[nuveem7070]

My question is this: How could the Olympics have been awarded to Beijing? Shouldn't the venue prove the air is good first, then receive consideration for hosting the Olympics?

It's very common to award games based on promises to do this or that. Usually it's about infrastructure (public transportation, hotels etc.), this time about clean air...

[Chiquita]

I saw a report on the news just yesterday about how the Chinese are cheating on their measurements of the air, and how the air is not that much better than it was in 1998. I guess they are going to provide masks to the athletes, suggesting they wear them when they're not competing.

My question is this: How could the Olympics have been awarded to Beijing? Shouldn't the venue prove the air is good first, then receive consideration for hosting the Olympics?

$$$

[Uvgsgssu]

I can't wait for the Olympics!
I'm a dork!

I love it all too! I even love the opening and closing ceremonies. (I make fun of them, but who am I kidding)

[crestosssa]

Marathon should be interesting.

Eeek. Maybe provide a new mask and fresh oxygen every 5 miles?


Well besides the bad air, the buildings look beautiful.

[didrexx]

Basketball team has been chosen:

Bryant, James to lead US team

By ANDREW SELIGMAN

CHICAGO (AP)—MVP Kobe Bryant has a shot at another big prize after falling short of the NBA championship, and he’ll have plenty of help along the way.

LeBron James is there. Dwyane Wade, too.

They will lead a U.S. Olympic basketball team that was announced Monday and hopes to capture the gold medal in Beijing in August after a third-place showing in Athens four years ago.

The team already has “re-established itself” on an international level, USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said during a news conference.

The next step is to bring home the gold, and the U.S. will send a deep, versatile team to China. Carmelo Anthony and Jason Kidd were also among the 12 players chosen from a pool of 33. They were joined by the Detroit Pistons’ Tayshaun Prince, along with Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Michael Redd and Deron Williams. http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/new...v=ap&type=lgns

[ButKnillinoi]

It's very common to award games based on promises to do this or that. Usually it's about infrastructure (public transportation, hotels etc.), this time about clean air...

I understand that promises are made. I'm just surprised that ... well, I shouldn't be after the debacle concerning how the winter Olympics were awarded to SLC ... anyway, it's hard to believe they would award the Olympics based on a promise to improve the air quality. Bad move. Might be the last time for that brilliant manoeuvre.

[didrexx]

I know, Seb, the Olympic Committee could never be accused of transparency, common sense or integrity when it came to choosing a site.

In the past, if I remember correctly, there were nice gifts, nice piles of cash, and other things unknown involved in the process.

I was hoping that disappeared with the retirement of Samaranch.

[incimisiche]

I can't wait for the Olympics!
I'm a dork!

So am I

I watch all of the olympics from top to bottom and I truly LOVE to watch little known sports / athletes....I feel like I'm watching history in the making sometimes when I'm watching the olympics!

[POMAH_K]

I don't know if this has been posted elsewhere. But anyway..
Found this article earlier:
rest of the article is here
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20080..._ten_us_team_3
Sisters Venus and Serena Williams named to U.S. Olympic tennis team


Steven Wine, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Thu Jun 26, 2:53 PM ET

LONDON - Former gold medallists Venus and Serena Williams are expected to play both singles and doubles for the Olympic team announced Wednesday by the U.S. Tennis Association.


The nine-member team also includes Lindsay Davenport, who won a gold medal in singles at the 1996 Games. She'll play singles and has been nominated for doubles with Liezel Huber, ranked No. 1 in the world in doubles.
First-time Olympians James Blake, Sam Querrey and Robby Ginepri were named to the men's team in singles. Bob and Mike Bryan, the No. 1 doubles team, and Blake and Querrey have been nominated as the U.S. men's doubles teams.
The International Tennis Federation is still filling roster spots, and the USTA anticipates another place will be available on the women's team. It's expected to go to Jill Craybas, who would be a first-time Olympian at age 34.
Zina Garrison will coach the women's team.
"With three former gold medallists on our team and the No. 1 doubles player in the world, we are certainly capable of earning medals at this Olympics," Garrison said.
Rodney Harmon will coach the men's team for the first time

[POMAH_K]

Jill Craybas is going to play, most likely.
I had forgotten that she beat out Harkleroad.