Soccer referees put in jail for taking bribes

Soccer referees put in jail for taking bribes

Former Chinese soccer referees Huang Junjie (top) and Lu Jun listen to the verdict at the Dandong Intermediate People's Court in Dandong, Northeast China's Liaoning province, Feb 16, 2012.

DANDONG, Northeast China - A batch of former Chinese soccer referees including Lu Jun, Huang Junjie and Zhou Weixin were sentenced in prison for accepting bribes by a northeast Chinese court on Thursday.

China's former top soccer referee "Golden Whistle" Lu Jun, who was a 2002 World Cup referee, was sentenced to five and a half years in jail for accepting bribes for match-fixing.

The court also ordered the confiscation of his personal property worth 100,000 yuan ($15,870).

Huang Junjie was sentenced to seven years in prison for accepting bribes as non-state staff and confiscation of his personal property worth 200,000 yuan ($31,760) by the court in the first instance.

Huang used to be one of the best-known soccer referees in China. He had a more than 20-year-long career as a referee and was certified as an international level referee in 1998.

Former soccer referee Zhou Weixin was sentenced to three years and six months in prison for accepting bribes as non-state staff.

The court has deliverd first verdict on graft charges of five former soccer referees.

A police vehicle transporting the suspects arrives at the Dandong Intermediate People's Court before the verdict in Dandong, Feb 16, 2012.

Former Chinese soccer referee Zhou Weixin (L) and Huang Junjie leaves the Dandong Intermediate People's Court after the verdict in Dandong, Feb 16, 2012

Lawyer for defendant Lu Jun talks to media after the verdict by the Dandong Intermediate People's Court in Dandong, Feb 16, 2012.

(Xinhua)

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One year to go to 2012 olympic Games

One year to go to 2012 olympic Games

People gather around the stage at the One Year to Go ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics countdown event in Trafalgar Square, London on July 27, 2011.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (L) and London Mayor Boris Johnson chat during the London 2012 Olympic Games one year countdown at an Olympic event in Trafalgar Square in central London July 27, 2011.

A spectator celebrates during the London 2012 Olympic Games one year countdown at an Olympic event in Trafalgar Square in central London July 27, 2011.

Former Olympic gold medallists Kelly Holmes and Sebastian Coe, the Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, hold up the newly designed medals for the London 2012 Olympic Games, at an Olympic event in Trafalgar Square in central London July 27, 2011.

A group of young Chinese from Guangzhou, China joins the celebrating crowd in the London 2012 one year countdown event in Central London.

[China Daily]

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Environmentalists started 1,200-km-long journey to Shanghai on bicycle

Environmentalists started 1,200-km-long journey to Shanghai on bicycle

Environmental volunteers depart on a tour to the Shanghai Expo by bike, in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, May 15, 2010. The twenty-seven environmentalists started the 1,200-km-long journey from Changsha Saturday, and they would arrive in Shanghai 15 days later, via Jiangxi Province and Zhejiang Province.

Environmental volunteers take an oath before their departure on a tour to the Shanghai Expo by bike, in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, May 15, 2010. The twenty-seven environmentalists started the 1,200-km-long journey from Changsha Saturday, and they would arrive in Shanghai 15 days later, via Jiangxi Province and Zhejiang Province.

Environmental volunteers depart on a tour to the Shanghai Expo by bike, in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, May 15, 2010. The twenty-seven environmentalists started the 1,200-km-long journey from Changsha Saturday, and they would arrive in Shanghai 15 days later, via Jiangxi Province and Zhejiang Province.

Environmental volunteers wait to depart on a tour to the Shanghai Expo by bike, in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, May 15, 2010. The twenty-seven environmentalists started the 1,200-km-long journey from Changsha Saturday, and they would arrive in Shanghai 15 days later, via Jiangxi Province and Zhejiang Province.
(Xinhua)

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Born to be a hunter

Born to be a hunter

Photo taken on March 20 shows a saker is catching a pigeon in the sky in Xinjiang's Akqi county, which is called "The Land of Falcon" in China.

Photo taken on March 20 shows a saker is catching a rabbit in Xinjiang's Akqi county, which is called "The Land of Falcon" in China.

Photo taken on March 20 shows a saker is catching a pigeon in Xinjiang's Akqi county, which is called "The Land of Falcon" in China.

Hunters hold sakers in their hands, preparing for hunting in Xinjiang's Akqi county, which is called "The Land of Falcon" in China.

Hunters hold sakers in their hands, preparing for hunting in Xinjiang's Akqi county, which is called "The Land of Falcon" in China.

A hunter rides a horse with a saker in his hand in Xinjiang's Akqi county, which is called "The Land of Falcon" in China.
(Xinhua)

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China's manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 in final preparation for launch

China's manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 in final preparation for launch

The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower are vertically transferred to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province Sept. 20, 2008. The transfer finished at 3:15 p.m.on Saturday, marking the final stage of the launching preparation.(Xinhua Photo)


JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower were vertically transferred to the launch pad at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, marking the final stage of the preparation.

The 58.3-meter-high body was transferred to the launch pad on a 1,500-meter-long heavy rail line. The transfer lasted more than one hour and two check-ups were conducted.

More than 20 meteorological workers were monitoring the process as the transfer must be conducted with the wind speed under 10 meters per second.

The manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 would be launched at an appropriate time between Sept. 25 and 30 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province.

The Long-March II-F rocket, developed in 1992, is said to be the most complicated and reliable carrier rocket in China's aviation history with all its launch mission successfully finished. So far the rocket had sent two manned spacecraft and four unmanned into space.

Since October 1996, the Long-March series rockets have successfully launched for 108 times. The Shenzhou-7 project will be its 109th mission.

Earlier reports said when Shenzhou-7 enters its orbit, one of the three aeronauts would conduct a space walk and cameras would be mounted outside and inside of the ship for live broadcast of the walk.

While the last mission of Shenzhou-6, with a crew of two, was aimed at multiple days of manned flight, this time the task might be more stringent as one of its main goals was the space walk.

China successfully put two manned spacecraft into orbit in 2003 and 2005, respectively, becoming the third country to send an astronaut into space after the United States and the Soviet Union.


The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower are vertically transferred to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province Sept. 20, 2008. The transfer finished at 3:15 p.m.on Saturday, marking the final stage of the launching preparation.(Xinhua Photo)


The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower are vertically transferred to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province Sept. 20, 2008. The transfer finished at 3:15 p.m.on Saturday, marking the final stage of the launching preparation.(Xinhua Photo)


The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower are vertically transferred to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province Sept. 20, 2008. The transfer finished at 3:15 p.m.on Saturday, marking the final stage of the launching preparation.(Xinhua Photo)


The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower are vertically transferred to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province Sept. 20, 2008. The transfer finished at 3:15 p.m.on Saturday, marking the final stage of the launching preparation.(Xinhua Photo)


The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower are vertically transferred to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province Sept. 20, 2008. The transfer finished at 3:15 p.m.on Saturday, marking the final stage of the launching preparation.(Xinhua Photo)


The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower are vertically transferred to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province Sept. 20, 2008. The transfer finished at 3:15 p.m.on Saturday, marking the final stage of the launching preparation.(Xinhua Photo)


The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower are vertically transferred to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province Sept. 20, 2008. The transfer finished at 3:15 p.m.on Saturday, marking the final stage of the launching preparation.(Xinhua Photo)


The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower are vertically transferred to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province Sept. 20, 2008. The transfer finished at 3:15 p.m.on Saturday, marking the final stage of the launching preparation.(Xinhua Photo)


The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower are vertically transferred to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province Sept. 20, 2008. The transfer finished at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, marking the final stage of the launching preparation.(Xinhua Photo)


The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower are vertically transferred to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province Sept. 20, 2008. The transfer finished at 3:15 p.m.on Saturday, marking the final stage of the launching preparation.(Xinhua Photo)

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Liu Xiang pose for media before Shanghai grand prix

Liu Xiang pose for media before Shanghai grand prix

Chinese basketball player Yao Ming (L) and Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang pose for media upon their arrival at a welcome reception for the 2008 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix track and field event in Shanghai, China, Sept. 19, 2008. The grand prix will be held on Saturday.(Xinhua Photo)


Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang (L) and U.S. hurdler Allen Johnson pose for media upon their arrival at a welcome reception for the 2008 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix track and field event in Shanghai, China, Sept. 19, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)


Chinese basketball player Yao Ming (L) chats with hurdler Liu Xiang before the welcome reception for the 2008 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix track and field event in Shanghai, China, Sept. 19, 2008. The grand prix will be held on Saturday.(Xinhua Photo)


Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang waves to media upon his arrival at a welcome reception for the 2008 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix track and field event in Shanghai, China, Sept. 19, 2008. The grand prix will be held on Saturday.(Xinhua Photo)


Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang poses for media upon his arrival at a welcome reception for the 2008 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix track and field event in Shanghai, China, Sept. 19, 2008. The grand prix will be held on Saturday.(Xinhua Photo)

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China Open attracts tennis' big hitters

China Open attracts tennis' big hitters

Fernando Gonzalez of Chile serves to Andy Roddick of the U.S. during their match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament at Flushing Meadows in New York, Sept. 2, 2008. Fernando Gonzalez and Agnez Szavay are set to defend their China Open titles in Beijing just one month after the spectacular Olympic Games. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)


BEIJING, Sept. 17 -- Fernando Gonzalez and Agnez Szavay are set to defend their China Open titles in Beijing just one month after the spectacular Olympic Games.

Since the Open won the rights to host a nine-day Women's Tennis Association (WTA) event in 2009 -Beijing's biggest tennis event - earlier this year, some big names have thrown their hats in the ring for this year's tournament.

Andy Roddick, David Ferrer, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic are among the top stars to play at the tournament which begins on Saturday, Sept 20.

World 33 Li Na, who made it to the quarterfinals at the Olympics last month, and Australian and Wimbledon Open double's title winner Zheng Jie will give local tennis fans even more to cheer about.


Zheng Jie (L) and Yan Zi of China communicate during the women's doubles quarterfinal against Liezel Huber of the United States and Cara Black of Zimbabwe at the US Open tennis tournament held in New York, the United States, Sept. 3, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)


"Playing on home soil is always a very special feeling for Chinese players," Li said. "The China Open is where we all started. I remember the first time I was given a wildcard to play in Beijing four years ago.

"It is a very special tournament for me."

Chinese players wrapped up a good Olympics, with Zheng and Yan Zi taking a bronze medal.

Beijing outbid Dubai, Tokyo and Bangkok to become one of just four cities to host elite events on the top-level WTA calendar in two years' time.

Other mandatory women's stops will be in Madrid, Miami and Indian Wells, California, that year.

A streamlined WTA calendar will include stops in Tokyo, Sydney, Doha and Dubai, after the WTA established an office in Beijing this year to help with marketing and promotions.

The WTA and Beijing will also explore linking the ATP Shanghai Masters Series to create a combined ATP-WTA event that would rotate annually between China's two major cities.

Prize money for both men and women will jump 30 percent to $7.2 million, with a minimum of $4 million at each of the elite four events.

WTA has opened its office in Beijing in July and is spearheaded by the WTA Tour's chief operating officer David Shoemaker. It is professional women's tennis' third global office after its main headquarters in St Petersburg, Florida, and its European office in London

The Beijing sports authority has announced a 500 million yuan (62.5 million U.S. dollars) post-Olympic budget to host international sports tournaments, with the WTA event top of the list.

Off the court, WTA teamed up with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) last year to help raise the status of women.

Shoemaker said he hoped the China Open would spur social change among women in China.

"The fact our top players play here sends a very strong and powerful signal about the progressiveness of some of those places that I think is inspiring social change," Shoemaker said.

The past four Opens have attracted top players, including Marat Safin, Nikolay Davydenko and Lindsay Davenport.

(Source: China Daily)

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Xinhua initiates its 1st attempt to provide underwater photos

Xinhua initiates its 1st attempt to provide underwater photos

File photo taken on Aug. 3, 2008 shows photojournalist Ding Xu from China's Xinhua News Agency taking photos in the swimming pool of the National Aquatics Center, also known as Water Cube, in Beijing, China.
(Xinhua Photo)


File photo taken on Aug. 3, 2008 shows photojournalist Ding Xu from China's Xinhua News Agency taking photos in the swimming pool of the National Aquatics Center, also known as Water Cube, in Beijing, China.


After one-year thorough preparations from professional devices and personnel training, Xinhua initiated its first attempt to provide underwater photos of swimming and synchronized swimming events during the Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics, which has gained lots of high appraisal and compliment from home and abroad.


File photo taken on Aug. 13, 2008 by photojournalist Ding Xu from China's Xinhua News Agency shows Michael Phelps of the United States plunges into the water during the men's 200m butterfly final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Aquatics Center, also known as Water Cube in Beijing, China


File photo taken on Sept. 11, 2008 by photojournalist Ding Xu from China's Xinhua News Agency shows athletes plunges into the pool during the SM5 final of men's 200m individual medley of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, China.


File photo taken on Aug. 3, 2008 shows photojournalist Ding Xu(L) from China's Xinhua News Agency discussing with a manager about fixing underwater devices in the National Aquatics Center, also known as Water Cube, in Beijing, China.(Xinhua Photo)


File photo taken on Aug. 3, 2008 shows photojournalist Ding Xu(C) from China's Xinhua News Agency preparing to start underwater photography in the National Aquatics Center, also known as Water Cube, in Beijing, China.(Xinhua Photo)


File photo taken on Aug. 3, 2008 shows photojournalist Ding Xu from China's Xinhua News Agency adjusting her devices in the swimming pool of the National Aquatics Center, also known as Water Cube, in Beijing, China.

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Yao Ming stays with Sichuan students for Mid-autumn Festival

Yao Ming stays with Sichuan students for Mid-autumn Festival

Chinese NBA star Yao Ming arrives at the Beichuan Middle School ruins to pay tribute to the victims of the May 12 earthquake on September 14, 2008, the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. [Photo: Yaofoundation.cn]


Chinese NBA star Yao Ming arrives at the Beichuan Middle School ruins to pay tribute to the victims of the May 12 earthquake on September 14, 2008, the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. [Photo: Yaofoundation.cn]


Yao Ming participates in a short ceremony at the Jianshecun Village Elementary School, the first school built from Yao Ming's donations to the earthquake-hit region. Yao Ming plays games with children in the school after the ceremony on September 14, 2008. [Photo: scol.com.cn]


Yao Ming participates in a short ceremony at the Jianshecun Village Elementary School, the first school built from Yao Ming's donations to the earthquake-hit region. Yao Ming plays games with children in the school after the ceremony on September 14, 2008. [Photo: scol.com.cn]


A pupil student from Guangyuan, Sichuan Province ties a red scarf around Yao Ming's neck on September 14, 2008. [Photo: yaofoundation.cn]


NBA star Yao Ming hands out books to pupil students in Guangyuan, Sichuan Province on September 14, 2008. [Photo: yaofoundation.cn]

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