By News Services
At Nanjing, China: Foluke Akinradewo scored 18 points as the U.S. women's national training volleyball team defeated JiangSu, a professional Chinese club team, 25-22, 25-23, 25-22 on Wednesday at Nanjing University of Finance and Economics to conclude the team's eight-match exhibition tour of China. Team USA finished the tour with a 5-3 record.
"This was a good final match for us in China against a challenging team," U.S. Women's National Team coach 'Jenny' Lang Ping said. "JiangSu's attack was very quick, but we studied the video of last night's match and made some adjustments today that were very effective. We had more success blocking their quick attack and maintained our concentration better throughout the match today."
The U.S. victory evened the two-match series with JiangSu, which won Tuesday's match in four sets. Jiangsu won a recent league tournament and defeated the China Army team in one of the preliminary rounds. Team USA defeated the China Army twice on the tour of China.
Team USA's three-week training tour of China was designed to allow the coaches to evaluate a younger group of players in preparation for Olympic Games roster selections. The U.S. qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games, held Aug. 8-24 in Beijing, by finishing with a bronze medal at the 2007 FIVB World Cup.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
IOC wants Beijing to open Internet during Olympics
BEIJING (AP) — The Internet must be open during the Beijing
Olympics.
That was the message a top-ranking International Olympic
Committee official delivered Tuesday to Beijing organizers during
the first of three days of meetings — the last official sessions
between IOC inspectors and the Chinese hosts before the games begin
in just over four months.
Beijing routinely blocks Chinese access to some foreign news Web
sites and blogs, a practice it has stepped up since rioting broke
out over two weeks ago in Tibet.
Kevan Gosper, vice chairman of the IOC coordinating commission,
said restricting access to the Internet during the games “would
reflect very poorly” on the host nation.
“This morning we discussed and insisted again,” Gosper
said. “Our concern is that the press (should be) able to operate as it
has at previous games.”
Gosper said the Chinese had an obligation under the “host city
agreement” to provide Internet access to the 30,000 accredited and
non-accredited journalists expected to attend.
“There was some criticism that the Internet closed down during
events relating to Tibet in previous weeks,” Gosper said.
Laws that lifted most restrictions on foreign media went into
effect Jan. 1, 2007. The rules are to expire in October.
“I’m satisfied that the Chinese understand the need for this
and they will do it,” Gosper added.
When asked about Gosper’s comments, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Jiang Yu said China’s “management” of the Internet followed the
“general practice of the international community.”
She acknowledged that China bans some Internet content, and said
other countries did the same. She declined to say if the Internet
would be unrestricted for journalists during the Olympics.
Gosper spoke after Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the inspection
committee, addressed his Chinese hosts. Without being specific,
Verbruggen noted that China’s Aug. 8-24 Games had become embroiled
in controversy.
The unrest in Tibet — and China’s response — has heightened
calls for a boycott or a partial boycott of the games. This comes
in the wake of worries over Beijing’s polluted air, and calls for
China to increase pressure on Sudan to end fighting in Darfur.
The Darfur issue prompted Hollywood director Steven Spielberg to
step down as an artistic adviser for the opening and closing
ceremonies.
The torch relay left Beijing on Tuesday for Kazakhstan and a
monthlong global tour. Protests are likely at an event Chinese
organizers hoped would generate positive images of the country.
“Clearly in recent times more than ever, the Beijing Games are
being drawn into issues that do not necessarily have a link with
the operation of the games,” Verbruggen said. “We’re all aware
the international community is discussing these topics, but it is
important to remember that our main focus during these meetings is
the successful delivery of the games operations.”
The IOC has refused to speak out against China’s actions in
Tibet, saying it is a sporting body, not a political one. It has
maintained the Beijing Olympics “are a force for good” in opening
up the country.
Liu Qi, president of the organizing committee, told Verbruggen
the preparations were in the “final stage” but suggested the
hosts would not let up.
“There’s a saying in China that if you want to walk 100 steps —
though you have walked 90 — you have finished only half the
journey. We still have 10 steps left, and those 10 are very
critical to the whole journey.”
The People’s Daily, the official Communist Party newspaper,
warned in an editorial Tuesday that troubles lie ahead in the four
months before the games.
“With the opening of the games approaching, the burden on our
shoulders is heavier and the task tougher,” it said. “We must
keep a clear head, improving our awareness of the potential
dangers, and bravely facing all the difficulties and challenges.”
Olympics.
That was the message a top-ranking International Olympic
Committee official delivered Tuesday to Beijing organizers during
the first of three days of meetings — the last official sessions
between IOC inspectors and the Chinese hosts before the games begin
in just over four months.
Beijing routinely blocks Chinese access to some foreign news Web
sites and blogs, a practice it has stepped up since rioting broke
out over two weeks ago in Tibet.
Kevan Gosper, vice chairman of the IOC coordinating commission,
said restricting access to the Internet during the games “would
reflect very poorly” on the host nation.
“This morning we discussed and insisted again,” Gosper
said. “Our concern is that the press (should be) able to operate as it
has at previous games.”
Gosper said the Chinese had an obligation under the “host city
agreement” to provide Internet access to the 30,000 accredited and
non-accredited journalists expected to attend.
“There was some criticism that the Internet closed down during
events relating to Tibet in previous weeks,” Gosper said.
Laws that lifted most restrictions on foreign media went into
effect Jan. 1, 2007. The rules are to expire in October.
“I’m satisfied that the Chinese understand the need for this
and they will do it,” Gosper added.
When asked about Gosper’s comments, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Jiang Yu said China’s “management” of the Internet followed the
“general practice of the international community.”
She acknowledged that China bans some Internet content, and said
other countries did the same. She declined to say if the Internet
would be unrestricted for journalists during the Olympics.
Gosper spoke after Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the inspection
committee, addressed his Chinese hosts. Without being specific,
Verbruggen noted that China’s Aug. 8-24 Games had become embroiled
in controversy.
The unrest in Tibet — and China’s response — has heightened
calls for a boycott or a partial boycott of the games. This comes
in the wake of worries over Beijing’s polluted air, and calls for
China to increase pressure on Sudan to end fighting in Darfur.
The Darfur issue prompted Hollywood director Steven Spielberg to
step down as an artistic adviser for the opening and closing
ceremonies.
The torch relay left Beijing on Tuesday for Kazakhstan and a
monthlong global tour. Protests are likely at an event Chinese
organizers hoped would generate positive images of the country.
“Clearly in recent times more than ever, the Beijing Games are
being drawn into issues that do not necessarily have a link with
the operation of the games,” Verbruggen said. “We’re all aware
the international community is discussing these topics, but it is
important to remember that our main focus during these meetings is
the successful delivery of the games operations.”
The IOC has refused to speak out against China’s actions in
Tibet, saying it is a sporting body, not a political one. It has
maintained the Beijing Olympics “are a force for good” in opening
up the country.
Liu Qi, president of the organizing committee, told Verbruggen
the preparations were in the “final stage” but suggested the
hosts would not let up.
“There’s a saying in China that if you want to walk 100 steps —
though you have walked 90 — you have finished only half the
journey. We still have 10 steps left, and those 10 are very
critical to the whole journey.”
The People’s Daily, the official Communist Party newspaper,
warned in an editorial Tuesday that troubles lie ahead in the four
months before the games.
“With the opening of the games approaching, the burden on our
shoulders is heavier and the task tougher,” it said. “We must
keep a clear head, improving our awareness of the potential
dangers, and bravely facing all the difficulties and challenges.”
Friday, March 28, 2008
Pitcher Lisa Fernandez, a three-time gold medalist, left off U.S.
By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer
Lisa Fernandez, a three-time Olympic champion and perhaps
softball’s signature star for more than a decade, did not make the
U.S. team’s final 15-player roster for the Beijing Games.
“It’s like Michael Jordan getting cut from the basketball
team,” said catcher Stacey Nuveman.
The 37-year-old Fernandez was named a replacement player on the
American team, which will attempt to win its fourth straight gold
medal this summer. Fernandez was on the mound when the U.S. team
won gold in Athens, completing a historic run through the
tournament in which the Americans outscored the competition 51-1.
Fernandez was also the starting pitcher when the U.S. won it all
in Sydney in 2000. Four years earlier, she came in as a reliever
when the Americans cinched gold in Atlanta.
“I have no regrets,” Fernandez said. “I know I gave it
everything I had. There wasn’t a corner cut or a practice missed. I
just ran out of time. To me, the most important thing is that I
know I gave it everything I had. But there were certain things I
couldn’t control.”
She was making a comeback after missing three years of
international competition to start a family, and never quite got
back to form.
“I was really hoping she would get close to where she was in
2004,” said U.S. coach Mike Candrea. “She is still in my eyes the
best player who has ever played this game. I wanted her to go out
on top.”
Candrea kept only three pitchers: returning gold medalists
Jennie Finch and Cat Osterman, as well as first-time Olympian
Monica Abbott. Alicia Hollowell, a hard-throwing right-hander who
played for Candrea at Arizona, also was named a replacement player.
Candrea will only make changes to his roster if there are
injuries. He must submit it to the U.S. Olympic Committee for final
approval by July 1
AP Sports Writer
Lisa Fernandez, a three-time Olympic champion and perhaps
softball’s signature star for more than a decade, did not make the
U.S. team’s final 15-player roster for the Beijing Games.
“It’s like Michael Jordan getting cut from the basketball
team,” said catcher Stacey Nuveman.
The 37-year-old Fernandez was named a replacement player on the
American team, which will attempt to win its fourth straight gold
medal this summer. Fernandez was on the mound when the U.S. team
won gold in Athens, completing a historic run through the
tournament in which the Americans outscored the competition 51-1.
Fernandez was also the starting pitcher when the U.S. won it all
in Sydney in 2000. Four years earlier, she came in as a reliever
when the Americans cinched gold in Atlanta.
“I have no regrets,” Fernandez said. “I know I gave it
everything I had. There wasn’t a corner cut or a practice missed. I
just ran out of time. To me, the most important thing is that I
know I gave it everything I had. But there were certain things I
couldn’t control.”
She was making a comeback after missing three years of
international competition to start a family, and never quite got
back to form.
“I was really hoping she would get close to where she was in
2004,” said U.S. coach Mike Candrea. “She is still in my eyes the
best player who has ever played this game. I wanted her to go out
on top.”
Candrea kept only three pitchers: returning gold medalists
Jennie Finch and Cat Osterman, as well as first-time Olympian
Monica Abbott. Alicia Hollowell, a hard-throwing right-hander who
played for Candrea at Arizona, also was named a replacement player.
Candrea will only make changes to his roster if there are
injuries. He must submit it to the U.S. Olympic Committee for final
approval by July 1
Thursday, March 27, 2008
World records fall in swimming, cycling
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SYDNEY, Australia —Eamon Sullivan broke the 50-meter freestyle world record again, and Olympic teammate Libby Trickett did the same over 100 meters Thursday at the Australian swimming championships in Sydney.
It was the third time in the past six weeks the men’s 50 record has been lowered, after Alexander Popov’s mark stood for nearly eight years.
Sullivan, competing in the 50 semifinals, finished in 21.41 seconds to break the mark of 21.50 established by France’s Alain Bernard at the European championships last weekend. Bernard had broken Sullivan’s previous mark of 21.56 set Feb. 17 in Sydney. Popov’s previous record was 21.64.
Sullivan missed Bernard’s 100-meter freestyle world record by 0.02 seconds on Wednesday.
“It’s sort of sweet to get this back after missing it last night,” he said. “I felt great in the warm-up tonight and great in the swim.”
Trickett, formerly Libby Lenton and competing for the first time under her married name, finished in 52.88 to better the mark of 53.30 set by Germany’s Britta Steffen in 2006.
It was the second time Trickett had broken the 53-second barrier, but her previous time of 52.99 in Sydney last year was not ratified by swimming’s governing body because she was swimming against Michael Phelps.
“I cannot say how much I wanted to do that,” Trickett said. “Ever since Duel in the Pool last year ... I’ve just wanted it so badly and to see it officially up there is just amazing.”
MANCHESTER, England — Britain broke two world records and completed a gold-medal sweep in the world track cycling championships Thursday.
The men set a team pursuit record and the women’s team broke the sprint mark.
Former rower Rebecca Romero became a two-sport champion when she emerged victorious in the individual pursuit for Britain’s fourth gold in the velodrome.
Bradley Wiggins, Paul Manning, Geraint Thomas and Edward Clancy powered ahead of Denmark to finish in 3 minutes, 56.322 seconds in the 4-kilometer pursuit final.
“We knew we could step up and put together a ride,” said Wiggins, who won an individual gold Wednesday. “We had been training at that sort of speed on that track. It was just a case of putting it together on the day.
“We knew we were bang on world record pace the whole way through.”
The Danes finished in 3:59.381. Australia, which set the previous world record at the 2004 Olympics, was third in 4:00.089, ahead of New Zealand.
Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade successfully defended their title in the sprint in 33.661, after setting a world record of 33.186 in qualifying.
After the first lap in the final China was ahead. Reade blamed a technical fault with the gate for delaying her start. Pendleton led the fightback and surged ahead to snatch gold. Germany edged France to take bronze.
“This is only the beginning for me,” said Pendleton, who has two more golds to defend. “It’s going to be harder this year being an Olympic year and everyone raising their game.”
“To win the title and break a world record is absolutely amazing,” added 19-year-old Reade, the world BMX champion.
Two years after transferring from boat to bicycle, Romero beat two-time world champion Sarah Hammer by almost 7 seconds.
Romero clocked 3:30.501; Hammer was timed in 3:37.006.
SYDNEY, Australia —Eamon Sullivan broke the 50-meter freestyle world record again, and Olympic teammate Libby Trickett did the same over 100 meters Thursday at the Australian swimming championships in Sydney.
It was the third time in the past six weeks the men’s 50 record has been lowered, after Alexander Popov’s mark stood for nearly eight years.
Sullivan, competing in the 50 semifinals, finished in 21.41 seconds to break the mark of 21.50 established by France’s Alain Bernard at the European championships last weekend. Bernard had broken Sullivan’s previous mark of 21.56 set Feb. 17 in Sydney. Popov’s previous record was 21.64.
Sullivan missed Bernard’s 100-meter freestyle world record by 0.02 seconds on Wednesday.
“It’s sort of sweet to get this back after missing it last night,” he said. “I felt great in the warm-up tonight and great in the swim.”
Trickett, formerly Libby Lenton and competing for the first time under her married name, finished in 52.88 to better the mark of 53.30 set by Germany’s Britta Steffen in 2006.
It was the second time Trickett had broken the 53-second barrier, but her previous time of 52.99 in Sydney last year was not ratified by swimming’s governing body because she was swimming against Michael Phelps.
“I cannot say how much I wanted to do that,” Trickett said. “Ever since Duel in the Pool last year ... I’ve just wanted it so badly and to see it officially up there is just amazing.”
MANCHESTER, England — Britain broke two world records and completed a gold-medal sweep in the world track cycling championships Thursday.
The men set a team pursuit record and the women’s team broke the sprint mark.
Former rower Rebecca Romero became a two-sport champion when she emerged victorious in the individual pursuit for Britain’s fourth gold in the velodrome.
Bradley Wiggins, Paul Manning, Geraint Thomas and Edward Clancy powered ahead of Denmark to finish in 3 minutes, 56.322 seconds in the 4-kilometer pursuit final.
“We knew we could step up and put together a ride,” said Wiggins, who won an individual gold Wednesday. “We had been training at that sort of speed on that track. It was just a case of putting it together on the day.
“We knew we were bang on world record pace the whole way through.”
The Danes finished in 3:59.381. Australia, which set the previous world record at the 2004 Olympics, was third in 4:00.089, ahead of New Zealand.
Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade successfully defended their title in the sprint in 33.661, after setting a world record of 33.186 in qualifying.
After the first lap in the final China was ahead. Reade blamed a technical fault with the gate for delaying her start. Pendleton led the fightback and surged ahead to snatch gold. Germany edged France to take bronze.
“This is only the beginning for me,” said Pendleton, who has two more golds to defend. “It’s going to be harder this year being an Olympic year and everyone raising their game.”
“To win the title and break a world record is absolutely amazing,” added 19-year-old Reade, the world BMX champion.
Two years after transferring from boat to bicycle, Romero beat two-time world champion Sarah Hammer by almost 7 seconds.
Romero clocked 3:30.501; Hammer was timed in 3:37.006.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
USOC head Peter Ueberroth believes Olympic Games a positive force
By KEN PETERS
AP Sports Writer
DANA POINT, Calif. — Peter Ueberroth believes a
person-to-person approach can change relationships among countries,
and that the Olympics have and will continue to play a significant
role.
Some human rights advocates have criticized China as it prepares
for this year’s Beijing Olympics.
“Almost any position people take about human rights, they
should have as many ties as possible to China in the long-term,”
Ueberroth, head of the U.S. Olympic Committee, said
Wednesday. “That has a much more positive effect than trying to have
confrontations.
“But they have to be real ties — ties between athletes, ties
between business, ties between friends and tourists.”
Speaking at the World Congress of Sports, a gathering made up
mostly of sports business executives, Ueberroth urged the 500 or so
in the audience to make friends and contacts in China and predicted
the economy there will continue to grow immensely.
Ueberroth, who headed the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, doesn’t
believe the games should be politicized, and said past boycotts
affected just one group.
“Boycotts do one thing very well and only one thing: they
punish athletes,” he said.
He noted that the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Games in Moscow
didn’t affect the Soviet Union’s presence in Afghanistan at the
time. The Soviets responded by boycotting the Los Angeles Olympics
four years later, but Ueberroth and the L.A. committee essentially
revived the Olympic movement with the first “private-enterprise
Olympics” with money from sponsors, and those games even turned a
profit.
Ueberroth said the Moscow Olympics still were “terrific games”
and opened the Soviet Union up to the world.
Ueberroth recalled that China was on the list of 100 countries
that were supposed to boycott the 1984 games, but a man working
with the L.A. committee called him from China in the middle of the
night and said, “They’re coming.”
“I feel indebted to China,” Ueberroth said. “They came and
they won their first medal. Now they’re going to be the
host. They’re going to put on great games, open their country up more
than it’s ever been open.”
AP Sports Writer
DANA POINT, Calif. — Peter Ueberroth believes a
person-to-person approach can change relationships among countries,
and that the Olympics have and will continue to play a significant
role.
Some human rights advocates have criticized China as it prepares
for this year’s Beijing Olympics.
“Almost any position people take about human rights, they
should have as many ties as possible to China in the long-term,”
Ueberroth, head of the U.S. Olympic Committee, said
Wednesday. “That has a much more positive effect than trying to have
confrontations.
“But they have to be real ties — ties between athletes, ties
between business, ties between friends and tourists.”
Speaking at the World Congress of Sports, a gathering made up
mostly of sports business executives, Ueberroth urged the 500 or so
in the audience to make friends and contacts in China and predicted
the economy there will continue to grow immensely.
Ueberroth, who headed the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, doesn’t
believe the games should be politicized, and said past boycotts
affected just one group.
“Boycotts do one thing very well and only one thing: they
punish athletes,” he said.
He noted that the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Games in Moscow
didn’t affect the Soviet Union’s presence in Afghanistan at the
time. The Soviets responded by boycotting the Los Angeles Olympics
four years later, but Ueberroth and the L.A. committee essentially
revived the Olympic movement with the first “private-enterprise
Olympics” with money from sponsors, and those games even turned a
profit.
Ueberroth said the Moscow Olympics still were “terrific games”
and opened the Soviet Union up to the world.
Ueberroth recalled that China was on the list of 100 countries
that were supposed to boycott the 1984 games, but a man working
with the L.A. committee called him from China in the middle of the
night and said, “They’re coming.”
“I feel indebted to China,” Ueberroth said. “They came and
they won their first medal. Now they’re going to be the
host. They’re going to put on great games, open their country up more
than it’s ever been open.”
Friday, March 7, 2008
Yao Ming tells fans he is targeting Olympic return
BEIJING (AP) — Yao Ming’s message to his Chinese fans was clear: He plans to play in the Beijing Olympics.
In a letter published Friday in Chinese-language newspapers, the Houston Rockets star assured fans that his operation Monday to repair a stress fracture in his left foot was successful and he’ll be fit to play in August despite missing the rest of the NBA season.
“My injury has made many of you worried and you expressed your concern and sympathy in many ways,” Yao wrote. “You have always supported me and encouraged me at the lowest point of my career. And now I want to say thank you for your care and support.”
Yao thanked officials from the Chinese Basketball Administration, family and teammates. He promised a quick return, which his doctors have said is likely. He’s expected to need four months to heal.
“The surgery was very successful and I’ll start physical recovery very soon,” he wrote. “I’ll do whatever I can to overcome the difficulty and play for China in Olympics and be in my best form.
“I’ll see you in the Olympics. Thanks, everybody.”
In a letter published Friday in Chinese-language newspapers, the Houston Rockets star assured fans that his operation Monday to repair a stress fracture in his left foot was successful and he’ll be fit to play in August despite missing the rest of the NBA season.
“My injury has made many of you worried and you expressed your concern and sympathy in many ways,” Yao wrote. “You have always supported me and encouraged me at the lowest point of my career. And now I want to say thank you for your care and support.”
Yao thanked officials from the Chinese Basketball Administration, family and teammates. He promised a quick return, which his doctors have said is likely. He’s expected to need four months to heal.
“The surgery was very successful and I’ll start physical recovery very soon,” he wrote. “I’ll do whatever I can to overcome the difficulty and play for China in Olympics and be in my best form.
“I’ll see you in the Olympics. Thanks, everybody.”
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Beijing Olympics centerpiece venue delayed by preparations for opening, closing ceremonies
BEIJING (AP) — The completion date for the Beijing Olympics’s
marquee venue has been pushed back by a month, a top organizer
said, as workers put finishing touches on the stadium that
symbolizes China’s ambitions for the games.
Work on the futuristic “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium has been
slowed by preparations for the opening and closing ceremonies and
it will not be ready until late April, Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice
president of the Beijing Olympics organizing committee, told the
China Daily newspaper.
“The construction of the venue and the background setting up
for the ceremonies are going on together now, which has postponed
the working progress of the Bird’s Nest,” he was quoted as saying
in Thursday editions of the state-run paper. “The Bird’s Nest will
be the last but the best venue at the Beijing Games.”
The main structure of the stadium was complete and only
finishing touches remained, organizing committee spokesman Sun
Weide told The Associated Press. A request for more details was
e-mailed to the committee’s media center, but an employee said they
did not have further information.
With enormous twisted beams wound around the exterior like
silver twigs in a nest, the 91,000 seat National Stadium is the
centerpiece of the games, a massive prestige effort by the
communist government.
Organizers have spared no effort or expense in preparing for the
Beijing Olympics, which they want to use to showcase a modern,
vibrant “new China.” They have been meticulous in planning every
little detail, down to specially breeding flowers that will bloom
in the August heat.
The construction of sparkling new venues has been a key part of
a multibillion-dollar modernization campaign for
Beijing. Anchoring an Olympic Green that also includes a modern indoor
stadium and the “Water Cube” aquatics center, the telegenic
Bird’s Nest is likely to be prominently featured in Olympic
broadcasts around the world.
There have been few venue construction delays on the often-bumpy
road to the games. While China has had to defend against criticism
on everything from its dirty air to its diplomatic policies in
Darfur, every venue but the Bird’s Nest was completed on schedule
by the end of last year.
The process has had hiccups, however. Two workers died during
construction of the Bird’s Nest, and a planned retractable roof had
to be scrapped to cut costs.
There was no suggestion that the Bird’s Nest would not be ready
in time for the Games, which are five months away.
Jiang did not elaborate on the preparations for the opening and
closing ceremonies — directed by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, the
details are top secret.
Speculation among ordinary Chinese abounds on the Internet, with
many guessing at how the Olympic flame will be lit during the
Aug. 8 opening ceremony. A columnist for the Chinese edition of Sports
Illustrated joked that Beijing’s potent “erguotou” liquor (some
varieties are 60 percent alcohol) should help set the Olympic
cauldron ablaze.
marquee venue has been pushed back by a month, a top organizer
said, as workers put finishing touches on the stadium that
symbolizes China’s ambitions for the games.
Work on the futuristic “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium has been
slowed by preparations for the opening and closing ceremonies and
it will not be ready until late April, Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice
president of the Beijing Olympics organizing committee, told the
China Daily newspaper.
“The construction of the venue and the background setting up
for the ceremonies are going on together now, which has postponed
the working progress of the Bird’s Nest,” he was quoted as saying
in Thursday editions of the state-run paper. “The Bird’s Nest will
be the last but the best venue at the Beijing Games.”
The main structure of the stadium was complete and only
finishing touches remained, organizing committee spokesman Sun
Weide told The Associated Press. A request for more details was
e-mailed to the committee’s media center, but an employee said they
did not have further information.
With enormous twisted beams wound around the exterior like
silver twigs in a nest, the 91,000 seat National Stadium is the
centerpiece of the games, a massive prestige effort by the
communist government.
Organizers have spared no effort or expense in preparing for the
Beijing Olympics, which they want to use to showcase a modern,
vibrant “new China.” They have been meticulous in planning every
little detail, down to specially breeding flowers that will bloom
in the August heat.
The construction of sparkling new venues has been a key part of
a multibillion-dollar modernization campaign for
Beijing. Anchoring an Olympic Green that also includes a modern indoor
stadium and the “Water Cube” aquatics center, the telegenic
Bird’s Nest is likely to be prominently featured in Olympic
broadcasts around the world.
There have been few venue construction delays on the often-bumpy
road to the games. While China has had to defend against criticism
on everything from its dirty air to its diplomatic policies in
Darfur, every venue but the Bird’s Nest was completed on schedule
by the end of last year.
The process has had hiccups, however. Two workers died during
construction of the Bird’s Nest, and a planned retractable roof had
to be scrapped to cut costs.
There was no suggestion that the Bird’s Nest would not be ready
in time for the Games, which are five months away.
Jiang did not elaborate on the preparations for the opening and
closing ceremonies — directed by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, the
details are top secret.
Speculation among ordinary Chinese abounds on the Internet, with
many guessing at how the Olympic flame will be lit during the
Aug. 8 opening ceremony. A columnist for the Chinese edition of Sports
Illustrated joked that Beijing’s potent “erguotou” liquor (some
varieties are 60 percent alcohol) should help set the Olympic
cauldron ablaze.
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