Beijing Olympics 2008 - One World, One Dream

2008 Beijing Olympics Results: United States Holds Edge in Medal Count, China Continues to Dominate Gold

2008-08-18T17:46:00.000-07:00

The United States still holds a slight edge in the overall medal count at the 2008 Beijing Olympics but China continues to dominate in the gold medal haul, increasing their lead with each day that passes.

After Sunday’s competitions the United States had collected 65 medals while the Chinese sat just four back with 61 but more than half of those were gold medal efforts, 35, compared to the U.S.’s 19 golds.

China has been nearly unstoppable in several events with eight gold medals in weightlifting, five gold medals in diving, five in shooting, five in gymnastics, three in badminton, three in judo and individual gold medals in archery, fencing, rowing, table tennis and wrestling.

As for the Americans, eight of their 19 gold medals can be attributed to the efforts of Michael Phelps and 12 overall gold medals have come in the pool. The U.S. has also nabbed a pair of gold medals in shooting while collecting individual gold medals in gymnastics, fencing, road cycling, rowing, and tennis.

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Phelps Turns Legend With 8th Beijing Gold

2008-08-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

Swimming competition at the Olympic pool in Beijing ended Sunday with the fulfillment of an improbable quest. In the very last race, Michael Phelps won his eighth gold medal of the games. He and his American medley relay teammates also broke the world record.

Phelps now has two gold medal records: more gold medals (eight) in a single Olympics than any other athlete in any sport, and more gold medals (14) in an Olympics career.

"There is no question from now on, when people think of the greatest swimmer of all time, it's only going to be Michael Phelps' name that comes to their lips," says John Naber, four-time swimming gold medalist.

The Beijing Olympics, adds Olympic historian David Wallechinsky, will be known as the "Michael Phelps Games."

"They have to be," Wallechinsky says. "He won eight gold medals. He deserves to be remembered as the hero of the Beijing Olympics."

Wallechinsky now predicts a new word in the American lexicon: Phelpsian.

"That will be when you win everything and overwhelm the position. That will be a Phelpsian achievement," he says.

The eighth Phelpsian achievement of the Michael Phelps Games came during the butterfly leg of the 400 medley relay. Phelps dove into the water with the American team in third place. He was still in third at the flip turn, but once he got those arms churning he made it a faster 100 meters than the world record time.

At the wall, Phelps had the lead and freestyler Jason Lezak then sealed the deal in the final 100 meters. The American team broke the world record by a little more than a second, giving Phelps the record gold medal haul.

"This is all a dream come true, you know, to really just imagination anything, and works towards it," Phelps said after the event. "To accomplish everything you've really ever dreamed of. It's fun."

Fun for Phelps is nine days of competition, 17 races, eight finals, seven world records, and three miles of swimming — including practice swims.

Phelps' level of achievement can't be described, says Australian distance swimmer Grant Hackett, also considered one of the world's greatest Olympians.

"It's phenomenal and I think, in my opinion, we'll never ever see it again. I just don't think that can be emulated or beaten," Hackett said.

That's what was said when American swimmer Mark Spitz won seven gold medals with seven world records in the 1972 Olympics in Munich. It took 36 years for his gold medal record to fall.

Here's one more Phelpsian measure: If the 23-year-old from Baltimore was a country, he would have tied for fifth in the medal count Sunday, with as many golds that day as Australia and Japan.

So what does Phelps plan to do now?

"What I'm looking forward to is not doing anything. Just sitting and not moving," he laughs.

There is also a million-dollar check coming. That's what sponsors promised if Phelps hit the eight-medal mark.

And Olympic champion John Naber expects ripples wide and far from Phelps' performance at the Olympic pool.

"I expect that there (are) a lot of kids around the country, if not around the world, who will next week make a pilgrimage to the local swimming pool and ask if there's a signup sheet for the swim team. Because there (are) going be a lot of people who want to be just like Michael Phelps," Naber says.

And if any of them make it to the next Olympics, they better be prepared.

Phelps will be young enough to try it all over again.

Source: npr.org

Some Videos from the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony

2008-08-17T05:40:00.000-07:00

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

Part 13

2008 Beijing Olympics Results: Medal Count Favors United States, China Holds Edge in Gold

2008-08-17T00:54:00.000-07:00

The 2008 Beijing Olympics has completed its first week of competition and the United States has grabbed the overall lead in the Olympic medal count, holding a 54-47 lead over China.

While China trails by seven medals they hold a 27-16 advantage over the U.S. in the gold medal count.

Australia, France, Russia and South Korea are all separated by just five medals.

China has grabbed gold in men’s and women’s team gymnastics, shooting, judo, archery, diving, badminton, fencing and weightlifting.

Michael Phelps has led the gold charge for the U.S., accounting for 7 of the 16 gold medals won. Outside the pool the U.S. has collected gold in the women’s individual all-around gymnastics, fencing, road cycling and shooting.

source: transworldnews.com

Beijing’s economy: Going for gold

2008-08-17T00:52:00.002-07:00

YABAO ROAD in Beijing’s embassy district is normally bustling. Russian traders scour its wholesale shops for furs and boots. Hawkers throng the pavements. The street is jammed with taxis and pedicabs. But the Olympic games have begun. Yabao Road is now strangely quiet.

Only a few months ago many shopkeepers, restaurants and hotels were expecting these to be boom times as big-spending foreigners flocked in for the games. Today many businessmen in and around the capital are disgruntled. So too are other citizens who find that even some outdoor food markets have been closed as part of an Olympic spruce-up…

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Olympics 2008: After Akhil, it's Jitender

2008-08-17T00:52:00.001-07:00

YESTERDAY, THE nation was proud of Akhil Kumar’s feat after he ousted the 2007 world champion, Sergey Vodopyanov of Russia and entered the quarter final. Today, (August 16), an extra feather was added to India’s cap by another pugilist, Jitender Kumar, who overthrew his Uzbek counterpart, Tulashboy Doniyorov, and secured his place for the quarter-final round in the Beijing Olympics 2008. Now, Jitender will face three-time European champion, Georgy Balakshin of Russia in the competition’s 51kg category at the quarter final stage of the Beijing Olympics - 2008.

Jitender, the 21-year-old Haryana lad, who earlier had never won any medal in the Olympics, would certainly hope for a medal in this Beijing Olympics. Today, Jitender was in his full cry from the very onset and grabbed 4-1 victory at the opening round. His pugnacious attacks till the end of the second round kept him at a position of 5-1. Finally his incessant venomous punches against his Uzbek opponent resulted in an ill-tempered bout of 13-6 victory and helped him to reach the final eight.

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All-Russian women's tennis final at 2008 Beijing Olympics

2008-08-17T00:51:00.001-07:00

MOSCOW, August 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Dinara Safina and Yelena Dementyeva will meet on August 17 in the final of women's tennis event of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

Both Russians enjoyed straight sets victories in the semifinals as Dementyeva defeated her compatriot Vera Zvonaryova 6-3, 7-6 and Safina overcame China's Li Na 7-6, 7-5.

Russia's Zvonaryova and China's Na will also compete for the bronze on August 17.

Russia is currently ranked 9th in the overall medal standings with 4 gold, 8 silver and 8 bronze medals, while China tops the standings boasting 27 gold, 12 silver and 6 bronze medals.

Source: en.rian.ru

Zhang Ning wins the Olympic badminton women's singles final

2008-08-16T03:41:00.001-07:00

Defending champion Zhang Ning, at the age of 33, won the gold medal of badminton women's singles here on Saturday at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Zhang won the title by beating the world No. 1 and her teammate Xie Xingfang 21-12, 10-21, 21-18.

It is a duel of will and courage instead of skills as both were on the verge of exhaustion following days of fierce fights against the world's top players.

Zhang intensified attacks while Xie made wrong judgments after the two reached 5-5 in the first game, ending the first game 21-12. Xie revenged in the second game and achieved a good start at 5-0. She had since taking the lead until the game ended.

In the decisive game, both used rackets to support the bodies amid intervals of the competition, which was a sign of limits of physical energy. They were 16-16 at one time, but Zhang was more persistent afterwards.

Zhang burst into tears as the last returning shuttlecock from Xie touched the net and fell to the ground of Xie's half.

"I thought once that I might not make it when Xie was keeping up with me in the third game. I was so tired," said Zhang. She said earlier that she wanted to have a second Olympic gold. "So I can have some sweet memories for myself."

"Zhang and Xie presented the world a most wonderful match," said Li Yongbo, head coach of the Chinese national badminton team.

"It is a really a miracle for Zhang Ning to retain the Olympic gold. Her entrance to the Beijing Olympic Games was even in doubt two months ago," Li said. "Maybe this is the beauty of Olympiad."

Source: ChinaDaily.com

2008 Beijing Olympics: Saturday- August 16th Schedule

2008-08-15T21:02:00.001-07:00

If all goes well for Michael Phelps in tonight’s 100m fly tonight, he’ll win the gold and tie with Mark Spitz’s 36-year-old record for most golds won in a single Olympic. Phelps has six golds so far and tonight could make seven. Saturday he’s participating in the 4x100 Medley Relay, which could be the tie-breaking event for him, should things go well again. We’ve got the full schedule for Saturday’s events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16 – DAY 8

NBC and NBC HD
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Men's Basketball – USA vs. Spain (LIVE)
Track & Field
Men's & Women's Gymnastics – Trampoline Competition
Beach Volleyball – Gibb/Rosenthal (USA) vs. Herrara/Mesa (ESP)
Women's Diving – Springboard Semifinals
Men's Water Polo – USA vs. Croatia
Rowing – Gold Medal Finals
Cycling – Track Gold Medal Final
Women's Badminton – Singles Gold Medal Finals

7:30 p.m. – Midnight
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals (LIVE)
Men's 4x100m Medley Relay, 1500m Freestyle
Women's 50m Freestyle, Women's 4x100m Medley Relay
Track & Field – Gold Medal Finals
Men's 100m
Track & Field – Women's Marathon (LIVE)

12:30 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Women's Beach Volleyball – Quarterfinal
Track & Field – Gold Medal Finals
Women's Heptathlon, Shot Put
Women's 100m Quarterfinal, Men's 400 Hurdles Semifinal

CNBC and CNBC HD
Midnight – 4:30 a.m.
Softball – USA vs. Chinese Taipei (LIVE)
Boxing – 51kg, 75kg Competition (LIVE)

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Boxing – 48kg, 75kg Competition

USA and USA HD
2:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Women's Tennis – Singles Gold Medal Final, Singles Bronze (LIVE)
Men's Tennis – Doubles Gold Medal Final, Singles Bronze (LIVE)
Men's Track & Field – 20k Walk
Women's Field Hockey – USA vs. New Zealand
Cycling – Track Gold Medal Finals
Men's Table Tennis – Team Semifinals

MSNBC
5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Men's Soccer – Quarterfinals Brazil vs. Cambodia (LIVE)
Argentina vs. Netherlands (LIVE)
Italy vs. Belgium
Baseball – USA vs. Canada
Women's Wrestling – 48kg, 55kg Gold Medal Finals
Beach Volleyball – Xu/Wu (CHN) vs. Klemperer/Koreng (GER)
Men's Badminton – Doubles Gold Medal Final
Equestrian – Individual Dressage

TELEMUNDO
2:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Men's Soccer - Quarterfinals (LIVE)
Track & Field – Gold Medal Finals
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals
Men's Basketball – USA vs. Spain
Baseball – Cuba vs. Taipei
Women's Diving – Springboard Competition
Beach Volleyball
Boxing

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Men's Volleyball

Midnight – 1:00 a.m.
TBA

UNIVERSAL HD
24-hour MSNBC & CNBC HD Simulcasts and Coverage

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL
2:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Men's Qualifying Round
2:30 a.m. – 4:15 a.m. Lithuania vs. Qualifier (LIVE)
4:45 a.m. – 6:30 a.m. Iran vs. Argentina (LIVE)
6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Angola vs. Qualifier
8:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. China vs. Qualifier (LIVE)
10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Spain vs. USA (LIVE)
12:00 p.m. – 1:45 a.m. Russia vs. Australia
1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Spain vs. USA (2nd half re-air)

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL
6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Men's Quarterfinals
6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Match #1 (LIVE)
9:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Match #2 (LIVE)
10:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Match #3
12:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Match #4
2:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Match of the Day re-air
4:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. Second Match of the Day re-air

NBCOlympics.com - LIVE STREAMING BROADBAND COVERAGE:
Men's Badminton – Singles Bronze Medal
Badminton – Mixed Doubles Semifinals & Gold Medal Finals
Baseball
Men's & Women's Field Hockey
Sailing – Qualifying & Gold Medal Finals
Men's Shooting – Skeet Gold Medal Final
50m Rifle Three Position Competition & Gold Medal Final
Women's Fencing – Team Foil Semifinals & Gold Medal Finals
Men's Fencing – Team Sabre Competition
Men's & Women's Basketball
Cycling – Track Events
Equestrian – Individual Dressage
Men's & Women's Handball
Rowing Gold Medal Finals
Men's Soccer
Softball
Men's Table Tennis – Team Semifinals & Bronze Competition
Men's & Women's Tennis – Singles & Doubles Gold Medal Finals
Women's Weightlifting - +75kg
Women's Wrestling – Freestyle 48kg, 55kg Gold Medal Finals
Freestyle 63kg, 72kg
Water Polo

Source: CinemaBlend.com

2008 Beijing Olympics TV Schedule for Friday, August 8

2008-08-08T16:17:00.000-07:00

The 2008 Summer Olympics begins Friday in Beijing, China as the world's best athletes compete for a gold medal.

The TV schedule for the Olympics has been released beginning with Friday. The opening ceremony will be broadcasted several times around the world. However, in the U.S., it will be broadcasted at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.

The schedule continues on CNBC with boxing, while USA will feature several women's events, including the U.S. soccer team and U.S. basketball team.

To see the full TV schedule for Friday, please look below:

4-9 a.m. (CBUT) Opening ceremony*

3-9 p.m. (CBUT) Opening ceremony; Beach volleyball; Cycling: men's road

7:30 p.m.-Midnight (NBC) Opening ceremony

9 p.m.-midnight (CBUT) Men's gymnastics; Rowing

11 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (CNBC) Boxing: 75kg, 81kg

11 p.m.-11 a.m. (USA) Women's soccer: USA vs. Japan, Canada vs. China; Women's basketball: USA vs. Czech Republic; Equestrian: eventing dressage; Beach volleyball; Women's fencing: individual sabre final; Women's shooting: air rifle final; Badminton singles; Women's weightlifting: flyweight final

Olympics 208 opens today

2008-08-08T16:16:00.000-07:00

The Chinese are all set for the Olympics and the big stars, the big events and the big venues are all geared up for what promises to be a memorable Olympics.

The biggest sporting event in the world deserves a spectacular opening ceremony. And that's what you will get in Beijing August 8 at 8:00 pm, 8 minutes and 8 seconds.

Jeff Ruffulo, Spokesperson, BOCOG said, "And I can tell you, the only thing I didn't like about the stadium - there were no seat belts because at the opening you literally are blown back in your seat. And if you are watching this at home on television, you are going to get pushed into your garage. You better move the car out because "BANG" here it comes! The opening is the most dramatic thing I have ever seen. It is thunderous, it is emotional and it is dramatic."

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2008-07-22T03:58:00.000-07:00

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