Beijing Olympics 2008 live streaming

Nondescript Kaluwas village basks in Vijender glory

2008-08-21T22:27:00.000-07:00

BHIWANI: Shot into international sporting map after Vijender Kumar assured the country of an Olympic medal, the residents of Kaluwas village in Bhiwani district want nothing less than a gold from their history-creating son of the soil.

Vijender has now assured the country of an Olympic medal after reaching the semifinals of the 75kg category boxing event in Beijing Olympics, and celebrations, which began last evening, continued on Thursday with the boxer's house becoming the centre of activity in the village.

A large tent had been put up in front of Vijender's house to entertain fans, guests, budding boxers and family's relatives who were pouring in large numbers since yesterday.

A proud father, Mahipal Singh Beniwal, an employee in Haryana Roadways, basked in the glory of his son and greeted the visitors.

"I talked to Vijender and he told me that he will return with a gold medal. He is quite confident that he will defeat his Cuban opponent in tomorrow's bout," Beniwal said.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who was catching the action live on TV in Chandigarh on Wednesday, could not help but jump in joy after Vijender's feat.

He later called up Vijender's father to congratulate him and informed him the state government's decision to set up a boxing academy at Bhiwani.

Even though Kaluwas village has suddenly shot into fame, but traditional 'Haryanvi' flavour is still visible here. As Mahipal has been busy since Wednesday handling a battery of mediapersons who are camping here, a group of men in their 60s can be seen occupying a cot and smoking a 'hookah'.

The hot topic of discussion is that Vijender has put their village on the international map.

Vijender's mother Krishna Beniwal is a busy woman greeting the people and serving them tea.

One can also spot group of young men in the village and main town going round in vehicles and some marching on foot holding aloft the Indian tri-colour.

Vijender's grandfather, Darayo Singh, who retired from the Army, is a proud man and said he has not seen so many Indian flags in his village.

Darayo, who retired as Subedar and speaks English fluently, receives visitors and speaks about Vijender's achievement with great pride.

"Vijender's achievement will give a big boost to boxing now and make it more popular than cricket," Darayo insists.

Meanwhile, budding boxers at the Bhiwani Boxing Club, run and managed by SAI coach Jagdish Singh, who also coached Vijender, Jitender and Akhil Kumar, are already talking about how this sport has suddenly become youngsters' favourite.

Analysing Vijender's bout yesterday, some even talk about Bollywood star Sunny Deol's famous dialogue in film 'Damini' where the actor talked about his "dayee kilo ka haath (powerful punch)" and how their boxing hero had prevailed over his opponent in Beijing on Wednesday.

Even as young boxers are training hard at the Club, one cannot miss a graffiti on the wall which read "no pain no gain... if you don't bleed you don't suceed". This graffiti and many more inspirational stuff are written all over the walls of the Club.

Argentina power past Brazil to reach Olympic football final

2008-08-20T03:17:00.001-07:00

Argentina remained on course to retain the Olympic football title with a comprehensive 3-0 semi-final defeat of their great rivals Brazil, who finished with nine men after two sendings-off, having been left in disarray by Lionel Messi and two goals from Sergio Aguero.
Although the victory was not without controversy, as the opening goal appeared to have possibly come off Aguero’s left upper arm rather than his chest, it was fully merited as Messi eclipsed the man he has replaced in the affections of Barcelona fans, Ronaldinho, despite Brazil’s captain beginning to get back to close to his best.
While Brazil’s wait for a first football gold medal at the Games continues, Argentina can become the first country for 40 years to be Olympic champions twice in succession. In the final on Saturday they will face Nigeria, who beat Belgium 4-1 in the other last four match in Shanghai.
If the two goals in seven minutes early in the second half from the Atletico Madrid striker Aguero were decisive, it was the brilliance of Messi that was primarily responsible for Argentina’s success, time and again thrilling a raucous crowd of 52,968 in the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing, including an ecstatic Diego Maradona.
Messi’s final flourish was the perfect pass which opened up the Brazilian defence for Aguero to draw Breno’s foul and earn a penalty converted by the Argentinian captain, Juan Riquelme, 15 minutes from the end. Before running into Argentina, Brazil had not conceded a single goal in the 2008 Olympic tournament.
The foundations were laid in Liverpool, with the unobtrusively outstanding Javier Mascherano, who has been on the field for every minute of Argentina’s games in China and now has the chance to equal the Olympic record of two golds, as the only player remaining from the squad that was victorious in Athens four years ago.
Rafa Benitez would not have relished Mascherano’s central battle in the semi-final with his Liverpool clubmate, Lucas Leiva, though it was Anderson whose second half foul on the Argentinian rightly earned the Manchester United midfielder a yellow card, one of seven handed out by the Uruguayan referee, Martin Vazquez.
But the Liverpool manager would have been incensed by the tackle from behind on the counter-attacking Mascherano by Lucas with ten minutes left that resulted in the first red card, before the Argentinian drew another rash challenge from Thiago Neves three minutes later that led to Brazil having a second player dismissed.
While Mascherano was fortunately able to pick himself up and play on each time, a similar recovery was beyond Brazil. Manchester City’s recent signing Jo and Ronaldinho’s new team-mate at AC Milan, Alexandre Pato, had been brought on by their coach, Dunga, but too late to change the outcome, despite the men in yellow twice hitting the post in the second half.

Olympic Preview: Argentina - Brazil

2008-08-18T23:32:00.000-07:00

What: Olympic Games Semi-Final
Who: Argentina vs Brazil
When: 19 August 2008, 21:00 China Standard Time
Where: Beijing Workers' Stadium, Beijing

Two of football's biggest global names meet in the Chinese capital to determine who faces Nigeria or Belgium in the final of the 2008 Games...

Brazilian Hopes

Brazil, having never won the tournament, have a great deal to prove. For all their legacy at the Copa America and of course the World Cup, the Gold Medal eludes them.

Furthermore not since the 1990s have they even "medalled" - a bronze at Atlanta in '96 - and one must go all the way back to Seoul '88 and Los Angeles '84 to see silver.

This time around coach Dunga wants it to be different, and he's single-mindedly in pursuit of that goal. The manager, unpopular with many back in Brazil, has gone so far as to publicly comment on his squad's deficiencies, not least those of Pato. As he said today, "I brought on Rafael Sobis because he knows how to deal with tight marking, can open up the spaces and does not go offside. Pato must grow again, and he must learn to free himself from his marker."

Thus Sobis of Betis could find himself thrust into the limelight in time for Tuesday's glamour tie - a second consecutive start. He'll be joined by the likes of Hernanes, Diego, and of course captain Ronaldinho. From the midfield upwards this is an impressive-looking Brazilian squad on paper, no doubt about it.

Yet perhaps surprisingly the defence, bereft of some of its key senior players, has been excellent. A back line of Rafinha, Alex or Thiago Silva, Breno, and Marcelo has kept things tight, while Renan Brito - now signed for Valencia - has been impressive in goal. Such as it is Brazil have yet to concede at all at the Games.

Argentine Dreams

Yet if there's one team that could slice this side open it's Argentina.

Arguably in possession of the strongest squad at the tournament, whether or not the albiceleste have truly hit stride yet is open to debate. Having conceded twice, their 'goals for' tally is also far less impressive than that of Brazil.

Then again some may say that the Ivory Coast, Australia and Serbia were tougher groupmates than China, New Zealand and (semi-finalists) Belgium, while the Dutch were no pushovers in the quarters.

As such it's far from panic stations for Sergio Batista's men, although he has more than a few concerns to deal with. Sergio Romero will start in goal due to 'Osky' Ustari's horror injury, while how to arrange his midfield and attack will no doubt keep him up at night.

Countering Brazil's 4-2-2-2 could be difficult. Against Serbia Zabaleta and Di Maria played something of an advanced wing-back role with two behind them and Mascherano in support; this could be tried again. More likely, though, is a 4-2-3-1 that would see Fernando Gago of Real Madrid join up with Marscherano, Messi in something of a free role on the right, captain Riquelme supporting Sergio Agüero, and Di Maria on the left.

Regardless of the line-up the pressure is on: Brazil may be facing their first "real" test but a battered and bruised Argentina must now prove that they have what it takes to scale another.

FORM GUIDE

Argentina (at the Games)

07 Aug 08 Ivory Coast WON 2-1
10 Aug 08 Australia WON 1-0
13 Aug 08 Serbia WON 2-0
16 Aug 08 Netherlands WON 2-1

Brazil (at the Games)

07 Aug 08 Belgium WON 1-0
10 Aug 08 New Zealand WON 5-0
13 Aug 08 China PR WON 3-0
16 Aug 08 Cameroon WON 2-0

TEAM NEWS

Argentina

Goalkeeper Oscar Ustari is out for eight months after falling injured against the Dutch, while Nicolas Pareja is suspended. Agüero is likely to lead the line, but if a 4-4-2 is plumped for then expect to see Lavezzi take part as well. Mascherano, Gago and Riquelme should form the team's spine.

Probable line-up: Romero; Zabaleta, Fazio, Garay, Monzón; Mascherano, Gago; Messi, Riquelme (c), Di Maria; Agüero.

Brazil

Coach Dunga will most likely drop Alexandre Pato, who he has deemed unready for this level of competition. With no injury or suspension worries to speak of it all comes down to tactics, and a dual-forward arrangement with either Sobis or Jô joining captain Ronaldinho seems to be the most likely scenario. Diego and Anderson, having started against Cameroon, may team up once more, while the defence should go unchanged from the past game.

Probable line-up: Renan; Rafinha, Alex Silva, Breno, Marcelo; Hernanes, Lucas; Diego, Anderson; Sobis, Ronaldinho (c).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Argentina - Lionel Messi: The mercurial hitman has two goals to his name, as does Lavezzi, but it is with him that the hope of beating the full-backs lies. It would be wrong to describe him as unpredictable, but the great thing about Messi is that even though his gameplan seldom varies too much it's still stunning to watch him pull it off. Also worth a look is Pablo Zabaleta, who without Pareja at his side will be charged with tracking Ronaldinho. The two used to share a city, of course: Zabaleta plays for Barcelona's rivals, Espanyol.

Brazil - Ronaldinho: The captain is in more buoyant mood than he has been in months, if not years. With the chance to start afresh at AC Milan upon him, he'll hope for another piece of silverware - or gold-ware, if you will - with which to cap a productive summer. As Hernanes cheekily put it to Deutsche-Presse, "They will have Maradona in the VIP box, but we have Ronaldinho on the field." Also Lucas has been an ever-present in midfield and has the unenviable task of going up against Juan Román Riquelme.

Phelps' audacious dream completed in Beijing Greatest Olympian of all time sets single-Games mark with eight golds

2008-08-17T04:24:00.000-07:00

BEIJING - Michael Phelps set out before the Beijing Games with the most audacious goal in the history of the modern Olympics, to win eight gold medals at a single Games.
He elevated himself, his family, his team and his country. He made people around the United States - indeed, around the world - pay attention to his sport and to the way an American not only invites challenge but deals with pressure and expectation.
Eight medals, one more than Mark Spitz won in Munich in 1972. This was, of course, the plan that he and his coach, Bob Bowman, had in mind all along. Every year, Phelps lays out his goals on a piece of paper and gives it to Bowman. Traditionally, Phelps has never said a word about what's on that paper. But now the 2008 version can be revealed:

Michael Phelps completes his quest for Olympic history as Team USA wins the men's 4x100m medley relay.
"It all happened here this week," Phelps said Sunday.
Eight medals. At a Games that started on the 8th of August, at 8 p.m., eight being an auspicious number in Chinese culture.
"It's a lucky number for me now, too," Phelps said Sunday "Seeing 8-8-08 and the opening ceremonies starting at 8 - I guess it was maybe meant to be."
Eight medals.
"It's one of the greatest things sport in general has ever seen," said Brendan Hansen, who swam with Phelps Sunday on the gold medal-winning, world record-setting 4x100m medley relay, the Americans finishing in 3:29.34 - the eighth medal for Phelps, who swam the third leg, the butterfly.
Aaron Peirsol swam leadoff, the backstroke; Jason Lezak took the freestyle anchor leg. Phelps, in that third leg, swam the fastest butterfly split in the history of the medley relay at the Olympics, 50.15 seconds. In the last race on the last day at the Water Cube, Phelps still had that much left.
"The shame of it," Hansen said a moment later, "is that other athletes are not going to realize how hard what he did is.
"The world is fast at swimming now. The world was not fast when Mark Spitz did his seven.
"It's every part of sport," Hansen said of the range that Phelps displayed here. "It's endurance. It's strength. It's pressure ... he made the pressure putt in the U.S. Open, he won the Tour de France and he knocked out the best fighter in the world in the 16th round with an uppercut.
"He did absolutely everything sport is supposed to be and he did it with a smile on his face, and he's a good kid."
Michael Phelps out-touches Milorad Cavic to win the 100m butterfly by .01 of a second on Day 8 for his record-tying seventh gold of the Beijing Games.

Eight medals.
Phelps competed with passion.
He paid repeated tribute to his teammates and to his family.
He exhibited sportsmanship and humility.
In all, he swam 17 times. He won eight gold medals. He set seven world records.
He won in the relays - three times.
He won individually - five events.
He won by dominating - the 200m freestyle, for instance, by 1.89 seconds.
He won by the closest of margins - .01 of a second in the 100m butterfly on Saturday, over Milorad Cavic of Serbia.
He won when faced with adversity - when, during the 200m butterfly, his goggles filled with water and he essentially swam blind, relying on stroke count and experience. He not only won that race, he set a world record.
"The only thing that I would have wanted to change," Phelps said Sunday, "was the 200 fly. I think I can go faster in that event. It was a wardrobe malfunction. But it was something we took care of and we were able to fix.
"Other than that, I think this was a perfect week."
"I'm almost speechless," Peter Ueberroth, the chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee said Saturday after watching Phelps beat Cavic.
"He's beginning to set a whole new standard for his sport and for America," Ueberroth said. "The United States Olympic Committee is very proud of him, as is USA Swimming and basically every citizen in our country and in many other countries.
"He's a true athlete and represents what's best about the Olympic movement."
Eight medals.
And, overall, now 16 in his Olympic career, just two shy of the 18 won by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina - a milestone sure to animate Phelps as he turns and sets his sights on four years from now, in London in 2012.
Phelps has said many times that these Beijing Games were almost surely the last time he tries this particular program of eight races, in particular the 400m individual medley.
He suggested Sunday he's likely now to take increasing interest in the sprints. Since he is so good at turns, that would suggest the likes of the 100m free and the 100m back - new frontiers for Phelps to try to conquer.
Because he did here what he set out to do.
And we have all been enriched by it, by the greatness of Michael Phelps and by the privilege of being witness to history.
Eight medals.
Speaking at a jam-packed news conference Sunday afternoon, Phelps said, "I've said all along: I want to be the first Michael Phelps. Not the second Mark Spitz."

Olympic knowledge contest

2008-08-17T03:29:00.000-07:00

(BEIJING, ) -- On the occasion of the 400-day countdown to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, a knowledge contest about the Olympic Games was launched on Thursday to boost Olympics-related training.
The quiz covers all aspects of the Olympics, including the Olympic Movement in general, the development course of the Movement in China, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Chinese culture and Beijing's human and cultural characteristics, Olympic volunteer services, the manners that the spectators should observe, etiquette in dealing with foreigners, as well as safety protection and medical treatment.
The campaign is open to the public across the country. The web users can participate through registration on the special website (http://2008.sohu.com/events/ayzs/)
The contest, to run through mid September, coincides with school summer vacation, thus giving the students an opportunity to learn more about the Olympics and extend their vision.
Sponsored by the Office of the Coordination Group for the Training Work of the Beijing Olympics and the Olympics Channel of Sohu Company, the campaign was supported by the Media and Communications Department of BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad).

Beijing 2008 Olympics

2008-07-19T08:48:00.001-07:00

Milestone

"Dancing Beijing" is a milestone of the Olympics. It serves as a classic chapter of the Olympic epic inscribed by the spirit of the Chinese nation, calligraphed by the deeper import of the ancient civilization, and molded by the character of Cathay's descendents. It is concise yet deep inside, bringing forth the city's gradual changes and development. It appears dignified yet bears a tune of romance, reflecting the nation's thoughts and emotions.

In the lead up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the emblem will attract more and more people from around the world to Beijing and China to join the great celebration with the Chinese people.

Commitment

"Dancing Beijing" is a Chinese Seal. It is engraved with commitment made to the Olympic Movement by a country that has 56 ethnic groups and a population of 1.3 billion. While witnessing the advocacy of the Olympic Spirit by a nation with both ancient civilization and modern culture, it also unfolds a future-oriented city's pursuit of the Olympic Ideal.

It is a symbol of trust and an expression of self confidence, standing for the solemn yet sacred promise that Beijing - the host city of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games - has made to the world and to all mankind.

"Complete sincerity can affect even metal and stone (literally meaning sincerity smoothes the way to success)." The inception of our ancestors' wisdom and the image of a seal made of metal and stone allow the emblem to present Chinese people's respect and honesty for the Olympics.

The moment we earnestly imprint the emblem with the "Chinese seal", Beijing is about to show the world a grand picture of "peace, friendship, and progress of mankind" and to strike up the passionate movement of "faster, higher, and stronger" for mankind.

Image

"Dancing Beijing" serves as the city's foremost appearance. It is an image that shows the eastern ways of thinking and the nation's lasting appeal embodied in the Chinese characters. It is an expression that conveys the unique cultural quality and elegance of Chinese civilization.

With inspiration from the traditional Chinese art form - calligraphic art, the character "Jing" (the latter of the city's name) is developed into the form of a dancing human being, reflecting the ideal of a "New Olympics". The words "Beijing 2008" also resembles the vivid shapes of Chinese characters in handwriting, voicing in concise strokes of the countless feelings Chinese people possess towards the Olympics.

As people ponder on the rich connotations and charms of these Chinese characters, a "New Beijing" has thus been brought forward.

Beauty

"Dancing Beijing" is a favorite color of the Chinese people. The color "red" is intensively used in the emblem, pushing the passion up to a new level. It carries Chinese people's longing for luck and happiness and their explanation of life.

Red is the color of the Sun and the Holy Fire, representing life and a new beginning. Red is mind at ease, symbol of vitality, and China's blessing and invitation to the world.

Hero

"Dancing Beijing" calls upon heroes. Olympic Games functions as the stage where heroes are made known, miracles created and glories earned, and where every participant constitutes an indispensable part of the occasion.

The powerful and dynamic design of the emblem is a life poem written by all participants with their passion, affections, and enthusiasm. It is an oath every participant takes to contribute power and wisdom to the Olympics.

The emblem cheers for arts and for the Olympic heroes, who pass down the essence of the Olympic Spirit, which well connects sports and cultures.

Spirit

"Dancing Beijing" extends the totem of the Chinese nation. The form of a running human being stands for the beauty and magnificence of life. Its graceful curves are like the body of a wriggling dragon, relating the past and future of one same civilization; they are like rivers, carrying the century-old history and the nation's pride; they are like veins, pulsing with vitality of life.

The intrinsic values of sports -- athlete-centered and people-oriented - are well defined and upgraded in an artistic way in "the dance of Beijing." We sing if words fail to explain it all, and we dance if the singing does not explicitly tell the meaning.

Vigorous Beijing is looking forward to the celebration in 2008 and the Olympics wait all mankind to dance together.

Invitation

"Dancing Beijing" is a kind invitation. The open arms in the emblem say that China is opening its arms to welcome the rest of the world to join the Olympics, a celebration of "peace, friendship and progress of mankind."

"Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?" The idiom portrays the feelings of friendly and hospitable Chinese people and expresses the sincerity of the city.

Come to Beijing, take a good look at the historical heritages of China's Capital city, and feel the pulse of the country's modernization;

Come, share every piece of its joy, and experience the vigor of the country;

Come, and let us together weave a peaceful and wonderful dream.