Empat Sukan Suntik Semangat Atlet Beijing

Oleh HAMDAN AHMAD

TIDAK sampai dua minggu lagi, 33 atlet negara akan beraksi di Sukan Olimpik Beijing setelah membuat persiapan rapi dan menjalani latihan serius beberapa bulan sebelumnya.

Dikatakan semangat para atlet kita yang akan ke Beijing adalah tinggi dan dijangkakan ada di kalangan atlet mampu mempamerkan prestasi terbaik dan meraih pingat yang disediakan oleh penganjur.

Bak kata Misbun Sidek, prestasi yang akan ditunjukkan oleh seseorang atlet bergantung pada mood atlet terbabit pada hari ia bertarung. Pendapat Misbun mungkin ada benarnya kerana beliau sendiri telah pernah mengalami situasi tersebut.

Apabila pemain atau atlet tiada mood atau moodnya turun naik, sudah tentu boleh menjejaskan rentak permainan pemain berkenaan. Tidak ramai pemain atau atlet mampu menaikkan kembali moodnya jika dirinya berada dalam keadaan tidak terkawal.

Jika atlet dapat mengekalkan moodnya dalam keadaan baik dan terkawal, ini memberikan kelebihan bermain dengan tenang dan boleh menaruh harapan untuk memenangi perlawanan yang dihadapinya. Secara ringkas, akhirnya pemainlah yang dipertanggungjawabkan sama ada ia mampu keluar juara atau sebaliknya.

Ada kalanya atlet memerlukan suntikan tambahan sebelum Olimpik bermula. Suntikan ini bukan datang dari diri atlet sendiri tetapi suntikan semangat dan perangsang oleh atlet lain yang tidak beraksi di Olimpik Beijing juga.

Tempoh tidak sampai dua minggu sebelum Olimpik Beijing bermula dilihat suatu tempoh kritikal, lebih-lebih lagi ketika pertandingan menjelang. Perasaan bimbang, tidak yakin dan perasaan lain bercampur baur akan bermain di kepala atlet yang akan ke Beijing.

Apa yang atlet perlu lakukan mulai hari ini hingga ke hari pertandingan ialah mengawal perasaan bimbang dan menggantikannya dengan perasaan tenang.

Ketenangan boleh datang dari dalam diri atlet sendiri dan dari sumber pelbagai. Antaranya apabila menerima berita gembira dari rakan-rakan dan keluarga dan lebih-lebih lagi berita kejayaan atlet negara yang tidak beraksi di Beijing.

Baru-baru ini peminat sukan tanah air disajikan dengan empat kejayaan besar oleh ahli sukan negara dalam pertandingan sukan bertaraf dunia. Keempat-empat sukan yang dimaksudkan ialah kejayaan Datuk Nichol Davids (kali keempat juara) dan Ong Beng Hee menjuarai Kejohanan Skuasy Terbuka Malaysia kategori wanita dan lelaki; Ong Beng Leong di Kejohanan Golf Masters Mercedes-Benz; pasukan Formula Future mempertahankan gelaran juara dunia di Kejohanan Formula Future Dunia di Ravenna, Itali; pasukan boling negara dan Aaron Kong memenangi Kejohanan Boling Belia Dunia di Orlando, Amerika Syarikat.

Pencapaian tersebut merupakan suatu kejayaan besar yang amat memberangsangkan buat ahli sukan negara walau pun mereka tidak berkesempatan beraksi di Olimpik Beijing kerana kesemua sukan itu masih belum tersenarai untuk dipertandingkan.

Sungguh pun begitu berita gembira kejayaan besar para atlet negara ini dijangka dapat memberi suntikan semangat baru kepada 33 atlet negara yang akan beraksi di Olimpik Beijing bulan Ogos ini.

Kejayaan mereka sedikit sebanyak mampu menyuntik semangat baru kepada para atlet Beijing ini berdasarkan kebolehan mereka mengalahkan atlet dari negara lain.

Sebagai contoh pasukan Formula Future negara berjaya mengenepikan cabaran enam negara dari Eropah seperti Jerman, Itali, Slovakia, Great Britain, Rusia dan Republik Czech.

Lebih menarik lagi mereka mampu mengalahkan pencabarnya di kejohanan yang diadakan di luar negara. Begitu juga dengan para pemain boling negara yang beraksi di Orlando, Amerika Syarikat.

Kejayaan yang dicapai oleh para atlet keempat-empat sukan di atas dianggap kena pada masanya dalam konteks memberi rangsangan dan motivasi yang amat diperlukan oleh para atlet Olimpik kita. Diharapkan para atlet yang akan beraksi di Beijing nanti mampu meraih sesuatu kejayaan serta membuat kejutan ketika beraksi di sana.

Kita juga percaya semangat dan motivasi tinggi dapat memberikan kelebihan pada para atlet kita untuk beraksi cemerlang di Beijing nanti. Sudah sampai masanya para atlet negara membuktikan akan kebolehan mereka dan berharap harapan negara tidak dihampakan sama sekali.

Kehadiran para atlet di Beijing membawa amanat penting rakyat dan negara dalam meraih kejayaan yang selama ini kita impikan dalam usaha mendapatkan pingat emas pertama negara. Ia merupakan suatu misi penting untuk para atlet negara ketika berada di Beijing nanti.

Utusan Malaysia

US Says China Has ‘Nothing To Fear’ From Internet Freedom

WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday ramped up pressure on China to live up to Olympic ideals by ending human rights abuses, as President George W. Bush promised “nothing to fear” from Internet freedom.

With nine days remaining before the Games begin in Beijing, China sparked an uproar with its plans to censor the Internet during the Olympics, and US lawmakers responded by passing a resolution urging China to change its ways.

“President Bush has long said that China has nothing to fear from greater access to the Internet or to the press or from more religious freedom and human freedom and human rights,” press secretary Dana Perino said.

“And that’s one of the things that he talked about yesterday with the dissidents he met with, here at the White House,” she said, declining to comment directly on China’s decision to reverse a pledge to allow unfettered web access for foreign press covering the Games August 8-24.

“We want to see more access for reporters, we want to see more access for everybody in China to be able to have access to the Internet,” Perino said.

“We think that China would be enhanced and continue to prosper if they allowed for more freedom.”

Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives voted 419 to 1 to endorse a resolution asking China to “immediately end abuses of the human rights of its citizens, to cease repression of Tibetan and Uighur citizens, and to end its support for the governments of Sudan and (Myanmar).”

Such action would “ensure that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games take place in an atmosphere that honours the Olympic traditions of freedom and openness,” the resolution said.

“In exchange for the privilege of hosting the Olympic Games, the Chinese government made commitments on freedom of the press, human rights, and on the environment,” House speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

“Any of these commitments have been violated repeatedly and blatantly.”

Pelosi also called on Bush to use the “tremendous leverage” of his August 8 attendance at the Games opening ceremony to press Beijing on human rights, trade protectionism and the safety of Chinese food exports.

A top White House aide said Wednesday Bush would speak about religious freedom in China when he goes to church two days after the Olympics opening ceremony, and also when he meets with Chinese leadership on the sidelines of the games.

“When he goes to church on Sunday (August 10) he will make a statement afterwards in which he discusses his view on religious freedom in China,” said national security council director of Asian Affairs Dennis Wilder.

“You can deliver the message of freedom without politicising the events of the game,” he added.

“The president will have diplomatic meetings with the Chinese leadership that are separate from the games. And in those meetings with the Chinese leaders he will of course bring up these issues,” Wilder said.

Howard Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs committee, said China had failed to improve its record on human rights during the run-up to the Games.

“Now is the time to call on China to take immediate, substantial and serious action if there is to be any hope that the Olympic Games will take place in an atmosphere that honours the Olympic spirit of freedom and openness,” he said.

Beijing Olympic organising committee spokesman Sun Weide triggered the latest public relations flare-up when he confirmed that foreign reporters would not have access to some sites deemed sensitive by China’s government.

“During the Olympic Games we will provide sufficient access to the Internet for reporters,” Sun said Wednesday.

However, “sufficient access” falls short of the complete Internet freedoms for foreign reporters that China had promised in the run-up to the Games.

The news also proved an embarrassment for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which had repeatedly said foreign press would not face any Internet curbs in Beijing.

– AFP/yb

Channel News Asia

Olympics: China Plunges Into Controversy With Internet Restrictions

BEIJING: The Beijing Olympics were plunged into another controversy on Wednesday as China backtracked on Internet freedoms for the thousands of foreign reporters covering the Games.

China’s decision to reverse a pledge on allowing unfettered web access proved an embarrassment for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which had repeatedly said foreign press would not face any Internet curbs in Beijing.

It was also the latest in a long line of issues to have tarnished the run-up to the Olympics, which start on August 8, following controversies over pollution, human rights and terrorism threats.

Beijing Olympic organising committee spokesman Sun Weide triggered the latest public relations flare-up when he confirmed foreign reporters would not have access to some sites deemed sensitive by China’s communist rulers.

“During the Olympic Games we will provide sufficient access to the Internet for reporters,” Sun said.

However “sufficient access” falls short of the complete Internet freedoms for foreign reporters that China had promised in the run-up to the Games.

Sun specified sites linked to the Falungong spiritual movement, which is outlawed in China, as ones that would remain censored for the foreign press at Olympic venues.

He did not identify any others but reporters trying to surf the Internet at the main press centre for the Games on Wednesday found a wide array of sites deemed sensitive by China’s rulers to be out-of-bounds.

These included sites belonging to Tibet’s government-in-exile and Amnesty International, as well as those that had information on the 1989 Tiananmen massacre in which the military used deadly force to crush democracy protests.

The head of the IOC’s press commission, Kevan Gosper, told AFP on Wednesday that he would take the matter up with Chinese officials.

“I will speak with the Chinese authorities to advise them of the restraints and to see what their reaction is,” he said.

Australian Olympic team chief John Coates, who is also an IOC member, expressed frustration with China’s Internet about-face, pointing out that the Chinese authorities had gone back on one of their “key” Olympic promises.

“It certainly is disappointing… I think it’s a matter that the IOC will take seriously,” Coates told reporters.

In an exclusive interview with AFP two weeks ago, IOC president Jacques Rogge insisted there would be no censorship of the Internet.

“For the first time, foreign media will be able to report freely and publish their work freely in China,” he said.

“There will be no censorship on the Internet.”

The IOC late Wednesday denied knowing in advance of China’s plans to restrict the Internet for the 20,000 reporters covering the Games and said it was pushing for curbs to be lifted.

IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies had said earlier that the IOC had been made aware of China’s plans to censor the Internet in previous talks with the Beijing Olympic organising committee.

However, she later clarified her statement to say that the organising committee, when referring to Internet restrictions, had spoken only of pornographic sites and sites sensitive for national security reasons.

“It would be incorrect to say that we knew in advance that China was to restrict certain sites and we are pushing for those restrictions to be blocked,” Davies said.

“They were talking about restrictions that are similar to those that exist in other countries.”

Gosper on Wednesday told the South China Morning Post that the IOC knew some sites would be blocked.

“(Recently) I have also been advised that some of the IOC officials had negotiated with the Chinese that some sensitive sites would be blocked,” the Hong Kong-based newspaper quoted Gosper as saying in an exclusive interview.

“If you have been misled by what I have told you about there being free Internet access during the Games, then I apologise.”

Reporters Without Borders, the Paris-based press freedom group, said it was surprised the IOC had kowtowed so easily to China’s leadership over web access.

“When China applied to host the Games they promised total press freedom and that must include Internet access,” said Vincent Brossel, the group’s Asia director.

“What a total humiliation this is for the (IOC president) Jacques Rogge. How can the IOC be so weak and feeble?” – AFP/de

Channel News Asia

Customer Service Levels In Beijing Improve Due To Olympics

BEIJING : Preparing for the Olympics has helped Beijing hotels and staff improve their quality of service, and become more service-oriented.

But that alone will not be enough to fill the empty hotel rooms during the Games.

Cakes with the logo of the Olympic Games, trays of chocolates with the Beijing Olympics’ logo sprayed in chocolate powder, and souvenirs reflecting Chinese culture and tradition – these are just a few of the special touches that a Beijing hotel has put in place as it prepares for the Games’ arrival.

And no detail is considered too minor when it comes to making guests feel at home.

Tong Qiang, a hotel staff said: “There are also daily inspections from the health bureau and other departments to help ensure that our hygiene standards meet the standards of the IOC (International Olympic Committee).”

For Beijing Raffles Hotel, who will play host to IOC chairman Jacques Rogge and his senior executive board members, it has to ensure that their VIPs get the treatment they deserve.

“Security is going to be extremely tight, and therefore we need to anticipate what (are) the needs of… the VIPs staying with us,” said Gino Tan, Resident Manager of Beijing Raffles Hotel.

With the extra training given prior to the Games, hotel staff said the Olympics has also helped them professionally.

“Previously, we could not communicate well with our guests. But after daily interactions with overseas colleagues sent to Beijing, we’re now able to communicate effectively,” said Tong.

But for most, it is the experience of a lifetime that they are looking forward to.

Grace Kiong, a butler, said: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed and excited. It gives me shivers just to look at the Olympic flags just beneath me at the lobby area.”

Even though hotels in Beijing have been looking forward to the Olympics for some years now, the high occupancy rates which had earlier been predicted had not materialised. Some hotels even had to slash prices in a last ditch effort to fill empty hotel rooms.

This is mainly due to the surge of new hotels built in anticipation of the Olympics, and the tightening of visa restrictions as part of the safety measures put in place by Beijing.

So apart from slashing prices, hotels located further away from the Olympic venues have thrown in sweeteners such as souvenirs and breakfast vouchers. Observers said this may attract domestic travellers as these visitors usually make their reservations only a few days in advance. – CNA /ls

Channel News Asia

Clubs Must Release Players For Games

Clubs must release players for Games

ZURICH: FIFA ruled on Wednesday that clubs are obliged to release players aged 23 or under for the Beijing Olympics, clearing the way for Lionel Messi to play for Argentina despite opposition from FC Barcelona.

Slim Aloulou, a Tunisian judge on FIFA’s player status committee, said the release of under-23 players was “mandatory for all clubs.”

“Taking part in the Olympic Games is a unique opportunity for all athletes of any sporting discipline,” FIFA said in a statement. “It would not be justifiable to prevent any player younger than 23 from participating in such an event if his representative team had qualified.”

Apart from the 21-year-old Messi, the decision means that Schalke and Werder Bremen must release Rafinha and Diego, respectively, for Brazil.

The three clubs had challenged the FIFA rules, saying the Olympics were not included on football’s international match calendar.

Only for A-teams

But FIFA said the calendar only reflects the schedule for A-teams — those which include players older than 23. The dates for the Beijing tournament are set by the International Olympic Committee, and not by FIFA, it added.

The release of young players has traditionally been accepted by clubs since the rule first came into force 20 years ago. A FIFA emergency committee separately confirmed the rule on Tuesday.

Barca has announced it will contest FIFA’s ruling in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Messi, speaking before the FIFA ruling, had said, “If FIFA says I should be there then I’ll go without waiting for a CAS ruling.”

Messi added: “If CAS says that I have to return then I’ll come back but for the moment I want to be with my country and my teammates.”

The player has until Friday to link up with coach Sergio Batista’s Argentina’s Olympic squad in training in Japan.

Access necessary

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday journalists should get “necessary” access to the Internet to do their jobs, stepping back from a pledge of full, unfettered Internet access.

“We have always encouraged hosts to ensure access necessary for the media to do their job of reporting on the Olympic Games,” said Giselle Davies, the IOC’s communications director. “And we are working to ensure that.”

She was speaking nine days before the Games open and after the Chinese hosts disclosed that the 20,000 journalists covering the August 8-24 Games in Beijing would face Internet restrictions. This went back on a pledge by both China’s communist rulers and the IOC that foreign reporters covering the Games would have uncensored access to the Internet.

Blocked websites in the main Olympic press centre on Wednesday included those of Amnesty International, the Tibet government-in-exile, dissident groups, and ones giving information about the 1989 Tiananmen massacre in which the Chinese military crushed democracy protests. — Agencies

Hindu On Net

Pemain Mampu Bawa Pulang Pingat Emas Olimpik – Presiden BAM

KUALA LUMPUR – Presiden Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM), Datuk Nadzmi Mohd. Salleh yakin harapan meraih pingat emas pertama negara di Sukan Olimpik Beijing, yang akan membuka tirainya 10 hari lagi, akan dapat direalisasikan oleh skuad badminton negara.

“Kami mempunyai peluang yang baik untuk memenangi pingat emas kali ini, kami mempunyai pemain yang bagus jika mereka bermain bersungguh-sungguh dan mengendalikan permainan dengan baik dalam pertandingan kali ini, tiada alasan mereka tidak boleh mendapatkan emas.

“Kami perlu berhati-hati dan kami tidak mahu memberi tekanan kepada pemain-pemain kami. Mereka sudah cukup tertekan. Apa yang penting adalah mereka yakin diri. Bagi Sukan Olimpik, mereka perlu berusaha lebih gigih. Mereka juga perlu mendorong diri sepenuhnya,” kata Nadzmi.

Beliau berkata, Sukan Olimpik adalah sukan berprestij dan terpenting bagi semua atlet seluruh dunia dan pastinya mereka mahu menempa kejayaan di sana.

Terdahulu, Nadzmi menghadiri majlis perasmian kain rentang sokongan moral 100Plus dan rakyat Malaysia kepada skuad badminton negara yang akan membawa cabaran negara ke Sukan Olimpik di Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara di sini, semalam.

Katanya para pemain sudahpun bersiap sedia dari segi latihan fizikal dan juga mental untuk menghadapi saingan Sukan Olimpik.

“Kita melihat skuad badminton negara adalah antara yang ternama di dunia.

Sudah tentulah harapan kita adalah untuk memenangi pingat di Sukan Olimpik.

“Umpamanya, Chong Wei pernah mengalahkan Lin Dan di Piala Thomas. Jadi, kalaulah dapat mengulangi prestasi seperti itu, sudah tentunya kita ada harapan untuk memenangi pingat emas di Sukan Olimpik,” kata Nadzmi.

Skuad badminton negara terdiri daripada Lee Chong Wei dan Wong Choon Hann (perseorangan lelaki), Koo Kien Keat, Tan Boon Heong, Lee Wan Wah dan Choong Tan Fook (beregu lelaki), Wong Mew Choo (perseorangan wanita) serta Wong Pei Tty dan Chin Ee Hui (beregu wanita).

Mereka akan berangkat ke Beijing pada 5 Ogos ini.

- Bernama

Utusan Malaysia

OPINION: Blue Skies Are Hard To Find As The Games Loom

Despite promises of a ‘Green Olympics’ by local organisers, pollution is a pressing concern for Beijing. Less than two weeks before the curtain rises, officials are discussing more contingency measures, writes JIM YARDLEY

LESS than two weeks before the Olympics, Beijing’s skies are so murky and polluted that the authorities are considering emergency measures during the Games beyond the traffic restrictions and factory shutdowns that, so far, have failed to clear the air.

For the past week, Beijing has been a soupy cauldron of humid, grey skies. Local pollution ratings have exceeded the national standard for acceptable air since last Thursday, despite a temporary air pollution control plan that began on July 20.

Under that plan, officials have used odd-even licence plate restrictions — limiting motorists to driving on alternate days, depending on whether the last number on their licence plate is odd or even — to reduce daily traffic by two million vehicles, or more than half the city’s total. Production at some factories has also been curtailed in Beijing and outlying areas.

But on Monday, China’s official English-language newspaper, China Daily, ran a front-page story under a boldfaced headline: “Emergency green plan for Games”. The article warned that officials might force far more vehicles off city streets — possibly 90 per cent of the city’s total — and temporarily close more factories.

No timetable was announced, but a senior city engineer told China Daily that officials would inform the public as early as possible about the details of the plan. The Olympics’ opening ceremony is on Friday, Aug 8.

Pollution has been a pressing concern for the Games. Local organisers have promised to hold a Green Olympics, despite air that often ranks among the most polluted in the world. Some Olympic teams are providing optional breathing masks for their athletes to protect them from respiratory problems.

Before Monday, Beijing officials had taken a determinedly upbeat approach to the pollution situation. At various news conferences, Beijing officials said pollution levels in July had fallen 20 per cent compared with the same period a year ago. They blamed the problems on recent weeks of unusually heavy rains that left behind a humid summer haze. Even though emissions have fallen, pollution was still being trapped in the haze because of a lack of dispersing winds, they said.

“We are very confident about the effectiveness,” Du Shao-zhong, a deputy director of Beijing’s environmental bureau, said of the traffic and industrial restrictions during a news conference on Sunday at the new Olympic media centre. “We are going to ensure a good air quality during the Games.”

Statistics suggest that the city’s daily air pollution index has improved somewhat compared with 2007. Beijing measures four primary air pollutants through its “Blue Sky” air quality monitoring programme. A system of monitoring stations calculates a daily air quality rating on a scale of 1 to 500, with 500 being the worst. The accuracy of the system has been questioned, but Beijing officials have steadfastly defended it.

Under the system, any rating under 101 is considered acceptable. The recent run of bad days began last Thursday with a rating of 113. Friday brought a 109; Saturday a 118; and Sunday a 113.

Even so, these numbers are better than the same month last year, when the ratings reached as high as 151 in late July. But such statistical improvements hardly fulfil the expectations that this month’s pollution control plan would sweep away foul air and render Beijing a city of clear blue skies, at least for the Olympics.

When officials opened the Olympic Village over the weekend, visibility was sharply limited by clotted skies. At one news conference, a Chinese reporter asked if there were any recommendations to help Olympic visitors discern the difference between polluted skies and cloudy ones.

Zhu Tong, a professor at Peking University who is serving as an air quality adviser to the Beijing Olympics, said unfavourable weather conditions, especially a lack of wind, have prevented the usual patterns for dispersing foul air.

“Usually, stagnant air only stays for three or four days,” Zhu said. “But it has been here for more than a week, which means more pollution is accumulating.”

He said officials were discussing more contingency measures, though no decisions had yet been made.

“The air quality is worse than we expected,” he said, adding that officials were continuing to examine how to reduce emissions by making the traffic flow more efficient. He also expressed optimism that the current weather pattern would break.

“We believe that once this weather moves out, we have a low chance to see it again,” he said.

Another Chinese newspaper, Science and Technology Daily, reported on Monday that a broader emergency plan for Beijing and surrounding areas had been submitted for final review to the State Environmental Protection Administration and could be announced this week. — NYT

 

New Straits Times

Lebih 2,000 Restoran Halal Disediakan Bagi Atlit, Pelawat

MENJELANG SUKAN OLIMPIK BEIJING
Lebih 2,000 restoran halal disediakan bagi atlit, pelawat

BEIJING: Lebih 2,000 restoran dan kedai makanan Islam akan dibuka sepanjang Sukan Olimpik Beijing yang bermula bulan depan, khusus untuk para atlit, pengunjung dan wakil media.

Pihak bandar raya ini telah memperuntukkan 32 juta yuan ($6.3 juta) untuk membuka restoran halal dan meningkatkan perniagaan katering masyarakat Islam.

Demikian menurut agensi berita Xinhua yang memetik kenyataan seorang pegawai bandar raya ini.

Cawangan makanan Islam juga terdapat di lapangan terbang bandar raya Beijing dan stesen kereta api Barat Beijing.

Agensi berita Xinhua berkata kira-kira 10,000 atlit, jurulatih dan pelancong beragama Islam dijangka melawat kuaters Islam di Niujie Street di mana terdapat masjid paling tua di bandar raya ini.

Menurut laporan itu lagi, sebanyak 12 daripada 70 buah masjid telah dipilih untuk menjadi pusat utama untuk mengalu-alukan pelawat Islam yang turut diletakkan tanda dalam Bahasa Arab.

Perkampungan sukan turut mempunyai kemudahan makanan Islam dan tempat untuk aktiviti agama bagi para atlit dan pegawai sukan.

China mempunyai kira-kira 20 juta penduduk beragama Islam yang majoritinya terdapat di barat laut wilayah autonomi Xinjiang dan Ningxia.

Sementara itu, media setempat semalam melaporkan 22 pegawai penyelamat yang membantu mangsa gempa bumi besar di wilayah Sichuan telah dipilih sebagai pemegang obor semasa acara larian itu diadakan di wilayah Henan semalam.

‘Para pegawai penyelamat telah dinamakan sebagai pemegang obor kerana keberanian mereka dalam menjalankan kerja-keja menyelamat selepas gempa bumi,’ lapor Xinhua.

Selepas melalui bandar Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang dan Anyang di wilayah Henan, obor itu kemudian akan dibawa ke wilayah Sichuan pada 3 Ogos. — Bernama, AP.

Cyberita

Olympics: IOC Lifts Iraq’s Beijing Ban

LAUSANNE, Switzerland: The ban on Iraq competing at the Beijing Olympics next month has been lifted, the International Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday.

Iraq’s Olympic contingent were cleared to take part in the 2008 Games after agreement was reached between the IOC and the Iraqi government at a crisis meeting at the IOC’s headquarters in Lausanne.

As the deadline for competitors at the Games for all events except athletics passed on July 23 the Iraqi contingent will now number only two athletes.

The lifting of the ban came about after the Iraqi government agreed on a series of steps leading to a fully functioning independent National Olympic Committee (NOC) in Iraq.

IOC president Jacques Rogge hailed the eleventh hour deal, saying: “We look forward to seeing the Iraqi flag in Beijing.”

The Olympic chief added: “I commend the government of Iraq for reaching an agreement that serves the long-term interest of Iraqi athletes.

“We have said all along that we want to see Iraqi athletes in Beijing.”

In June the IOC had suspended Iraq for “political interference” in its NOC which was sacked in May and replaced by a new panel headed by Iraqi Youth and Sports Minister Jassem Jaafar.

Now, under the deal brokered on Tuesday, rather than being frustrated observers Iraqi athletes will compete in Beijing under the Iraqi flag, led by coaches and team leaders selected by the independent Iraqi NOC.

Five government representatives will be invited by the IOC as observers to the Games in Beijing.

The Lausanne agreement also calls for the transparent and fair election of a new, independent Iraqi National Olympic Committee, no later than the end of November.

This process will be overseen by the IOC and the Olympic Council of Asia and will be held in cooperation with the Government of Iraq, and in accordance with the Olympic Charter. – AFP/de

Channel News Asia

Japan To Send 12 Cyclists To Participate In Beijing Olympics

TOKYO : Japan will send 12 cyclists to take part in the Beijing Olympic Games, with the aim of winning medals in the track cycling events.

The sport of keirin involves nine racers competing at the same time at speeds of 60 to 70 kilometres per hour. It became an official Olympic event at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Keirin was born in Japan in 1948. It has become popular as a betting sport. In 1980, keirin became a world championship sport.

But in the Olympic Games, the rules are slightly different. Instead of nine riders, there are six to seven racing at the same time.

Popular professional keirin racer Tomohiro Nagatsuka explained: “The domestic race is on a 400-metre track which is long, and the angle of the corner, not so steep.

“But overseas, it’s 250 to 200 metres. It’s a 45-degree angle, so you tend to clash for a longer period. The equipment used is different from Japanese keirin. I find it to be a different competition.”

Mr Nagatsuka and his teammates won the silver medal at the last Olympics in Athens.

There are said to be 200 professional keirin racers in Japan today. One of the most successful is Toshiaki Fushimi, who earned US$1.9 million in prize money in 2001. He was also part of the team event at Athens.

He said: “Last time I was in the team event, so this time, I want to compete as an individual. By performing well in keirin, the Japanese-born sport, it will be my expression of thanks to the keirin industry. So I want to compete in keirin.”

Fujio Hayashi, general manager, Japan Cycling Federation, said: “I think winning a medal in keirin will have an impact on the people of Japan.”

And with declining numbers in the pro-cycling population, medal wins could boost interest in the sport. – CNA/ms

Channel News Asia