. It resumed its participation in 1996 to attend the Atlanta Olympics and later sent delegations to the Sydney Games in 2000 and the Athens Games in 2004.
The group of delegation has eight members, including a marathon runner, a sprinter and their coach, one swimmer and the coach, one team leader, an official and one doctor.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng, who went to the Phnom Penh International Airport to see the delegation off, praised their morale and wished them success.
In addition, a reporter from local Chinese newspaper the Cambodia Sin Chew daily also went with the delegation on Wednesday to cover the Beijing Olympics.
Other delegation members, including Tourism Minister and National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) president Thong Khon, NOCC secretary general Mea Sarun, another swimmer, an official and two youths attending the Olympic Summer Camp, will depart to Beijing on Thursday.
Cambodia first attended the Olympics in 1959, then quit for a long time due to civil war. It resumed its participation in 1996 to attend the Atlanta Olympics and later sent delegations to the Sydney Games in 2000 and the Athens Games in 2004.
Olympic Near-Hopefuls Set for Beijing
Later this week, Cambodia's four Olympic hopefuls will see Beijing's National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, for themselves.By Ros Sothea, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
05 August 2008
After training every day for two months, Cambodia's Olympiads are set to travel to Beijing to compete in the 2008 Summer Games, even if they hold little hope of bringing home the gold.
An excited, smiling Hem Thun Vitiny, an 18-year-old freestyle swimmer, was jogging early Tuesday to strengthen her muscles.
"I have never attended such kind of big Olympic game," she said later. "I hope that I can improve my performance, [but I] don't hope to win medal."
Later this week, she will join her uncle, butterfly swimmer Hem Thun Ponleu, along with marathoner Hem Bunting, no relation, and track sprinter Sou Thet Linda, in Beijing.
Hem Bunting, who claimed that he was ready to contest with other athletes from around the world, said he had little hope to win the medal because he had not been able to train properly.
"I don't dare to hope much because [the competitors] had a lot of training with enough equipment," he said Tuesday. "For us, we don't even have a proper training place and no equipment to train."
Cambodia was allowed to send the four athletes to join only two events, swimming and track, among 40 possible events.
The two swimmers will compete Aug. 14 and 15, while the two runners will compete Aug. 16 and 24.
"Our training was short, and there was a lot of rain in our country," Olympic coach Chay Kimsan said. "So we just hope to get ourselves some improvement."
Meas Sarin, secretary-general of the Cambodia Olympic National Committee, agreed.
"The result will not come up like what our people want because we are still very low and weak," he said.
An excited, smiling Hem Thun Vitiny, an 18-year-old freestyle swimmer, was jogging early Tuesday to strengthen her muscles.
"I have never attended such kind of big Olympic game," she said later. "I hope that I can improve my performance, [but I] don't hope to win medal."
Later this week, she will join her uncle, butterfly swimmer Hem Thun Ponleu, along with marathoner Hem Bunting, no relation, and track sprinter Sou Thet Linda, in Beijing.
Hem Bunting, who claimed that he was ready to contest with other athletes from around the world, said he had little hope to win the medal because he had not been able to train properly.
"I don't dare to hope much because [the competitors] had a lot of training with enough equipment," he said Tuesday. "For us, we don't even have a proper training place and no equipment to train."
Cambodia was allowed to send the four athletes to join only two events, swimming and track, among 40 possible events.
The two swimmers will compete Aug. 14 and 15, while the two runners will compete Aug. 16 and 24.
"Our training was short, and there was a lot of rain in our country," Olympic coach Chay Kimsan said. "So we just hope to get ourselves some improvement."
Meas Sarin, secretary-general of the Cambodia Olympic National Committee, agreed.
"The result will not come up like what our people want because we are still very low and weak," he said.
Friday, August 01, 2008
It's that time of the year again: Royal family leaves for Beijing
Cambodian former king leaves for Beijing
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian retired king Norodom Sihanouk and his wife Monineath Sihanouk, accompanied by their son King Norodom Sihamoni, left here on Friday for Beijing for routine medical checkup and rest.
They were seen off at the Phnom Penh International Airport by Senate President Chea Sim, National Assembly President Heng Samrin, Prime Minister Hun Sen, other government officials, royal family members and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng.
During the stay in China, Sihanouk, his wife and Sihamoni are scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on August 8.
Sihamoni will return home in about two weeks, a royal palace official said at the airport, adding that Sihanouk and his wife will stay much longer.
The couple's last trip to China for medical checkup was in April 2008.
The 85-year-old former king suffers from diabetes and has had colon cancer. He abdicated his throne to Sihamoni in October 2004.
They were seen off at the Phnom Penh International Airport by Senate President Chea Sim, National Assembly President Heng Samrin, Prime Minister Hun Sen, other government officials, royal family members and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jinfeng.
During the stay in China, Sihanouk, his wife and Sihamoni are scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on August 8.
Sihamoni will return home in about two weeks, a royal palace official said at the airport, adding that Sihanouk and his wife will stay much longer.
The couple's last trip to China for medical checkup was in April 2008.
The 85-year-old former king suffers from diabetes and has had colon cancer. He abdicated his throne to Sihamoni in October 2004.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Cambodia establishes 14-member official delegation for Beijing Olympics
PHNOM PENH, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has established a 14-member official delegation for the Beijing Olympics scheduled to open on Aug. 8, according to the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) Thursday.
The delegation, headed by Tourism Minister and NOCC President Thong Khon, also includes two officials, one secretary, one team leader, two swimmers and their coach, two marathon athletes and their coach, one doctor and two youths attending the Olympic Summer Camp.
The members will leave Phnom Penh for Beijing respectively on Aug. 6 and 7.
NOCC Secretary General Mea Sarun told reporters that during the Beijing Games, Cambodia aims to enhance the athletes' skills and the country's participation level of the international games.
Cambodia first attended the Olympics in 1959, then quitted for a long time due to civil war. It resumed its participation in 1996 to attend the Atlanta Olympics and later sent delegations to the Sydney Games in 2000 and the Athens Games in 2004.
The delegation, headed by Tourism Minister and NOCC President Thong Khon, also includes two officials, one secretary, one team leader, two swimmers and their coach, two marathon athletes and their coach, one doctor and two youths attending the Olympic Summer Camp.
The members will leave Phnom Penh for Beijing respectively on Aug. 6 and 7.
NOCC Secretary General Mea Sarun told reporters that during the Beijing Games, Cambodia aims to enhance the athletes' skills and the country's participation level of the international games.
Cambodia first attended the Olympics in 1959, then quitted for a long time due to civil war. It resumed its participation in 1996 to attend the Atlanta Olympics and later sent delegations to the Sydney Games in 2000 and the Athens Games in 2004.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Against the Odds: Hem Bunting
The Olympic athletes all live in a dilapidated stadium[KI-Media: Note the cardboard used as bedding]
Cambodia's best Olympic hope says money - or lack of it - is his main problemMonday, 21 July 2008
BBC News
"This is a wonderful thing that I can do for my country ... Nobody else can do it - only me" - Cambodian Marathon Olympian Hem BuntingThe lack of finance is a recurring theme in conversation with Cambodia's athletes
The BBC's Against the Odds series is following athletes heading to the Olympics despite huge obstacles.
Guy De Launey meets a Cambodian runner so poor he lives in the crumbling athletics stadium where he trains.
Hem Bunting proudly fishes his medals out of one of a line of narrow, wooden lockers. One is silver, the other is bronze, and they confirm his status as one of the best distance runners in Southeast Asia.
At the SEA Games in Thailand last year, only one man could beat Bunting in the marathon. Just two finished ahead of him in the 5,000m.
Soon he will represent Cambodia at the Olympic marathon in Beijing, one of just four athletes in his country's Olympic team.
Living in stadium
It is amazing that Bunting has come so far.
Hem BuntingAs he sits down on his simple wooden bed, with a mosquito net nailed above, he casts his eyes down the room. There are dozens of similar beds with barely enough room to walk between them.
Best time in the marathon is 2:26:28 (World record, 2:04:26)
Aged 22; Weight 56kg; Height 1.67m
This is where Cambodia's elite athletes live, all together in an improvised dormitory overlooking the swimming pool at Phnom Penh's crumbling Olympic Stadium.
Bunting says the living arrangements leave a lot to be desired.
"Sometimes my team-mates come back late at night when I am trying to get some rest," he complains.
Perhaps it would not be so bad if the morning starts were not so early. The sun has yet to rise when Bunting makes his way down to the dirt track to start his warm-up routine.
Second class citizens
Sometimes he restricts himself to laps around the perimeter.
That, however, is not ideal preparation for a marathon runner - especially as he has to swerve round crowds of early-morning exercisers shuffling round the track.
"There are too many people around," says Bunting. "I'm always having to slow down and swerve around them."
The elite athletes say they are often treated as second-class citizens by staff at the stadium.
On one recent morning they arrived to find the gates locked, and they were told they would have to train somewhere else.
The coaches were just as outraged as their charges - and, grim-faced, continued their track drills after everyone had squeezed through a gap in the perimeter fence.
No money for shoes
Bunting and his training partner Cheng Chandara mutter that it all boils down to cash.
If athletics were a rich sport, they reckon, they would not be facing these problems.
The lack of finance, however, is a recurring theme in any conversation with Cambodia's best Olympic hope.
He receives an allowance of less than $50 a month which leaves him hard-pressed to cover his basic living expenses.
A pair of running shoes costs around double that amount, and with no corporate sponsorship Bunting finds it tough to buy the equipment he needs.
The average Cambodian earns $380 per year, so Hem's relatives can only provide moral support - and even then, from a distance.
Traffic-choked streets
Bunting is one of nine children from a farming family in the remote province of Stung Treng, where sports officials spotted his talent at a provincial event and brought him to the capital.
Now he pounds the traffic-choked streets around Phnom Penh in the run-up to the Olympics.
With no large, green spaces in the city, putting the miles in means sucking up red dust and exhaust fumes from the lorries and SUV's which thunder past, and dodging the motorbikes driving the wrong way up the gutter.
At least it means that, unlike some famous marathon runners, Bunting has no concerns about pollution levels in Beijing.
With the Games just over the horizon, government officials and business people alike have started to wake up to the plight of the Olympian in their midst.
Several have pledged three-figure sums to Bunting to help with his equipment costs.
And despite all the hardship, Bunting is proud to be representing Cambodia.
"This is a wonderful thing that I can do for my country," he smiles. "Nobody else can do it - only me."
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