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Russian Kanaeva wins gymnastics rhythmic individual all-around Olympic gold

Evgeniya Kanaeva of Russia competes during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Evgeniya Kanaeva won the gold medal of the event. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Evgeniya Kanaeva highlighted Russia's dominance in rhythmic gymnastics by taking the individual all-around gold medal at the Beijing Olympics by an impressive 3.575-point margin on Saturday.

The gold medal was the 18-year-old's first Olympic title, and the third Olympic rhythmic individual gold for powerhouse Russia in a row.

The retirement of Athens all-around gold and silver medallist from Russia, Alina Kavaeva and Irina Tchachina, opened the way for their compatriots Kanaeva and Olga Kapranova, and for 2004 bronze medallist Anna Bessonova of Ukraine.

Saturday's rhythmic individual all-around final saw a rivalry among the three and a newcomer, Inna Zhukova from Belarus.

But Kanaeva stood out just too easily, leading all the way through all the four routines of rope, hoop, clubs and ribbon.

The difficulty value of all her four routines exceeded the 9.0 barrier, and she matched her high difficulty with high-standard execution, mesmerizing fans with dazzling swings, circles, tosses, catches and spirals, among other daredevil tricks.

The 2008 European all-around champion who ranked first in qualifications, claimed the title with the highest scores in all her four routines, and a winning combination of 75.500 points.

"I am so happy for myself, for my coach and viewers in the stadium," she said. "I did my best in the competition. I only wanted to follow what my coach told me to do."

She said she was so focused on her performance and did not even notice she was first or not. "I only realized I won the gold medal when I saw the mark on the screen."

Inna Zhukova, fourth in qualifications, performed consistently on the four routines and finished second with 71.925.

"It's a pity for me not to get the gold medal, but I'm not too sad to get the silver medal," she said.

"In recent years I have attended a lot of competitions and the best result for me has been fourth place. It's beyond my expectation to get the silver medal," said Zhukova.

Bessonova, the 2007 world all-around champion, was in fifth place after two apparatus, but dynamic routines with clubs and ribbon in the second half of the final pulled her into third, in 71.850 points.

But the Ukrainian was not so happy as she did not see a satisfactory score for her third routine, with clubs, a routine seemingly superb to her and the audience.

"I was in tears after my third rotation because I felt it's a pity that I did not get high score in this rotation. But I thought I still had a last routine to make up for it," she said.

Kapranova, the 2005 world champion who was also a hot favourite for the title, lost her chance after she missed her clubs twice in her third routine and only scored 16.95, the third lowest in this rotation.

She recovered in the final rotation by performing the third highest-scoring ribbon routine of the day. She was fourth.

The top ten gymnasts out of a total of 24 in the qualifications competed in the final.

Irina Risenzon of Israel competes during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Irina Risenzon ranked 9th in the event. Irina Risenzon ranked 9th in the event. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

Inna Zhukova of Belarus competes with the clubs during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Inna Zhukova won the silver medal of the event. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

Inna Zhukova of Belarus competes with the hoop during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Inna Zhukova won the silver medal of the event. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

Evgeniya Kanaeva of Russia performs with clubs during the individual all-round final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games rhythmic gymnastics event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Evgeniya Kanaeva won the gold medal of the event. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

Larisa Ilchenko of Russia gears up to the finish line during women's marathon 10km competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games swimming event in Beijing, China, Aug. 20, 2008. Larisa Ilchenko of Russia won the gold medal of the event.(Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Larisa Ilchenko pulled away from her chasers in the women's marathon 10-kilometer swimming here Wednesday, snatching the first Olympic gold in open water swimming.

Ilchenko, who followed British swimmers Cassandra Patten and Keri-Anne Payne during most part of the race, successfully overtook the two British after the last turn and finished the race in one hour 59 minutes and 27.7 seconds.

Gold medalist Larisa Ilchenko of Russia smiles during victory ceremony of women's marathon 10km competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games swimming event in Beijing, China, Aug. 20, 2008. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

British Payne proved herself as an outstanding long distance swimmer with a silver in 1:59:29.2. Payne finished with a disappointing 11th position at the 2007 World Championships after being stung in the mouth by a jellyfish while leading the 10km open water event.

World championships silver medalist Patten won bronze in 1:59:31.0.

Gold medalist Larisa Ilchenko of Russia (C), the runner-up Keri-Anne Payne (L) and bronze winner Cassandra Patten, both of Great Britain, pose on the podium during victory ceremony of women's marathon 10km competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games swimming event in Beijing, China, Aug. 20, 2008. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

Related entries:
Russian Larisa Ilchenko wins women's 10km marathon swimming Olympic gold

Mavlet Batirov of Russia celebrates victory during the men's freestyle 60kg gold medal match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games wrestling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Mavlet Batirov won the bout over Vasvl Fedoryshyn of Ukraine and got the gold medal. (Xinhua Photo)

BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian Mavlet Batirov took the gold medal in the men's freestyle 60kg wrestling final at the Beijing Olympics here on Tuesday.

Batirov, 25, dominated the final against Ukrainian Vasyl Fedoryshyn to win two overwhelming bouts 1-0 and 2-1.

The winner of 55kg category at Athens Games four years ago, Batirov swifted to the 60kg class in 2006 and won the title in the 2007 world championships.

Kenichi Yumoto of Japan and Seyedmorad Mohammadi of Iran defeated their respective opponents to share the bronze medals.

Vasvl Fedoryshyn of Ukraine (in red) wrestles with Mavlet Batirov of Russia during the men's freestyle 60kg gold medal match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games wrestling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Mavlet Batirov of Russia won the bout and got the gold medal.(Xinhua Photo)

Russia's fencers pose on the podium after winning the gold of Women's Team Foil of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games fencing event in Beijing, China, Aug. 16, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

Hanna Thompson (R) of the United States competes against Victoria Nikichina of Russia during Women's Team Foil Gold Medal Match of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games fencing event in Beijing, China, Aug. 16, 2008. Russia beat the United States 28-11 and claimed the gold. (Xinhua Photo)

Emily Cross (R) of the United States competes against Victoria Nikichina of Russia during Women's Team Foil Gold Medal Match of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games fencing event in Beijing, China, Aug. 16, 2008. Russia beat the United States 28-11 and claimed the gold.(Xinhua Photo)

Svetlana Boyko of Russia celebrates the victory during Women's Team Foil Gold Medal Match of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games fencing event in Beijing, China, Aug. 16, 2008. Russia beat the United States 28-11 and claimed the gold. (Xinhua Photo)

BEIJING, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Russian women fencers stunned their U.S. rivals 28-11 here Saturday to pocket foil team event gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The bronze medal went to Italy which defeated Hungary.

The final bout was apparently lop-sided. Russia's Svetlana Boyko alone made 13 hits for the team's victory. On the U.S. side, Emily Cross scored 8 points, and her two teammates shared the rest of 3 points.

"It's Boyko! She made the last points against Italy (in semifinal) and the United States, and she did it very well. She's like a mother for us," said Russia's Nikichina Victoria after the match.

Boyko, the 36-year-old fencer, said she would retire after the Games.

"It was a hard day. We won gold, not against the United States, but against Italy. I waited 16 years and four Olympics for this. It was my last chance, as I'm going to retire," she told reporters.

A feast for Beijing as divas arrive in town

It is the opera world's most common question: Who will be the next Maria Callas?

So far there has been no clear winner but on all accounts, Angela Gheorghiu and Renee Fleming must be two of the very best choices to inherit the mantle from the legendary Greek soprano. Now, Beijingers and visitors are about to receive a heaven-sent gift - both stars are in town to grace the city's most prestigious stages.

Angela Gheorghiu and Renee Fleming (left) are in Beijing to grace the city's most prestigious stages. [File photos]

Tomorrow, Gheorghiu will give a solo concert at the National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA) and raise the curtain of The Global Harmony - Divas in Beijing concert series. The five performances at the Great Hall of the People and the NCPA will feature eight world-renowned performers from leading opera houses in Europe, the United States and Asia-Pacific region.

When Gheorghiu was granted a debut, playing Violetta in La Traviata in 1994, the opera world was struck by her beauty and incredible voice. Her sensuous vocal techniques and dazzling stage presence are widely said to leave her numerous rivals far behind.

Renee Fleming's performance with three other singers on August 16 at the NCPA will conclude the concert series. Acclaimed as "America's beautiful voice", the soprano has a devoted international following wherever she appears. Soprano Sumi Jo, known as the "No 1 Asian lyric coloratura soprano", is the only Asian among the eight operatic stars. She has been praised for her remarkable agility, precision, warmth of her coloratura voice and outstanding musicianship. The great conductor Karayan once called her voice "a gift given by God". Her solo concert will be on August 11 at the NCPA.

Immediately after the death of Pavarotti, Carreras announced there would be no more "Three Tenors". Innumerable would-be successors appeared until Marcello Giordani, Salvatore Licitra and Ramon Vargas finally stood out. The public's reaction seemed to confirm the arrival of a new celebrated line-up.

These superstars will also be in Beijing. The "Three New Tenors" concert will be on August 14 at the Great Hall of the People.

The closing performance will sparkle with starlights when "Siberian tiger", the world present chief baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky meets "Latin lover", the handsome German tenor Jonas Kaufmann. The concert also stars Renee Fleming and Sumi Jo.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky was a popular heavy-metal rock'n' roll singer before becoming a baritone. He received sudden acclaim in the operatic world in 2000 and he has widely been lauded as one of the finest baritones of the 21st century.

Kaufmann, meanwhile, has been hailed by Time magazine as "the most important and most versatile singer of our age". His perfect debut in La Traviata at Covent Garden in London two years ago won accolades from the media and public alike.
China Daily

Successes at Ferrari had prompted the Italian Olympic Committee to seek a fast partnership with the Maranello-based company. The agreement would see CONI, the Italian Olympic Committee, pair up with Luca di Montezemolo’s outfit in producing better, faster, stronger athletes for the next two Olympics.

Ferrari would essentially help develop hi-tech equipment for such disciplines as skeleton, canoeing, sailing, paralympic skiing, bobsled and luge.

"We want to be as fast as a Ferrari in Beijing," CONI president Giovanni Petrucci said.

Di Montezemolo echoed his sentiments: "There are three things we have in common: passion, the ability to work as a team and the Italian flag," he said. "If there is even one-thousandth of Ferrari in Italian victories, we'll be honored."

If this works out for both entities we may see the likes of McLaren, Renault and RBR teaming up with their own Olympic committees seeking wins। What’s uncertain is if a losing F1 team would automatically bring down its associated Olympic team.

Maria Nafpliotou of Greece in this undated file photo। Maria, a renowned Greek actress and dancer, was designated a the High Priestess of the Lighting Ceremony for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.

ATHENS, Feb। 27 (Xinhua) -- The Plenary Session of the Hellenic Olympic Committee decided unanimously Wednesday that the High Priestess of the Lighting Ceremony for the Beijing Olympic Games will be the actress Maria Nafpliotou.

Nafpliotou is the 10th High Priestess in the history of the Olympic Flame and the 9th in the history of summer Olympic Games.

Nafpliotou got a diploma from the state affiliated professional dance school of Rallou Manou. She had also won a scholarship for the state school of Classical dance in Leningrad in the former Soviet Union.

Maria Nafpliotou of Greece in this undated file photo। Maria, a renowned Greek actress and dancer, was designated a the High Priestess of the Lighting Ceremony for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games. (Xinhua Photo)

She started a very successful professional career as a dancer and theater, cinema and TV actress, earning positive comments both from the public and the critics.

From 1987, she was a core member of Rallou Manou's dance troupe "Elliniko Chorodrama." Her first performance on stage took place in winter 1999 with Greece's National Theater when she held the role of Katherine in Tennessee Williams' "Suddenly Last Summer".

She also took roles in many performance of Shakespeare drama with the National Theater of Greece.

She made her debut in the cinema with the Greek film "The Island". In 1996, she held the leading female role in Alexandros Papailiou's film "Niovi dances her life". In 2005, she got the best actress award in Cairo's International Film Festival for her role in Grigoris Karadinakis "Chariton's Choir" film.

Maria Nafpliotou is fluent in English, while literature, music, dance and cinema are her hobbies.

The countdown clock for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games is seen in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia February 12, 2008. The clock is set to count down to the moment the opening ceremonies begin.

5 November 2007

While in the city for the 2007 AIBA World Boxing Championships, IOC President Jacques Rogge visited the Economic Club of Chicago last Friday. At the invitation of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, President Rogge used the opportunity to introduce the cornerstones of the Olympic Movement - values, partnerships and legacy - to Chicago's business and civil community: "Our values demonstrate who we are and what we stand for. They distinguish the Olympic Games from all other sporting events. They reflect the universal principles that drive the Olympic Movement. Partnership is the core of our success and the soul of the Olympic Games. This partnership unites 205 National Olympic Committees in one place, under one flag, for 16 days, to engage in sport at the service of society. Legacy is our raison d’être. It ensures that the Olympic Games are more than metres and medals. The Games leave behind a host of social, economic and environmental benefits." The President added: "Values, partnership and legacy are all required to turn the Olympic Games into an enduring celebration of the human spirit."

Why Olympic Values Matter

Rogge continued by explaining how the Olympic values translate into daily life and are incorporated in the Olympic Movement's activities: "The Olympic Movement does its greatest work by instilling the values of sport into the hearts and minds of young people everywhere. Sport is a universal language. It teaches us how to strive for excellence in all that we do. How to live in friendship and peace. How to respect ourselves, each other and the rules. Excellence, friendship and respect are the fundamental Olympic values. They anchor all our activities."

Partnerships for impact

In order to give these activities an impact in the world, the IOC - represented by fewer than 500 people – works with various partners and stakeholders. "Without our partners, it would be impossible to stage the Olympic Games", stated the IOC President. Elaborating on the collaboration between sport, broadcasters and business communities he said: "The IOC receives about 60 per cent of our funding from broadcasters and the remaining 40 per cent from our 12 Worldwide Sponsors. Broadcast and corporate support have widened the reach of the Olympic Games. It has made them universal and allowed developing countries to participate. The IOC keeps a very small percentage for our own administrative expenses. We allocate the rest to 205 National Olympic Committees, 35 International Federations and - importantly - to the Organising Committees in the host cities. We provide between 50 and 60 per cent of their revenue, with the rest coming from local sponsors." Rogge also made it clear that he regards these partnerships as a win for all parties involved: "As much as our partnership with business has benefited the Olympic Movement, it has returned great benefits to our partners. The Olympic Games offer an unrivalled brand platform. The relevance of Olympic values to human achievement gives sponsors a powerful foundation for building, enhancing and promoting their own brands. This is true both internationally and locally."

Key: Leaving a Legacy

Elaborating on the Olympic brand, Rogge emphasised that he regards "legacy" as its essence. "Once an Olympic City, always an Olympic City. Wherever the Games have appeared, cities are changed forever", Rogge stated. Stressing that the IOC looks at the legacy aspect from the moment a city bids for the Games, Rogge gave the example of the Sydney 2000 Games, which were a catalyst for an economic boost, infrastructure improvements and increased tourism in the city. In order to ensure the transfer of knowledge from past Games organisers to future hosts, the IOC has developed different tools: "One example is a rigorous report called the Olympic Games Impact study. It identifies and tracks 150 sustainable development criteria in three areas - social, economic and environmental. This is a powerful tool to remake, remodel and rejuvenate cities through sport. And it is a very useful way to capture knowledge that can be transferred from one host city to the next. Beijing will be the first host city to produce a full Olympic Games Impact report."

31 October 2007

Today, the 62nd Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, chaired by Srgjan Kerim, adopted the Olympic Truce Resolution for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Through this resolution, the UN invites its member States to observe and promote peace during Games-time in order to protect the interests of athletes and sport in general, and to contribute, through sport, to the search for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to the world's conflicts.

Broad support from the world's community

Introduced by the Games host country China on behalf of the IOC, and entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”, the resolution was co-sponsored by 187 member States of the General Assembly. Nawal El Moutawakel, Minister for Youth and Sport in Morocco, Olympic champion and an IOC member, emphasised in her address to the General Assembly that: "More than this, sport, as a vehicle for the values of humanism, such as tolerance and understanding between peoples, is today an indispensable element and a permanent school of life which we must continue to cultivate in order to promote peace and solidarity internationally."

Contributing to the UN Millennium Development Goals

The adoption of the Olympic Truce Resolution not only demonstrates the role of sport as a means of promoting peace, but also recognises the increasingly important role of sport in the implementation of internationally agreed development goals such as the Millennium Development goals. This was clearly expressed by IOC President Jacques Rogge during his speech to the General Assembly: "Sport unites the principles that the Olympic Movement holds dear – education, sustainability, non-discrimination, universality, humanism and solidarity. These are also the principles at the core of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. These are the principles that drive far-reaching social change." The IOC President was accompanied by several IOC members.

Countdown to Beijing

Looking ahead to the upcoming Games in August 2008, the IOC President explained that "the 2008 Beijing Summer Games will reach one-fifth of the world's population in China alone. It is predicted that four billion people – the most ever – will watch the Beijing Games. This is a wonderful opportunity for China and the world to witness the Olympic values in action – to see first-hand the excellence, friendship and respect that sport brings to life, to witness the harmony, understanding and peace that sport can engender." Approximately 10,500 athletes from 205 National Olympic Committees, all with different backgrounds, are expected to participate in the 2008 Games. Liu Qi, President of the Beijing Olympic Games Organising Committee, stated that "the Olympic Games may not change the world in an instant, but we have every reason to believe that the legacy of the Olympic Truce can inspire the world in striving towards the long-lasting peace and common prosperity."

Sport for Peace Projects

Beyond its engagement for the Olympic Truce Resolutions in the Olympic Games context, the IOC, with various partners, implements several "Sport for Peace" grass roots projects across the globe. In this connection, the IOC and the UN have established an impressive record of collaboration which was also referred to in the report "Sport for development and peace" of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the General Assembly today. The report was presented by Adolf Ogi, the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace. One of the latest UN-IOC joint initiatives took place in Liberia last spring. During a five-week nationwide Sport for Peace Programme, youth and community leaders from 15 Liberian counties participated in various sporting activities such as football and volleyball. The project used sport as a vehicle to bring people from different communities peacefully together – not a matter of course in today’s Liberia. The sporting activities, complemented by public awareness campaigns about social issues like HIV/AIDS, sexual exploitation and abuse and community reconciliation, were made possible through a donation of sports equipment by the IOC.

Olympic culture road to show in Qingdao (photo attached)

Citizens walk underneath a series of Olympic featured advertising light boxes on Qingdao's coastal expressway, Fuzhou Rd on Wednesday.

The government of Qingdao is about to build the city's landmark expressway of Fuzhou Rd into a Olympic culture road where the locals and visitors will see vivid pictures of the world famous Olympians like Liu Xiang and Deng Yaping or the highlights of Olympic movement in history as the content of the public service advertising.

Bird's eye view of the sailing venue's central section;

Qingdao is located on the southern coastline of the Shandong Peninsula, in east China's Shandong Province. Dubbed "Eastern Switzerland", Qingdao is one of China's most important port cities. With an area of 10,654 km2, it has a population of 7.31 million by the end of 2004.

A unique blend of sea and mountains and a pleasant climate make Qingdao extraordinary. It has an average temperature of 12.2 degrees Celsius and a total length of coastline (including that of its 69 offshore islands) of 862.64 kilometers, of which 730 kilometers are continental.

Qingdao is an important manufacturing centre, an ice-free seaport and one of the most important textile industrial centres in China. It is also famed as a transit pivot for Eurasia and the Pacific region.

Qingdao International Marina

The Qingdao International Marina for the Games of the 29th Olympiad is located on the old site of the Beihai shipyard by Qingdao's Fushan Bay in China's Shangdong Province. The Centre will cover a total area of 45 hectares (450,000 sq.m.), two thirds of which will be utilised for the competitions.

The whole project is comprised of the Land Area, and the Harbor and the Off-shore Section. The projects on land will provide the administration and competition management centre, the athletes' centre, the press centre, the logistic and functional centre, and other affiliated facilities as well. The Harbor and Off-Shore parts will focus on the engineering of the major and secondary breakwater, an embankment, a quay featuring the Olympic Memorial Wall, and the renovation of the shore wall.

The quay, the secondary breakwater, and the embankment will enclose an area of 15.5 hectares (155,000 sq.m.) while the major breakwater, together with the embankment, will occupy 7.5 hectares (75,000 sq.m.). Additional overlay and facilities will also be placed for temporary use of the Games. A removable surveying shed and a pontoon, for instance, will be set up separately on the embankment and the western quay to facilitate observations and transportation.

Waves gently lap against the new dock.

The new gulf for the Olympic Sailing events.

Geographical representation of the Olympic facilities.

Environmental layout in the area.

The 2012 Olympic Games and culture

Please use the following link for ‘Inclusive and Active’ - A Sport and Physical Activity Action Plan for Disabled People in London 2007-2012

London is one of the cultural capitals of the world. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are an opportunity to showcase all the cultural offerings of the capital to an international audience.

The 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games will be accompanied by a four-year cultural festival. This will start at the end of the Beijing Games in summer 2008 and continue over the period of the London Games in summer 2012. The festival will take place across the whole of London and will celebrate every element of the vibrant cultural life of the UK and its capital through events, exhibitions and educational activities.

The cultural festival will provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for London's creative industries and artists to flourish and to show their work to a global audience. Cultural events will blend into the programme of the Games themselves, allowing Londoners to take part in the greatest show on earth, which will leave a lasting impression on its thousands of visitors.

Find out more about the London 2012 Olympic Games.

olympic spirit

Russian Kanaeva wins gymnastics rhythmic individual all-around Olympic gold

Russia's Ilchenko snatches first Olympic open water gold

Russia's Batirov wins men's freestyle wrestling 60kg gold

Russia wins women's foil team gold at Beijing Olympics

A feast for Beijing as divas arrive in town

Italian Olympic Athletes to Use Ferrari-Designed Equipment

Hellenic Olympic Committee announces the High Priestess for the Lighting Ceremony

Vancouver marks two-year countdown to 2010 Olympics

IOC President addresses Economic Club of Chicago

UN adopts Olympic Truce Resolution

Olympic culture road to show in Qingdao (photo attached)

Qingdao International Marina

The 2012 Olympic Games and culture

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