October 21, 2007

Eight F1 Grand Prix Holiday Packages Up For Grabs!

Shell V-Power I’m on my way to the Circuit De Catalunya 2008! Well… not quite, yet. But I could be. Anyway, the next time you fill up at Shell, you could be one of the eight lucky Malaysians to win a grand prix holiday package for the 2008 F1 season.

The contest which is in celebration of Shell’s 60-year partnership with Ferrari, offers consumers any racing destinations of their choice in Malaysia, Bahrain, Turkey, Spain and Great Britain. Each holiday package comprises of grand stand tickets, return flights, accommodation for two people and RM5,000 cash!

Joining the contest is really simple! You can live your F1 dream by just filling with every RM30 fill-up of any Shell fuel or purchase of Shell Helix products. However, for those who fuel up with Shell V-Power Racing you stand twice the chance of winning. But remember, to qualify all contest forms must be submitted with the original receipt at all Shell stations nationwide.

The good thing about this contest is there is no need to crack your head for a creative slogan. Basically, all you need to do is answer two easy questions. I always avoid contests with slogans as I am not good at slogan writing.

Another good thing is accumulated receipts can also be combined - I did not know that at first. My Perdana’s full tank always maxes out at about RM115 - so there was once I tried forcing in RM120 just so I could get 4 double chances at entering the contest, but the fuel tank overflowed. I had a field time cleaning up that mess.

I think I’ve submitted about 20 over entries already, thanks to two 2.0 litre guzzler cars parked outside my house (yes, I’ve added something else to my garage) and the double entries I get by filling up with Shell V-Power Racing. I know it’s pricier but apparently it has engine-cleaning properties… or maybe I just really want to win. I’ve got my eyes set on Spain. Never seen a F1 race live before, especially not at the Circuit De Catalunya, so if I win - Ole! Actually, there’s only 6 left, cause two spots have already been won.

If you’re not one of the lucky winners (like me for the moment, unfortunately), don’t fret! You might just be in the running for the 1600 Shell or Ferrari merchandises. The contest is on till November 14, hurry and fuel up at your nearest Shell station, who knows you might bump into me there!

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2008 Singapore Grand Prix unofficial artwork

Formula One racing’s governing body, the FIA, has confirmed the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix will take place at night as planned. The inaugural Singapore event, to be held on a new street circuit in the Asian city, is scheduled to take place on September 28.

“We are well on our way to creating history," commented Colin Syn, Deputy Chairman of Singapore GP. "With two positive lighting tests under our belt, we are on track to delivering the first night-race in Formula One history.”

The second new venue for the 2008 season, Valencia, is also understood to have received track approval. The event, to be titled the European Grand Prix, will take place in August on a newly-constructed street circuit around the Spanish city’s redeveloped marina.

In its latest update to the 2008 schedule, the FIA also confirmed next season’s Canadian race, removing its previously provisional status. The Montreal event will take place on June 8.

The 2008 calendar in full:

16 Mar Australia
23 Mar Malaysia
6 Apr Bahrain
27 Apr Spain
11 May Turkey
25 May Monaco
8 Jun Canada
22 Jun France
6 Jul Great Britain
20 Jul Germany
3 Aug Hungary
24 Aug Europe
7 Sep Belgium
14 Sep Italy
28 Sep Singapore*
12 Oct Japan
19 Oct China
2 Nov Brazil

Ten Unforgettable Olympic Moments

Since French baron Pierre de Coubertin gave fresh life to the Olympic movement in 1896, the Games have been witness to some of the most unforgettable moments in sports.¹ Some of those moments have been dazzling athletic achievements. Others have been moments that organizers would have preferred never happened. But good or bad, these events have helped create the memories that shape our perceptions of the Olympic Games to the present day.
So here, in no particular order, are ten unforgettable moments from the Summer Olympic Games.

Jesse Owens² —Berlin 1936

In 1936, Nazi Germany played host to the Summer Olmpics, and Germany’s Adolf Hitler was determined to prove the superiority of the Aryan race.³
African-American track star Jesse Owens, a son of a sharecropper and the grandsons of slaves, had other plans.⁴ In a display that dealt a tremendous blow to the Nazi’s racist ideology, Owens won the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the long jump.⁵ He was also a key member of the 400-meter relay team that won the gold medal. He set records in three of those events. He was the first American to ever win four medals in an Olympic Games.
But as Owens himself later noted, his single-handed destruction of Hitler’s myth of Aryan superiority did little at the time to advance the cause of African-Americans in the US.
"When I came back to my native country, after all the stories about Hitler, I couldn’t ride in the front of the bus,⁶" Owens said. "I had to go to the back door. I couldn’t live where I wanted. I wasn’t invited to shake hands with Hitler, but I wasn’t invited to the White House to shake hands with the president, either."

The Soviet Union-USA Gold Medal basketball final—Munich 1972

It was as bad a call by officials as has ever been made in a sporting contest.⁷ The 1972 gold medal basketball game between the United States and the Soviet Union was a real squeaker, but it looked as if the Americans had pulled it out.⁸ But that was not to be, as long-time Monitor sports writer Ross Atkins recalled recently:
After the US appeared to have kept its perfect Olympic record intact and escaped a huge upset by the Soviets in the men’s final, the referees twice decided to put three seconds back on the clock.⁹ The Soviets managed to score the winning basket on the second replay and win the gold medal. Distraught by what they considered an injustice, the members of US team voted unanimously to refuse their silver medals.¹⁰ They’ve never reneged, and to this day the medals sit in a Swiss vault.¹¹
How seriously do the American players who played on that team take this boycott¹²? Team captain Kenny Davis actually placed in his will a request that his wife and children can never, ever receive the silver medal from that game.

Ethiopian Abebe Bikila¹³ wins a gold medal while running barefoot—Rome 1960

Abebe Bikila was a young member of the Imperial Bodyguard of Ethiopia when he ran the marathon in the 1960 Games in Rome. Up until that time, no black African had ever won a gold medal in the Olympic Games, let alone a prestigious track and field event like the marathon. But Bikila, running without his shoes in the chilly dawn of a Roman summer day, broke that dry spell, and set a new world record at the same time.¹⁴
It was fitting that his win came in Italy, the nation that had invaded his homeland three decades earlier. His feat captured the imagination of the entire world. Four years later in Tokyo, he repeated it, becoming the first man to ever win gold in two Olympic marathons (a feat only duplicated once¹⁵).
He also established a trend that has to this day dominated long-distance events around the globe: the superiority of runners from eastern Africa.

Mark Spitz’¹⁶ seven gold medals—Munich 1972

Before anyone had ever heard of this year’s hyped Olympic swimming hopeful, Michael Phelps,¹⁷ there was an even greater sensation in the pool: Mark Spitz. Spitz promised he would win seven gold medals at the ’72 games in Munich, Germany.
Not only was he as good as his word, winning four individual and three relay golds, but he also set, or helped set, a world record in each race. No athlete in any discipline¹⁸ has come close to matching his performance.
In 1990, 18 years after his Olympic medal spree, Spitz announced he planned to try to qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Games in the 100 metres butterfly.¹⁹ But he did so poorly that he announced that, once and for all, his swimming days were over.

Ben Johnson loses gold medal in doping scandal—Seoul 1988²⁰

It was arguably Canada’s greatest athletic achievement when Ben Johnson raced across the finish line first in the 100-metre dash at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, making him the "fastest human being ever". Within two days that joy turned into one of the Olympics’ most disappointing moments, when Olympic officials announced that Johnson had been disqualified because he had tested positive for steroid use.²¹
After Johnson, Olympic organizers could no longer avoid the fact that many top athletes were using drugs to help them win. The cat-and-mouse game between athletes and Olympic officials over the use of performance-enhancing drugs continues to this day. But at the 2004 Games in Athens, there was a new wrinkle —along with urine, the blood of gold medal winning athletes was also tested,²² which was "considered a huge threat to cheaters".

Chinese sports rich list : Yao 150 million into the top spot, the Grizzlies 5th

From the "New Century Weekly," The Sports wealth list, a one-year cycle, taking in the past year China (mainland) sports stars of the wealth, and its income situation of sports stars past year, the estimated pre-tax income, including salary, prize money, advertising speak charges, business competition was called off, royalties, etc. (not deducted with the competent departments, the allocation of brokerage firms). The survey by the "New Century Weekly" extensive research team in research and in-depth interviews on the basis reached by the 10 sports agent industry composed of the results of the assessment mission with the expert panel to assess the combined draw to ensure the list of authority and authenticity.

Who is in favor of children

- Our reporter / Lee Tze

Each area of the wealth of athletes changes, fully demonstrating the movement of the extent of commercial development and the rise and fall of key turning point

Star Sports to create, create wealth and honor, and it is completely different from other industries are special athletes by the life and sporting life of their own state, their social influence and commercial value because of the ever-changing and competitive field contains risks. Sports wealth of the calendar year list observation, not only to see the athletes struggle with the situation, to see more commercial interest in sports lies and transfer.

Little Giant is a well-deserved No.1

Yao money made last year amounting to 150 million yuan this year, earned more, if not the yuan exchange rate dollar fell too fast and 35 million dollars into a yuan, a growth rate even higher. The annual salary of 15 million since independence from China still sporting showcase.

In the NBA, one can see a mature team sports stars and the heart should have the demeanor is gradually to embody Yao Yao in the NBA's performance is directly influenced by the events in China's ratings, when he injured cultivation, people are much more concerned about .

Although she has a distinguished record last year, have won several international Grand Prix Golden Hotan Finals champion, but also extensive advertising, but the money made him even Yao 1 / 4 not to. There is no suspense, the first Yao, Liu Xiang second, I am afraid that next year, this remains the case. The two from the Shanghai Youth, monopolized the Chinese sports star status of the heavyweights, it was called the "new Shanghai men."

Nobles movement of gold rise

Or perhaps both public image results are difficult to find with Yao and Liu rival athletes, the third change is quite enormous. Ding Ding famous 2005 only earns more than one million, in 2006 to number 10 million-meng, pushed off the signing of Manchester City soccer star Sun Jihai, sports become the third Fortune list of the wrist. Wealth from the list, we can see more from those who can be called leisure or sports elite athletes are snatch Olympic athletes traditional location, and small ball has become potential Unit, in addition to Ding become second runner up, golfer Zhang also ranked higher three, the first nine, and after that there are a large number of the list and into the higher ranking tennis players.

In the past many years, even though many people in China are not familiar with the ball, such as squash, hitting items on the world-class performance; But there is no one to athletes from these projects corresponding reputation, unknown to their games, then retired with various medals. The popularity of these projects, the public tastes began to diversify, the media favored the first performance in tennis competition grounds, into the world who can field for Chinese girls have become stars, advertisers began to come to her for help.

But this can become the darling of television projects is limited, and those who truly gentlemanly manners full of sports, such as fencing, despite the high appreciation, but the team has always been good results, but has never been a fencing athletes to let the audience called out a name.

Football table tennis and the decline of the stand

Football is the highest penetration rate in China's ball games?

Right or wrong, how will it compare with table tennis. Table tennis star rarely arise for the National obnoxious or unhealthy performance of athletes, long struggle and the fine tradition of defending the honor of table tennis. The chart, table tennis athlete has won a number of seats, although their income is not compared with the football players.

The previous highest contents of the sport of football stars in the field of collective ranking is back with football the past two years the performance of the other. If five years ago or 10 sports front wealth list, it might be 10 or even before 50 are former football players, and in 2002, the Chinese people's enthusiasm seems to be football as a 48-knock but exhausted.

One million is only the beginning

Next entries »

Chinese sports rich list : Yao 150 million into the top spot, the Grizzlies 5th

Athletes, the income criteria : wages (salary) + various competitions and activities bonuses + + business a marketing book copyright fees

Personal investment not be counted at all : both revenue and pre-tax calculation; Non-annotated special units were yuan; Approximate amount of

1. Yao Ming (basketball)

35 million US dollars annual salary : 15 million US dollars

Endorsements : China Unicom, Apple Computer, Visa card, TAG Heuer, Pepsi-Cola, Reebok, McDonald's

2. Liu Xiang (athletics)

50 million

Major accomplishments in 2006 : IAAF Grand Prix in Osaka station, the Eugene championship, IAAF Super Grand Prix, the final IAAF Golden as champion

Endorsements : Nike, Coca-Cola, Shanshan suits, China Post EMS, Konka phones, Baisha Culture, China Mobile, Erie, motorized Longxin

3. Ding Junhui (billiards)

11 million

Major accomplishments in 2006 : Asian Games champion, Northern Ireland Cup, the League Cup, five million UK Championship

Endorsements : Star card, Mengniu

4. Sun Jihai (soccer)

10 million

Salary + bonus :

Manchester City 600 ~ 7000000

Endorsements : Brilliance Chun McNair, Galaxy motorcycles, Coca-Cola, Nike

5. Miami (Basketball)

10 million

Endorsements : Water

06. Tian Liang (retired in 2007) 7000000

Endorsements : Rhine sunlight, Shu Hua treadmills, Nanjing Cui Levin, McNair Road

07. Guo Jingjing (diving) 6800000

Major accomplishments in 2006 : International Diving Champions Tour (Shanghai) Yang, single woman champion medals in the 11th Diving World Cup women's 1-meter board title alone, medals, FINA Diving Grand Prix, the United States stands 3-meter springboard medals in Zhuhai Sydney station, in Germany alone three-meter springboard, medals

Endorsements : red earth, McDonald's, Erie, the conclusion of Hi, Fook Lam Moon

08. Shao Jiayi (soccer) 6000000

Salary + bonus : Cottbus team 500,000 euros

Ads : Geweite, Nike

09. Zhang (Golf) 5100000

Major accomplishments in 2006 : "America" Chinese Classic, the tournament champion in Zhuhai

Endorsements : Nike, Buick, Goldlion, Omega, Honma clubs, Standard Chartered Bank, signed IMG

10. Zheng Jie and Yan Zi (tennis) 5000000

Major accomplishments in 2006 : Australian Open, Wimbledon doubles champion, etc.

Endorsements : TCL, Nike

11. 2.12m (Basketball) 4500000

Endorsements : Nike, Nanjing Cui Levin, Erie, McDonald's

12. Zheng Zhi (soccer) 4500000

Major accomplishments in 2006 : the league champion

Salary + bonus : 2.5 million (about 10,000 +150 1000000)

Endorsements : Adi 1.5 million

13. Pollack (soccer) 4500000

Salary : Manchester United

Endorsements : Nike

14. Wang Liqin (table tennis) 4000000

In 2006 the major accomplishments : 2006 Olympic Qatar Open men's singles and doubles champion, the 48th World Table Tennis Bremen champion in men

Endorsements : TU East

15. Li Weifeng (soccer) 3800000

Salary + bonus : 2000000 (1000000 +100 10000)

Endorsements : Mizuno, sunflower (IT) Pepsi

Far-care clothing store : 500,000

16. Zhang Yining (table tennis) 3600000

Major achievements in 2006 : in 2006 the Qatar Open women's singles, women's doubles champion, 2006 World Table Tennis women's team champion, 2006 48th World Table Tennis Bremen female college champion

Endorsements : Danone, the Lake, Eagle electric cars far, Li Ning, EXERCISE

17. Li Jinyu (soccer) 3500000

Major accomplishments in 2006 : the league champion

Salary + bonus : 1.8 million

Endorsements : Nike, Shandong Tianye (real estate), Jiujiang Football Network

18. Li Tie (soccer) 3500000

Endorsements : Li Ning

19. Sun Xiang (soccer) 3200000

Salary + bonus : 2000000 (1000000 +100 10000)

Endorsements : Nike 1.2 million

20. Hopefully (soccer) 3000000

Salary + bonus : About 1 million

Endorsements : Li Ning

21. Phaneuf (car) 3000000

Competition pay + bonus : 3000000

22. XU (soccer) 2600000

Salary + bonus : 1.6 million (+60 10000 1000000)

　　ADS:Nike100万

23. Li Xiaopeng (gymnastics), 2.5 million

Endorsements : Li Ning, Pepsi, KFC, Jingwei Home Limited, the dream ballet 2 plus a series of underwear, Budweiser beer

24. 567 (retired in 2007) 2500000

Endorsements : Graphics, Nike, omega

25. Li Na (tennis) 2200000

Endorsements : Nike, 100 Poly

26. Liang Wen-chong (Golf) 2200000

Previous entries Next entries »

Chinese sports rich list : Yao 150 million into the top spot, the Grizzlies 5th

Endorsements : Honma clubs, such as SHAN CHUNG

27. Chen Tao (soccer) 2100000

Salary + bonus : 1.1 million (700,000 +40 10000)

Endorsements : Nike 1 million

28. Shen Xue / Zhao Hongbo (skating) 2100000

Major accomplishments in 2006 : 2006 Turin Olympics pairs runners-up, 2006 World Figure Skating Grand Prix finals pairs title

Endorsements : the United States, Lenovo

29. Li Ting / Sun Tiantian (tennis) 2100000

Major accomplishments in 2006 : Guangzhou Open champion

Endorsements : Lenovo computers

30. Yang Chen (soccer) 2000000

Salary + bonus : 1 million

Endorsements : Nike

31. Peng Shuai (tennis) 2000000

Endorsements : Nike, Weir wins, Sony Ericsson, etc.

32. 25-18 and 25-17 (volleyball) 2000000

Endorsements : Huiquan beer, and elegant costumes birds, the South East Motor

33. 2-0 (soccer) 2000000

Endorsements : 2006 league champion

34. Ryan (soccer) 2000000

Salary + bonus : 1 million

Endorsements : Nike 1 million

35. Dewey (soccer) 2000000

Salary + bonus : 1 million

Endorsements : Nike 1 million

36. Ma Lin (table tennis) 2000000

Major accomplishments in 2006 : Qatar Open men's singles runner-up, Kuwait Open men's singles and doubles champion, the 48th World Table Tennis Bremen champion in men's World Cup men's singles champion.

Endorsements : Budweiser, the Lake, Coca-Cola

37. Bateer (Basketball), 1.5 million to 1.8 million

Endorsements : Seabee, three liquor Ditch

38. Lindane (badminton) 1700000

Major accomplishments in 2006 : Thomas Cup men's champion, all British, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, China, Macau Open champion, Malaysia Open runner-up, world champion, China Open, the World Cup champion in Yiyang, the Doha Asian Games champion 12-0, singles runner-up.

Endorsements : Kentucky, Toyota, EXERCISE

39. Wang Nan (table tennis) 1600000

Major accomplishments in 2006 : Qatar, Kuwait Open doubles champion, the Asian Cup title, the World Table Tennis Champion female college, the 48th World Table Tennis Bremen female college championship, the Asian Games champion, mixed doubles (Nerissa) champion, the third singles.

Endorsements : ANER DIAN music, Kinglake

40. Li Yizhong (soccer) 1500000

Salary + bonus : 1 million

Endorsements : Adi

41. Li Nan (Basketball) 1300000

Endorsements : LEI speed

42. Xie Xingfang (badminton) 1200000

Major accomplishments in 2006 : athletes champion, won the men's singles title, China Hong Kong Open champion, the Doha Asian Games champion women's team, women's singles bronze

Endorsements : Erie

43. Mold (Basketball) 1200000

44. 27-25 (volleyball) 100 million to 1.2 million

Endorsements : South East Motor, TCL air conditioning, Changxing image ambassadors

45. Liu Wei (Basketball), 1 million to 1.2 million

Endorsements : UCRANIA (clothing brand), beer, Reebok

46. Wang Fei (Basketball) 1100000

School Basketball

47. Catolica (soccer) 1100000

Endorsements : Nike

The film, bars and other personal investment activities

　　48.滕海滨(体操)110万

Major accomplishments in 2006 : the World Cup gymnastics pommel horse champion China Station

Endorsements : Coca-Cola, Li Ning

49. Ma Xiaoxu (soccer) 1100000

Major accomplishments in 2006 : Champions Colo

Endorsements : Sony, Adidas

50. Liu Guoliang (table tennis) 1100000

Previous entries

Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming marries his 7-year girlfriend Ye Li

China's newly wed basketball sensation, Yao Ming, said babies would take a back-seat to Olympic preparations as the host country began the one-year countdown to the 2008 Beijing Games.

The 7ft 6in (2.26 meter) Houston Rockets centre, who wed his 6ft 2in basketballer girlfriend Ye Li at a private ceremony in Shanghai on Monday, was briefly caught off guard when China's Olympic hurdling champion, Liu Xiang, asked about his family plans on Tuesday.

"Having children...there's no plan at present. I will be concentrating on preparing for the NBA season and next year's Olympics," Yao said in comments published on Chinanews.com on Wednesday.

"To participate in the Olympics in your home country, it's an opportunity I will really cherish," Yao said.

Yao also revealed that his wedding ceremony, at which dozens of security guards kept a massive media throng at bay outside a Shanghai hotel, was deliberately timed.

"Getting married on August 6 was to use the focus of the Olympics to divert attention away from my wedding," he said, keeping tight-lipped about honeymoon plans.

On Wednesday, China marked the one-year countdown to the 2008 Beijing Olympics which will start 8.08 p.m. local time on the eighth day of the eighth month. Eight, unsurprisingly, is a lucky number in China.

Chinanews, Oct. 24 - Chang'e-1, China's first moon orbiter, blasted off on a Long March 3A carrier rocket from the No. 3 launching tower in the Xichang Satellite Launch Center of eastern Sichuan Province at 6:05 p.m. on October 24. Chinese space experts, technicians and other work staff, joined by experts from Japan, Germany and other countries as well as millions of domestic audience from across the country, were watching the launching process, Xinhua News Agency reports. Chang'e-1, named after a legendary Chinese goddess who is said to have flied to the moon, is expected to enter earth-moon transfer orbit on October 31 and arrive in the moon's orbit on November 5, according to Xinhua.

China likely to launch first moon orbiter at 6 pm on Oct. 24

　　Li Guoping, spokesman for China National Space Administration (CNSA), speaks during a news conference in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 22, 2007. China is planning to launch its first moon orbiter on October 24 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.

　　BEIJING, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- China is planning to launch its first moon orbiter at around 6 p.m. on October 24 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.

　　"The satellite will be launched between October 24 and 26 and our first choice is around 6 p.m. on October 24," a spokesman for the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said.

　　The circumlunar satellite, which has been named Chang'e I after the legendary Chinese goddess who, according to legend, flew to the moon, and the carrier Long March 3A have passed all pre-launch tests and have been transported to the launch site.

　　The lunar probe is expected to enter earth-moon transfer orbit on October 31 and arrive in the moon's orbit on November 5.

　　Visitors walk past Long March III carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) located in Southwest China's Sichuan Province Oct. 18, 2007. The country's first moon orbiter, Chang'e I, is set to be launched on October 24.

　　The satellite will relay the first picture of the moon in late November and will then continue scientific explorations of the moon for a year.

　　The orbiter will carry out a series of projects including acquiring 3-D images and analyzing the distribution of elements on the moon's surface, according to the spokesman.

　　"Experts from foreign space administrations have been invited to watch the launch on site," said the spokesman.

　　"China welcomes international cooperation in space activities," he said.

　　China hopes to become the 17th nation to join the International Space Station (ISS) project, Vice Minister of Science and Technology Li Xueyong said on the sidelines of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last week.

　　The Chinese government has been pursuing a policy of peaceful use of airspace, Li said.

　　The satellite launch will mark the first step of China's three-stage moon mission, which will lead to a moon landing and launch of a moon rover around 2012. In the third phase, another rover will land on the moon and return to earth with lunar soil and stone samples for scientific research around 2017.

　　China carried out its maiden piloted space flight in October 2003, making it only the third country in the world after the Soviet Union and the United States to have sent men into space. In October 2005, China completed its second manned space flight, with two astronauts on board.

Zhou Lvxin competes in the final of men's 10m platform diving at China's trials of diving for the 2008 Olympics in Hefei, Anhui province, Oct. 23, 2007. Zhou won the gold, Lin Yue the silver and Huo Liang the bronze.

Lin Yue competes in the final of men's 10m platform diving at China's trials of diving for the 2008 Olympics in Hefei, Anhui province, Oct. 23, 2007. Zhou lvxin won the gold, Lin Yue the silver and Huo Liang the bronze.

Huo Liang competes in the final of men's 10m platform diving at China's trials of diving for the 2008 Olympics in Hefei, Anhui province, Oct. 23, 2007. Zhou lvxin won the gold, Lin Yue the silver and Huo Liang the bronze.

Wang Xin competes in the final of women's 10m platform diving at China's trials of diving for the 2008 Olympics in Hefei, Anhui province, Oct. 23, 2007. Chen Ruolin won the gold, Wang Xin the silver and Wang Hao the bronze.

Chen Ruolin competes in the final of women's 10m platform diving at China's trials of diving for the 2008 Olympics in Hefei, Anhui province, Oct. 23, 2007. Chen Ruolin won the gold, Wang Xin the silver and Wang Hao the bronze

Wang Hao competes in the final of women's 10m platform diving at China's trials of diving for the 2008 Olympics in Hefei, Anhui province, Oct. 23, 2007. Chen Ruolin won the gold, Wang Xin the silver and Wang Hao the bronze.

Portuguese biker to travel to Beijing Olympics overland

LISBON, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese motorcyclist Mario Cales told media Tuesday he planned to travel overland to the Beijing Olympic Games from Portugal in a four-month trip covering 11 European countries and eight Asian countries.

The trip will begin in Lisbon on April 8 next year and end on Aug. 8, the day of the Games' inauguration. The overall distance will be about 30,000 km, equivalent to more than three quarters of the Earth's diameter, and much longer than the straight-line distance to Beijing because he will not be traveling as the crow flies.

Cales said the government and Portuguese exporters are sponsoring his travel, and he will give press conferences on the trip, and write a book on the journey, as well as recording it in photographs and on videos.

Cales, 40, a native of northern Portuguese city Oporto, is the author of the book Relating Via Nature. He is a mental sciences professor in Oporto's Northern Professional University.

Tottenham Hotspurs' Younes Kaboul (L) challenges Newcastle United's Obafemi Martins during their English Premier League soccer match at St James Park in Newcastle, northern England Oct. 22, 2007.

LONDON, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Tottenham remain in the bottom three of the Premier League after losing 3-1 at Newcastle on Monday.

Spurs' slack defense again proved costly as Magpies claimed points, plunging under-fire manager Martin Jolinto into even deeper water.

They were lucky to keep a clean sheet for 45 minutes, but the game changed on the stroke of half-time when Michael Dawson failed to clear a long ball cross from Jose Enrique and Martins swiveled to fire past Radek Cerny from just inside the box.

Six minutes after the break Dawson again was the defender at fault as he was unable to pick up Cacapa, who met Faye's corner with a powerful header into the net.

Robbie Keane's close-range finish on 57 minutes gave the visitors brief hope as he tapped home the rebound from Bent's header which hit against the post.

For a spell Spurs looked like they were back in the game but their resistance was ended 17 minutes from the whistle by substitute James Milner, who crashed home an unstoppable volley after his first effort was blocked by Jermaine Jenas.

South Africa's captain John Smit holds the winner's trophy after the Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. South Africa defeated England 15-6.

JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Rugby-loving South Africans burst into jubilation on Saturday night after their team the Springboks defeated defending champions England 15-6 in the Rugby World Cup final in Paris, France.

Hundreds of overjoyed fans reveled in Rosebank, Johannesburg, while on a big TV screen the team were seen lifting the Webb Ellistrophy at the Stade de France in Paris. Wearing the Springboks jersey and waving the national flag, they celebrated South Africa's second World Cup title after winning it in 1995 at home.

A chorus of car hooters broke the night silence on the roads, while commentators dissected the match, which was won with three penalties by Percy Montgomery and one by Francois Steyn to England's two by Jonny Wilkinson.

Congratulations on the win streamed in just minutes after the final whistle blew -- among the first that of Britain's High Commissioner to South Africa Paul Boateng, the SAPA news agency reported.

"Well done South Africa, worthy champions," said Boateng as the South Africans, led by captain John Smit, received their gold medals.

The team had shown professionalism, patriotism and hunger to win since the beginning of the tournament, said the South African Football Players Union (SAFPU).

The Springboks had set a benchmark for all national teams, it said.

South African team the Springboks players celebrate afthe they defeated defending champions England 15-6 in the Rugby World Cup final in Paris, France Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007.

England's Jason Robinson (Bottom) tackles South Africa's Butch James (L) in the Rugby World Cup final at the Stade de France Stadium in Saint-Denis, near Paris, Oct. 20, 2007.

Springboks flanker Schalk Burger tangles with a England's player in the Rugby World Cup final at the Stade de France Stadium in Saint-Denis, near Paris, Oct. 20, 2007.

Rugby-loving South Africans burst into jubilation on Saturday night after their team the Springboks defeated defending champions England 15-6 in the Rugby World Cup final in Paris, France.

Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Brazil celebrates in the pits after qualifying first for the pole position at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo Oct. 20, 2007. The final F1 race of the season, the Brazilian Grand Prix, will take place here on October 21.

Ferrari's Formula One driver Felipe Massa (C) of Brazil poses with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton (R) of Britain and Ferrari teammate Kimi Haikkonen of Finland after they finished first, second and third, respectively, in the qualifying round for the pole position at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo on Oct. 20, 2007. The final F1 race of the season, the Brazilian Grand Prix, will take place here on October 21.

Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Brazil kisses his fiancee Rafaela while celebrating in the pits after qualifying first for the pole position at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo Oct. 20, 2007.

Ferrari's Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Brazil celebrates in the pits after qualifying first for the pole position at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo on Oct. 20, 2007.

Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Brazil celebrates after qualifying first for the pole position at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo Oct. 20, 2007.

Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa (R) of Brazil chats with McLaren Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain after a news conference in Sao Paulo Oct. 20, 2007. Massa took the pole position for Sunday's Brazilian F1 Grand Prix, followed by Hamilton in second and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen of Finland in third.

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BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese hurdler and superstar Liu Xiang has no plan to retire and may compete at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, his coach Sun Haiping has said.

Liu is preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and is in good conditions. He has the potential to break world record next year if weather, wind and other conditions permit, Sun, who is in Beijing attending the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as a delegate, said on the sidelines of the conference.

"Possible injuries and illnesses during Liu's training concern me most," said the coach.

Liu, world record holder of the men's 110m hurdles at 12.88 seconds, became a hero and youth idol in China after he won the first Olympic track and field gold for the Chinese male athletes in the 2004 Athens Games.

Liu will be 29 years old when the London Olympic Games comes.

Sun said that Liu Xiang would attend less commercial and social activities next year so as to get better prepared for the Beijing Olympic Games.

Liu Xiang, a CPC member, saw Sun Haiping off when Sun left for the CPC National Congress in Beijing.

Liu Xiang and Chinese basketball star Yao Ming have been included in the second edition of the Encyclopedia of China.

While delivering a political report at the opening of the CPC national congress on Monday, Hu Jintao appealed for the success of the 2008 Olympic Games.

The Ancient Games

The original games were held at Olympia, in Greece, and took place every 4 years.
Exactly when they started is not known, but the first written records date from 776BC, and the games continued until they were banned by a decree of the Roman Emperor Theodore I, "the Great", in 393AD So the last games held were in 389AD, which meant the games had been held 293 times (at least). The actual events in the games varied from time to time, but mainly were to do with running, wrestling, boxing and chariot racing. In those games there was interest only in who won, and the winner was awarded an olive wreath. Women were not admitted to the games, either as competitors or spectators.

Revival

Ernst Curtius, a German archaeologist, did a lot of excavation work at Olympia and, presumably inspired by that, in 1852 suggested that the Olympic Games should be revived. This idea was well-received by many and was finally taken up by Baron Pierre de Courbertin and, at his instigation, in Paris on 23 June 1894, a committee agreed to re-establish the Olympic Games, with a first meeting to be held at Athens in 1896 and every 4 years thereafter. Apart from the war years when no games were held, this has been kept up. In the ancient games, wars were suspended in order to allow the games to continue. The early games of the modern Olympics were of varied quality and success, with many highlights and low points. There were several calls for the games to be discontinued at various times but they always managed to keep going and, once they were re-established in 1948 (after a 12-year break), their future seemed assured. However, since that time they have become much bigger, very much more costly to stage, the subject of many scandals, and often the target of political action (in the form of boycotts and terrorism) so that it is not inconceivable that the future might see them discontinued, or at least modified in some way.

Record-keeping
The standard of record-keeping was very variable (from non-existent to good) for the early years of the modern Olympics (1896 to 1932) and only started being consistently good from the 1936 (Berlin) Olympics onwards. The very many gaps in the official records have been made good over the years by the joint efforts of several enthusiasts around the world who collectively form the International Society of Olympic Historians. However, variations in reported results can often be found in different books. This is especially true of timings. In the earlier games only the time of the winner was given; places were recorded only as being so much distance behind the winner. Estimates are usually made of what this must have meant as a time difference so as to credit a time to the 2nd and 3rd places. There are also a few variations in details of names, particularly in first names and in the English spelling of foreign names. Timing
Although electric timing was first used in the 1912 (Stockholm) Olympics, it was not used to give the official times until the 1968 (Mexico City) Games. Many accounts give both the official times and the 'electric' times and it is interesting to note that the official one is always slightly better.

Women

Though there had been women's events before 1928 in sports such as tennis, golf, swimming and fencing, there were no events for track and field athletes until 1928 when the 100 metres, 800 metres, High Jump and Discus were introduced for individuals, and a 4 x 100 metres relay for teams. Unfortunately, several competitors in the 800 metres race collapsed at the end (many had not trained for that distance) and this started a fierce controversy. There were many "experts" who said that women were not capable of running more than 200 metres, and there were many men of influence who wanted the games to be all male, as the ancient games had been in Greece. So the 800 metres was discontinued, and not re-introduced until 1960. The 100 metres was the only track event for women until 1948 when the 200 metres was put in. Currently the prediction is "confidently" being made that women will be beating men in the marathon before 2030!
The question of whether or not some women athletes actually were female has come up from time to time. There was a period during the 50's and 60's when the true sex of some women from the USSR and Middle European countries was queried, particularly those taking part in field events. There was no direct proof either way, but sex-testing was introduced in 1968 and some previously well-known 'women' did not attend any more. One actual case of mis-representation took 48 years to come to light when the winner of the 1932 Women's 100 metres was declared to be a male on her death in 1980. The following list gives the (individual) women's track and field events and the year in which they were first held.

100 metres	1928
200 metres	1948
400 metres	1964
800 metres	1928 but then discontinued until 1960
1500 metres	1972
3000 metres	1984 but replaced by 5000 metres in 1996
5000 metres	1996
10000 metres	1988
Marathon	1984
High Jump	1928
Long Jump	1948
Shot	1948
Discus	1928
Javelin	1932
In the 1996 (Atlanta) Olympics, the Track and Field events for the Women were exactly the same as for the Men except that there were no Women's events in the 3000 m Steeplechase Pole Vault Hammer Throw 50 km Walk