November 25, 2007

Sun Nan, Coco Lee film "Forever Friends" music video

BEIJING, Nov. 30 -- Coco Lee and Sun Nan were in Beijing Thursday to film the final scenes for the music video of the Beijing Olympic song "Forever Friends."

"This is a multinational family arts group. we come from different cultural backgrounds and have become a close-knit family because of the Olympics. We are a true reflection of "Forever Friends," said producer Kong Xiangdong.

Two-time Grammy Award-winning composer Giorgio Moroder headed the song's music composition. Moroder has experience in producing Olympic hits -- he composed the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic theme song "Reach Out" and the Seoul 1988 Olympic theme song "Hand in Hand."

German lyricist Michael Kunze, whose achievements include successfully translating the hit musicals "Cats" and "Phantom of the Opera" into German, penned the English lyrics to "Forever Friends."

The three members of the creative team for the song represent a multi-ethnic, boundary-free world. They truly represent the theme of "Forever Friends."

Following the debut performance of "Forever Friends" during the one-year countdown celebration for the Beijing Olympic Games last August, Moroder and Kong decided to do a new recording of the song.

That's when singers Sun Nan and Coco Lee got involved. In addition, CCTV host, Yang Dongsheng, was invited to join the production team. Coco Lee and Sun Nan are both honored to perform "Forever Friends" and hope to pass the song's message along to the rest of the world.

The "Forever Friends" music video is scheduled for release before the year is over. In addition, a Chinese version of the song is in the works now and will be ready for release early next year.

Zhao Dongming, director of the BOCOG Cultural Activities Department

Moroder (1st, R) is full of praise for the two singers

Moroder and Kong Xiangdong reminisce about the past

Coco Lee is excited about being involved in the "Forever Friends" music video

Coco Lee and Sun Nan film a scene on the Great Wall

Jiang Yuyuan of China competes on the beam during the women's individual all-round final of the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 International Gymnastics Tournament in Beijing, capital of China on Nov. 29, 2007. Jiang won the champion with a score of 61.225.

It was an almost flawless exhibition for Jiang as she led all four apparatuses in the big names devoid all-around finals.

Russia-born Daria Joura, the top finisher in qualification, earned Australia the silver medal in 59.800, 0.2 trailing her performance in Wednesday's qualifications.

The second-placed qualifier Bridget Sloan of the United States took the bronze, 0.575 adrift of Joura.

Jiang twice fell victim to the beam on Wednesday's qualifying round, but she recovered well to sweep through the finals.

"It's my third international event after the world championships and World Cup, so the result is really good," said Jiang, adding she feels better at the all-around and floor exercise events.

"You feel tense when you come up the apparatus. I try my best to keep calm and think over my routine before each rotation."

Jiang was the sole gymnast to reach the mark of 15 in the floor exercise. Her best score came from the uneven bars with 15.725 points, which was also the highest of the day.

The Chinese teen made her world championships debut this year, winning a team silver medal and placing fourth in the floor exercise.

Jiang's coach Xiong Jingbin rated Jiang's performance 85 points out of 100. "She got a quite difficult action in the beam, but consistency is not that assured. I hope she can improve it from competition with other top gymnasts," said Xiong.

Joura matched Jiang's vault score of 14.875. Joura placed 10th all-around at the world championships.

Jiang Yuyuan of China competes on the beam during the women's individual all-round final of the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 International Gymnastics Tournament in Beijing, China on Nov. 29, 2007. Jiang won the champion with a score of 61.225.

"It's a win-win situation. For the Beijing Olympics organizers, they check the stadium and we got a chance to get familiar with the Olympic venue," said Joura, adding she would like to share her Beijing experience with teammates back in Australia.

Sloan was only the alternate (non-competing) member of the American squad that won the team gold medal at this year's worlds.

Joura's teammate Lauren Mitchell, the fifth finisher of the beam at Stuttgart worlds, placed fourth in 57.700.

The 2005 world all-around champion Chellsie Memmel was anticipated to be among the leading contenders, but failed to make comeback announcement in fifth place.

Memmel stepped out of bounds twice in the floor exercise, obviously rusty after a long absence from international competition.

Since winning the 2005 world title, however, Memmel has been bothered by a shoulder injury. At the 2006 world championships, she placed first in all-around qualifications, but had to withdraw from the final because of the sore shoulder.

Memmel had not recovered in time to compete in this year's worlds. The Olympic try-out event was her first international appearance this year, but more needed to be done to prove she is still one of the top candidates for honors at next year's Olympic Games.

Chinese teenager Jiang Yuyuan competes during the women's all-around at the "Good Luck Beijing" Olympic gymnastics test event in Beijing on Nov. 29.

Jiang Yuyuan of China competes on the vault during the women's individual all-round final of the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 International Gymnastics Tournament in Beijing, capital of China, on Nov. 29, 2007. Jiang won the champion with a score of 61.225.

Jiang Yuyuan of China competes at the Floor Exercise competition during the women's individual all-round final of the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 International Gymnastics Tournament in Beijing, capital of China on Nov. 29, 2007. Jiang won the champion with a score of 61.225.

Australian Joura Daria competes on the vault during the women's individual all-round final of the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 International Gymnastics Tournament in Beijing, capital of China, on Nov. 29, 2007. Daria won the second place.

Sloan Bridget of the United States competes on the Uneven Bars during the women's individual all-round final of the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 International Gymnastics Tournament in Beijing, capital of China, on Nov. 29, 2007. Bridget won the third place.

Sloan Bridget of the United States competes on the beam during the women's individual all-round final of the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 International Gymnastics Tournament in Beijing, capital of China on Nov. 29, 2007. Bridget won the third place with a score of 59.800.

Jiang Yuyuan of China prepares for the Uneven Bars competition during the women's individual all-round final of the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 International Gymnastics Tournament in Beijing, capital of China on Nov. 29, 2007. Jiang won the champion with a score of 61.225

Tottenham Hotspur's Steed Malbranque (2nd L) scores against Aalborg during their UEFA Cup Group G soccer match at White Hart Lane in London Nov. 29, 2007.

BEIJING, Nov. 30 -- Two-time champion Tottenham scored three second-half goals yesterday and rallied past visiting Aalborg 3-2 in the UEFA Cup, while Helsingborg became the first team to advance to the next stage with a 3-0 win over Austria Vienna.

Bayern Munich missed its chance to advance from the group stage when it was held to a 1-1 draw at Braga, while 2000 winner Galatasaray won 3-0 at Panionios.

Dimitar Berbatov, Steed Malbranque and Darren Bent scored for Tottenham, which last won the UEFA Cup in 1984 but is now on the verge of qualification for the next round.

Hamburg and Atletico Madrid were among other teams to win and increase their chances of a spot in the round of 32.

Juande Ramos won the UEFA Cup the past two seasons with Sevilla, but saw his new side, Tottenham, fall 2-0 behind inside 37 minutes.

Danish league co-leader Aalborg led in the second minute with a shot by Thomas Enevoldsen into the top corner and doubled the advantage when Michael Dawson failed to clear a cross from the left and Kasper Risgard scored.

Ramos inserted Bent and Tom Huddlestone at halftime and the latter set up Berbatov in the 46th to make it 2-1 with a low shot.

Berbatov and Robbie Keane set up Malbranque for a 51st-minute equalizer that went in off the crossbar, and Bent gave Spurs the lead in the 66th minute when he tapped in a cross by Aaron Lennon.

Tottenham Hotspur's Dimitart Berbatov (R) Jermaine Jenas (2nd R) and Robbie Keane react after Aalborg's Kasper Risgard scores during their UEFA Cup Group G soccer match at White Hart Lane in London Nov. 29, 2007.

Tottenham could have scored a fourth goal in the final moments, but Lennon had a swerving shot saved by the goalkeeper.

"It was a big decision for Juande and it worked," Tottenham assistant coach Gus Poyet said of the substitutions. "It is that sort of situation where you have to go for the game because you have nothing to lose."

Spurs moved atop Group G with six points, two more than second-place Anderlecht, with one match remaining

Six points guaranteed progress in last season's tournament -- Bayer Leverkusen and Fenerbahce even advanced with four -- so Spurs appear certain to move forward alongside teams including Helsingborg, which won yesterday on a goal by Olafur Skulason and two from Razak Omotoyossi.

Tottenham Hotspur's coach Juande Ramos watches his team play against Aalborg during their UEFA Cup Group G soccer match at White Hart Lane in London Nov. 29, 2007

Galatasaray has three points in Group H -- four fewer than the Swedish team -- but should advance if it wins its final match against last-place Austria Vienna on December 19.

Galatasaray, which shocked Arsenal to win the 2000 final on penalties, dominated Panionios yesterday and won with three second-half goals.

Serhan Calik scored in the 50th despite calls for offside from the Greek team, and Rigobert Song made it 2-0 in the 63rd with a penalty kick. Grigoris Makos was sent off shortly after for two yellow cards and veteran striker Hakan Sukur rounded off the scoring in the 82nd with a header.

Four-time European champion Bayern appeared victorious when the unmarked Miroslav Klose tapped in from close range in the 47th. But Braga striker Roland Linz equalized in the 67th, beating his marker to slip the ball past veteran goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

Bayern has five points from three Group F games, one more than Aris, which led at Bolton but drew 1-1 when the Premier League team got a 90th-minute equalizer from Greek midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos.

Hamburg beat Rennes 3-0 to top Group D with six points and was only denied a sure place in the next round by Brann's 2-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb.

Fiorentina still leads Group C after a 1-1 draw at AEK stopped it from advancing with a game still to play.

Pablo Osvaldo put Fiorentina ahead from a 29th with a low shot from a counterattack, but AEK, which was without injured veteran Brazilian midfielder Rivaldo, equalized five minutes later with a deflected shot by Julio Cesar.

Tottenham Hotspur's Dimitar Berbatov (C) scores past Aalborg's Karim Zaza during their UEFA Cup Group G soccer match at White Hart Lane in London Nov. 29, 2007.

Zenit St. Petersburg was held to a 2-2 draw by visiting Nuremburg, which earned its first point. Also in Group A, Moussa Dembele scored in the 72nd to lead AZ Alkmaar past 10-man Larissa.

AZ playmaker Simon Cziommer had a goal disallowed in the 29th before Dembele hit a low left-foot shot from inside the area after Demy de Zeew's shot had been cleared from the line.

"It was a very tough evening for us," AZ coach Louis van Gaal said. "I think it is clever that we managed to win. Dembele was unbelievable."

Larissa had Ilias Kotsios sent off in the 84th for a foul on Sebastien Pocognoli.

Aalborg's Michael Jakobsen reacts after Tottenham Hotspur's Steed Malbranque scored during their UEFA Cup Group G soccer match at White Hart Lane in London Nov. 29, 2007.

Aalborg's Thomas Enevoldsen (R) celebrates after scoring against Tottenham Hotspur during their UEFA Cup Group G soccer match at White Hart Lane in London Nov. 29, 2007

AC Milan's Andrea Pirlo (L) celebrates his goal against Benfica with his team mates during their Champions League Group D soccer match at Luz stadium in Lisbon Nov. 28, 2007

BEIJING, Nov. 29 -- Defending champion AC Milan edged into the second round of the Champions League with a 1-1 draw with Benfica Wednesday, and Chelsea advanced with a 4-0 victory at Rosenborg.

Two other qualifying groups are wide open, however, and half of the last 16 won't be decided until next month's final games, with nine-time champion Real Madrid under pressure after a 3-2 loss at Werder Bremen.

Milan and Chelsea join FC Barcelona, Manchester United, AS Roma, Inter Milan, Sevilla and Arsenal, who all played Tuesday.

Andrea Pirlo's long-range shot put Milan ahead in the 15th minute in Lisbon, but Maxi Pereira equalized for Benfica in the 20th. Milan still went through because Celtic scored a last-minute goal to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 in Glasgow.

"We started very well in the first half, then they equalized and knowing that a draw would qualify us, we struggled at the end," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

Brandao gave Shakhtar the lead in the fourth minute, but Jiri Jarosik leveled for Celtic a minute before halftime and Massimo Donati scored the winning goal in the first minute of injury time.

Milan leads the group with 10 points and next faces Celtic, which has nine. Shakhtar has six points and hosts the already-eliminated Benfica, which has four.

Chelseas Didier Drogba (R) controls the ball during their Champions League Group B soccer match against Rosenborg at Lerkendal Stadium in Trondheim Nov. 28, 2007

Didier Drogba scored the first two of Chelsea's goals at Rosenborg, giving the Blues 11 points from five games. Despite the heavy loss, Rosenborg stays second with seven points because Schalke and Valencia, which had David Albelda sent off in the first half, drew 0-0. Schalke, which hosts Rosenborg in two weeks time, has five points and Valencia, which visits Chelsea, has four.

"We played some good football tonight and scored four goals," Chelsea coach Avram Grant said. "We had a lot of chances but what is most important is that we qualified for the next round one game before the end."

Madrid trailed 3-1 at Werder Bremen after goals by Markus Rosenberg, Boubacar Sanogo and Aaron Hunt. Robinho replied for the Spanish champions in the 14th and Ruud van Nistelrooy added a second in the 72nd but the German club held on to stay alive and take its total to six points.

Madrid and Olympiakos have eight points after the Greek team beat Lazio 2-1 after trailing in Rome.

Goran Pandev put Lazio ahead, although the ball appeared to have gone out before the preceding cross. Luciano Galletti and Darko Kovacevic then scored to give the Greek champions a win and leave the Italian club with five points.

Liverpool eased some of the pressure on under-fire coach Rafa Benitez with a 4-1 victory over FC Porto to move closer to a place in the knockout round.

Fernando Torres scored twice at Anfield, where Reds fans staged a march to support Benitez, who is under pressure for speaking out about his row with owners George Gillett Jr. and Tom Hicks over funding for future player transfers.

Having failed to win their first three games, Liverpool now has seven points from five games in Group A, where any of the four teams can advance.

Benitez applauded the fans' support, and then expanded on the internal feuding.

"I just try to do my best for the club. I don't have any personal problems with the owners, Tom Hicks or George Gillett," Benitez said. "We were talking about the future of the club ... I was trying to improve my club and OK, maybe we need to wait, but it was a strange situation.

"But I don't need to go back or go forward."

Porto remains at the top with eight points despite the defeat at Anfield and Liverpool is even with Marseille, both with seven points. Marseille lost 2-1 at Besiktas, which has six.

In two weeks, Marseille hosts Liverpool, and Porto hosts Besiktas.

Saudi Arabia captain Yasser al-Aahtani wins the Asian Player of the Year award on Nov. 28,2007.

BEIJING, Nov. 29 -- Saudi Arabia captain Yasser al-Qahtani won the Asian Player of the Year award Wednesday and set his sights on a move to Europe.

Al-Qahtani was the joint leading goal scorer in the Asian Cup, where the Saudis lost the final 0-1 to Iraq in July, and led his Al Hilal club to the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League.

"I'm very proud winning this award," he said. "Frankly speaking, I wasn't representing only myself. I'm representing the Saudi people and all of my teammates."

The 25-year-old striker edged Iraqi pair Younis Mahmoud and Nashat Akram for the continent's top individual award.

Mahmoud was the player of the tournament at the Asian Cup, was joint leading scorer with al-Qahtani, and scored the winning goal in the final.

Midfielder Akram was instrumental in Iraq's run to the deciding match.

"The three of us come from Arab nations who were nominated for this award and that's an achievement in itself," al-Qahtani said.

Al-Qahtani said he has had preliminary discussions with Middlesbrough in the English Premier League, initiated by a phone call from the club's Egypt striker Ahmed Mido.

"I have no clue what is going to happen next," he said. "I hope to play in Europe ... it's a dream.

"I would love, for the benefit of my team, to play in Europe and gain more experience - I would love to go to England or Spain, for sure."

Asian Champions League winner Urawa Reds of Japan was voted the region's top club of the year and Iraq won the team of the year award.

Iraq has not played a game on home soil in at least four years and has a team of players scattered throughout the Middle East, yet qualified for the semifinals at the Athens 2004 Olympics and made the Asian Games final before winning the Asian Cup.

China was awarded the AFC Association of the Year award for successfully hosting the 2007 Women's World Cup which FIFA president Sepp Blatter described as "a tremendous success."

Gymnastics event puts National Indoor Stadium under test

BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The National Indoor Stadium, an important venue for the Beijing Olympic Games, unveiled itself for an Olympic test event -- the Beijing Gymnastics International Invitational, which started on Wednesday.

The stadium welcomed its first series of "Good Luck Beijing" events, namely artistic gymnastics, trampoline, handball and wheelchair basketball after going through check-and-accept just last week.

An athlete competes in China's National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, Nov. 28, 2007. The National Indoor Stadium started operation Wednesday to hold the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 International Gymnastics Tournament.

The National Indoor Stadium has a steel roof truss of double bowstring, boasting the biggest span of roof truss in the world.

It's just like a huge fan in the center of the "Olympic Green" and becomes a characteristic architecture along with the "Bird's Nest" and " Water Cube".

With the technology of steel scoria backfilling, natural lighting and solar generating, the contribution of the National Indoor Stadium shows its characteristics of "Green Olympics, People's Olympics and Hi-tech Olympics".

After being delivered, the National Indoor Stadium has a capacity of 20,000 which is expected to be the biggest in China.

From Nov. 28 to Jan. 25, four Olympic tests will be staged in the venue -- artistic gymnastics, trampoline, handball and wheelchair basketball, the events which will be housed here during2008 Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympics.

But not everything goes well in the first day's gymnastics qualifications, a glass lamp-chimney exploded accidentally near the media stand without causing any hurt. The working staff took immediate action to clean off the break-up pieces and carried through examination of all the lights.

Photo taken on Nov. 28, 2007 shows the inside view of China's National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China. The National Indoor Stadium started operation Wednesday to hold the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 International Gymnastics Tournament.

The interior overview of the National Indoor Stadium. The venue opened to the public for its first game on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007.

A foreign journalist talks with volunteers at the media center in China's National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, Nov. 28, 2007. The National Indoor Stadium started operation Wednesday to hold the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 International Gymnastics Tournament

Houston Rockets' Tracy McGrady (Top) attempts to dunk the ball as Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Kaman tries to block him during the second half of the Rockets' 88-71 victory in an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 26, 2007 in Los Angeles.

Houston Rockets'(L-R) Mike James, Luis Scola, of Argentina, Tracy McGrady, and Yao Ming, of China, check on teammate Steve Francis after he fell to the floor on a foul by Los Angeles Clippers' Dan Dickau during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, in Los Angeles.

Houston Rockets' Tracy McGrady (1) and Los Angeles Clippers' player chase down a ball during an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 26, 2007 in Los Angeles

Houston Rockets' Yao Ming (R) of China, keeps the ball from Los Angeles Clippers' players during an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 26, 2007 in Los Angeles.

Houston Rockets' Yao Ming (C) of China, keeps the ball from Los Angeles Clippers' players during an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 26, 2007 in Los Angeles

Houston Rockets' Yao Ming (R) of China is laughing with his teammate during an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 26, 2007 in Los Angeles.

Houston Rockets' Yao Ming (L) tries to block Los Angeles Clippers' player (35) during an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 26, 2007 in Los Angeles.

BEIJING, Nov. 27 -- Tracy McGrady scored 19 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and the Houston Rockets capitalized on another key injury to the Los Angeles Clippers in an 88-71 victory Monday night.

Rafer Alston added 17 points for the Rockets, who have posted back-to-back wins following a six-game losing streak, and have beaten the Clippers four straight times at Staples Center. Yao Ming had 14 points and eight rebounds.

The Clippers, who haven't shot 50 percent or better an any of their first 13 games, finished at 32.9 percent and have dropped seven of nine contests after a 4-0 start. Chris Kaman led them with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

The Clippers lost point guard Sam Cassell with 8:18 left in the first quarter after he strained his left calf defending Alston away from the ball in front of the Houston bench. Cassell is one of only five Clippers to play in every game this season, along with Kaman, Tim Thomas, Ruben Patterson and Quinton Ross.

Two other Clippers, forward Corey Maggette and point guard Brevin Knight, were pressed into service after coach Mike Dunleavy classified them as game-time decisions in his pregame session with reporters. Maggette, who missed the previous four games with a right hamstring strain, scored 21 points off the bench on 7-for-13 shooting. Knight played 13 scoreless minutes after missing two games with a groin strain.

The Rockets let the banged-up Clippers hang around for three tedious quarters before blowing the game open with a 22-5 run in the first 5:04 of the fourth. McGrady, who helped fuel the pivotal rally with 14 points started it with two free throws and a pair of 17-footers. The seven-time All-Star added a three-point play off an acrobatic reverse lay-up and capped the run with an 18-footer.

England soccer manager Steve McClaren (L) and assistant coach Terry Venables attend a team training session in London Colney, north of London, Nov. 20, 2007.

BEIJING, Nov. 28 -- UEFA president Michel Platini believes an Englishman should be the new coach of England and that Premier League clubs should have more home-grown talent.

Debate about the state of English football has raged since a 2-3 defeat by Croatia knocked England out of Euro 2008 and cost coach Steve McClaren his job.

The Football Association has said nationality will not be an issue in recruiting a new coach.

"England is such a strong country that they have to take an Englishman," Platini told British newspapers yesterday. "It's your national team and an English coach is better. English coaches need to be given more chances.

"If I am looking for the manager of England, I would try to find a good English guy who everybody trusts to make a good team. You have good players."

Platini said until leading English clubs start to use more English players the national side would be at a disadvantage.

"If you do not have so many players what can you do? There are 95 registered Brazilian players in the Champions League, 94 French players and 45 English players," he said.

"When you have twice as few players as other countries it is difficult. I like your football, I like the fans and the passion, but I don't like the fact that it is too open (to foreigners). "English football is ultra-liberal and it's not so good for me. Many people are coming into your league. You sell your clubs to foreign people.

"It is my philosophy to protect the identity of the clubs and the country. Manchester United against Liverpool should be with players from Manchester and Liverpool, from that region.

"In Arsenal now you don't have an English coach, English players, maybe not an English president soon."

Platini said UEFA was powerless to intervene but said politicians and the Football Association should push for stronger regulations on foreign players.

Elsewhere, former England manager Graham Taylor says he does not expect to see England win another major soccer tournament in his lifetime.

"Our failure has been going on for years and years. Why do people expect England to get to the finals or win these major tournaments?" said the 63-year-old Taylor, who managed England from 1990 to 1993. "I don't think I will live long enough to see our country crack it at international level - and oh how depressing is that?"

"We won the World Cup once when it was at home, we made the semifinals once in 1990, and the semifinals of the European Championship in 1968, then in 1996 when it was also at home. We have no record over the years of success but we really hate facing up to the truth.

"We have an arrogance about ourselves and because of that we have made some enemies. We were too arrogant to enter the first World Cup in 1930. When we did enter it in 1950 we lost to the United States and the failures have gone on and on."

olympic spirit

Sun Nan, Coco Lee film "Forever Friends" music video

Jiang wins women's all-around at Olympic gymnastics test

Tottenham rallies to beat Aalborg 3-2 in UEFA Cup

AC Milan, Chelsea advance to 2nd round

Al-Qahtani wins Asian Player of Year award

Gymnastics event puts National Indoor Stadium under test

Clippers fall to Rockets on home court

Platini backs English coach for England job

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