July 13, 2008

Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium

The photo taken on July 18, 2008 shows the north entrance of the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Qinhuangdao, east China's Hebei Province. The Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium will host 12 football matches during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.(Xinhua Photo)

The photo taken on July 18, 2008 shows the bird's eye view of the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Qinhuangdao, east China's Hebei Province. The Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium will host 12 football matches during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. (Xinhua Photo)

The photo taken on July 18, 2008 shows the training field B of the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Qinhuangdao, east China's Hebei Province. The Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium will host 12 football matches during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.(Xinhua Photo)

The photo taken on July 18, 2008 shows the exterior view of the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Qinhuangdao, east China's Hebei Province. The Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium will host 12 football matches during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.(Xinhua Photo)

The photo taken on July 18, 2008 shows the tribune of the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Qinhuangdao, east China's Hebei Province. The Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium will host 12 football matches during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. (Xinhua Photo)

The photo taken on July 18, 2008 shows the media tribune of the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Qinhuangdao, east China's Hebei Province. The Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium will host 12 football matches during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. (Xinhua Photo)

The photo taken on July 18, 2008 shows the interior view of the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Qinhuangdao, east China's Hebei Province. The Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium will host 12 football matches during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.(Xinhua Photo)

Team Columbia rider Mark Cavendish of Britain holds up his arms as he wins the thirteenth stage of the 95th Tour de France cycling race between Narbonne and Nimes, July 18, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Team Columbia rider Mark Cavendish of Britain celebrates his fourth victory on the podium after winning the thirteenth stage of the 95th Tour de France cycling race between Narbonne and Nimes, July 18, 2008.

Silence Lotto team rider Cadel Evans of Australia wears the leader's yellow jersey on the podium after the thirteenth stage of the 95th Tour de France cycling race between Narbonne and Nimes, July 18, 2008.

Silence Lotto team rider Cadel Evans of Australia cycles in the pack of riders during the thirteenth stage of the 95th Tour de France cycling race between Narbonne and Nimes, July 18, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Torchbearer Wang Junxia runs with national flag during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Dalian, city of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 19, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Torchbearer Liu Wenxin runs with the torch during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Dalian, city of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 19, 2008.

Torchbearer Xu Yongjiu(R) and the successor Ji Bin display the torches during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Dalian, city of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 19, 2008.

Torchbearer Qi Chunsheng(R) lights torch for the successor Qiao Zhiying during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Dalian, city of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 19, 2008.

Torchbearer Xia Deren lights the Olympic flame basin during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Dalian, city of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 19, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Actress Sarah Chalke, star of the ABC series "Scrubs", arrives at the Disney ABC Television Group summer All Star party in Beverly Hills, California July 17, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Actress Becki Newton, star of the ABC series "Ugly Betty," arrives at the Disney ABC Television Group summer All Star party in Beverly Hills, California, July 17, 2008.

Actress Nicollette Sheridan, star of the ABC series "Desperate Housewives", arrives at the Disney ABC Television Group Summer All Star party in Beverly Hills, California July 17, 2008.

Actress Felicity Huffman, star of the ABC series "Desperate Housewives", arrives at the Disney ABC Television Group Summer All Star party in Beverly Hills, California July 17, 2008.'

Actress Felicity Huffman, star of the ABC series "Desperate Housewives", arrives at the Disney ABC Television Group Summer All Star party in Beverly Hills, California July 17, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Actress Rachel Boston, star of the new CBS comedy series "The Ex List," takes part in a panel discussion at the CBS summer 2008 press tour in Beverly Hills, California July 18, 2008.

Actors Rachel Boston (L) and Amir Talai, stars of the new CBS comedy series "The Ex List", take part in a panel discussion at the CBS summer 2008 press tour in Beverly Hills, California July 18, 2008.

Actress Mary-Louise Parker, star of the Showtime networks series "Weeds," takes part in a panel discussion at the Showtime 2008 summer press tour in Beverly Hills, California , July 18, 2008.

Actresses Elizabeth Reaser (L) and Rachel Boston (R), stars of the new CBS comedy series "The Ex List," and the show's executive producer Diane Ruggiero (C) take part in a panel discussion at the CBS summer 2008 press tour in Beverly Hills, California July 18, 2008.

Actress Elizabeth Reaser, star of the new CBS comedy series "The Ex List," and the show's executive producer Diane Ruggiero (L) takes part in a panel discussion at the CBS summer 2008 press tour in Beverly Hills, California July 18, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Actor David Duchovny, executive producer and star of the Showtime networks series "Californication," takes part in a panel discussion at the Showtime 2008 summer press tour in Beverly Hills, California, July 18, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Actor Michael C. Hall, co-executive producer and star of the Showtime networks series "Dexter," takes part in a panel discussion at the Showtime 2008 summer press tour in Beverly Hills, California, July 18, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

One in a million: black and white fraternal twins

Even if they dress alike, it won't be difficult to see the difference between twin sons born July 11 to a German couple.

The undated photo shows the black and white twins that have been born to a mixed-race couple in Germany.

The first baby, Ryan, has light skin and blue eyes. His brother, Leo, is dark skinned with brown eyes.

"None of us could believe it," the maternity ward's head doctor, Birgit Weber, told one news source, "Both kids have definitely the same father."

Stephan Gerth is German and white. His wife, Florence Addo-Gerth, is from Ghana and has dark skin.

"It was "a real surprise," Gerth told the German newspaper Die Welt, adding the most important thing to him isn't color, but that everyone is healthy.

The odds are one in a million, say doctors, but can happen with fraternal twins due the genetic soup in our backgrounds.

Beijing 2008 official vehicles. [Courtesy of Volkswagen]

Volkswagen handed over 5,000 Olympic vehicles, to be used for athletes and VIPs during the Games, to the Beijing Olympic organizing committee (BOCOG) on Wednesday.

The automobile maker's Touran, Passat Lingyu, Skoda Octavia, Magotan, Sagitar and Audi A6L models will serve three groups of those with Olympic accreditation.

Audi A6L and Magotan will serve the top officials, such as heads of all the National Olympic Committees and international sports federations, as well as foreign state heads of state.

Passat Lingyu, Touran and Sagitar will ferry other officials, such as technical personnel and World Anti-doping Agency officials, while Skoda Octavia will serve the guests of those officials.

A Multivan, a van equipped with high-level office facilities, will serve Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee and an Audi A6 Avant will transport Philip Craven, president of International Paralympic Committee.

"In order to ensure the safety and efficiency of the official vehicles during the Games, Volkswagen followed strict standards in every aspect of its business, including production, logistics and delivery," said Zhang Suixin, executive vice-president and board member of Volkswagen Group China.

"The 5,000 Olympic official vehicles are now successfully handed over to BOCOG as planned, and that gives full expression to the Olympic spirit of solidarity and dedication. We will do our best to assist BOCOG in transporting athletes, officials and VIPs and provide quality and satisfactory services during the Games."

Volkswagen has already provided some 1,000 vehicles for the on-going Olympic torch relay and another 30 for the Main Press Center.

Besides the vehicles, Volkswagen's technicians and staff are also ready to provide repair and maintenance services for the vehicles during the Games to show their support.

Those official vehicles will be equipped with special number plates of "Jing P XXXXX"

After the Games, the number plates will be returned and those vehicles will be used for test drives.

"After the conclusion of the Games, most of those official vehicles will be sent to our retailers to serve for test drives to let more people feel the Olympics," said Pan Qing, director of Volkswagen (China) Olympic marketing.

"We hope the Olympic spirit could last for long after the Games."

Pan said a series of marketing plans would be launched for those official vehicles after the Games.

Italian soccer club AC Milan's newly signed player Ronaldinho of Brazil attends his presentation at San Siro Stadium in Milan July 17, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Italian soccer club AC Milan's newly signed player Ronaldinho (L) jokes with a 'freestyler' during a presentation at San Siro Stadium in Milan, July 17, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

AC Milan's newly signed player Ronaldinho greats children during his presentation at San Siro Stadium in Milan, July 17, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Italian soccer club AC Milan's newly signed player Ronaldinho of Brazil controls a ball during a presentation at San Siro Stadium in Milan July 17, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Italian soccer club AC Milan's newly signed player Ronaldinho of Brazil kicks a ball during a presentation at San Siro Stadium in Milan July 17, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Inter Milan's coach Jose Mourinho of Portugal (C) gestures during a training session in Appiano Gentile, near Como July 17, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Inter Milan's coach Jose Mourinho of Portugal (C) walks during a soccer training session in Appiano Gentile, near Como July 17, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Inter Milan's coach Jose Mourinho of Portugal gestures during a training session in Appiano Gentile, near Como July 17, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Inter Milan's coach Jose Mourinho of Portugal refreshes himself with water during a training session in Appiano Gentile, near Como July 17, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Chinese basketball star Yao Ming, 2.28m Houston Rockets center, plays during the match against Serbia at the Stankovic Cup basketball Olympic warmup tournament in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, July, 17, 2008. Yao's health for the Beijing Olympics has been of great concern to organizers since he suffered a stress fracture to his left foot in February, ending his NBA season.(Xinhuanet Photo)

Official confirms Yao to return to action this week

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming said Thursday he has taken 80 percent recovery from a foot surgery and would join the Chinese national team on Friday, June 27, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

China's Yao Ming is likely to play his first competitive game since having surgery on his foot in March at this week's Stankovic Cup pre-Beijing Olympic basketball tournament, local media reported on Tuesday.

The 2.28m Houston Rockets center, whose NBA season was ended by a stress fracture, returned to China to join the national squad for training last month but played no part in two warm-up games against Australia in Jiangsu.

"Yao will definitely go to the Stankovic Cup in Hangzhou, and the chance of him playing is very high," Hu Jiashi, vice-chief of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), told Oriental Sports Daily.

Yao said last month it was 50-50 whether he would play in the four-nation tournament.

China will play Serbia on Thursday, Angola on Saturday and Russia on Sunday in the round-robin tournament.

Houston Rockets' Yao Ming stands during the NBA All-Star basketball game in New Orleans, Louisiana Feb. 17, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Angola, one of China's opening-round group opponents at next month's Olympics, is considered to be the most important preparatory game for the host.

Despite having rescheduled the Angola game so it will take place at a time in the afternoon similar to the scheduled Olympic time for the two countries' clash, Hu would not confirm whether it would mark the beginning of Yao's comeback.

"We can only say it depends on the game situation," said Hu.

The 27-year-old Yao averaged 22 points and nearly 11 rebounds for the Rockets this season before being sidelined with the stress fracture.

China opens its Olympic campaign against the United States, which includes NBA all-stars Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, at the Wukesong basketball arena on Aug 10, two days after the opening ceremony.

(Source: China Daily/Agencies)

Torchbearer Liu Hongtu, whose father Liu Changchun was China's first Olympian, runs during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 17, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Torchbearer Zhao Benshan, a famous comedian runs during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 17, 2008

Local people dressed in the ethnic costumes cheer for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 17, 2008.

Torchbearer Kang Hui (R-2) lights the torch for the next torchbearer Raga Thomas during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 17, 2008.

Torchbearer Su Hongzhang lights the cauldron during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 17, 2008.

Local residents wave flags to greet the Olympic flame during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 17, 2008.

Torchbearer Du Junfeng (R) and torchbearer Du Rongjie pose with torches during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 17, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

olympic spirit

Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium

Columbia rider Cavendish wins 95th Tour de France

Olympic torch relay in coastal city Dalian

Disney's All Star party in Beverly Hills

Stars attend CBS summer 2008 press tour

One in a million: black and white fraternal twins

Official Olympic vehicles handed over

Ronaldinho debuts at San Siro Stadium

Inter's new coach Mourinho holds training session

Yao plays at Stankovic Cup after recovery from stress fracture

Olympic torch passed through Shenyang, NE China

Sponsored Links

Blog Archive

Followers