[didrexx]

I think a lot of the haze is actually sand blown into the city from the rapidly expanding Gobi Desert. Still, breathing sand probably isn't helpful, either.

[Chiquita]

It's the coal. They have so much that that's what they use for energy.

[incimisiche]

About the air.....nothing can shock me after flying over LA on a clear sunny day and seeing all that SMOG! I was....shocked. Newspaper articles do not prepare you for the actual visual of the smog in California....very sad and it very affected me...but also dulled my senses to other visuals....

Suffice to say...the courts are gorgeous!

[didrexx]

I'm seeing a few articles about the host country's determination to dominate in these games. One article mentioned Zheng Jie, who gets no sympathy -

For many athletes, playing through injuries is standard practice. Most of China’s Olympic-caliber competitors are tightly controlled by a system that manages almost every aspect of their lives, often from early childhood. This includes housing, education, medical care and interactions with the public and the news media. In this system, decisions about training regimens and the risks of injuries do not get much of a public airing. The case of Zheng Jie, a top female doubles tennis player, however, provides a glimpse of how the obligation to perform often operates.

Despite a painful ankle injury, Ms. Zheng played a punishing schedule last year to gain tour points required to compete in the Olympics. In a news conference after she lost in the first round of the French Open, she broke down in tears. “The pain in my foot was so strong I could hardly concentrate,” she said.

Ms. Zheng said her doctor had told her that she risked permanent injury if she kept playing without treatment and rest. But in an interview, she said her coach denied her request to concede the French Open match. In a television interview after her defeat, the coach, Jiang Hongwei, said Ms. Zheng and her teammate, Yan Zi, “had too much concern for their injuries, which was an important factor in their performance.” OK, coach. She's a big baby.

Link

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/wo...l?ref=olympics

Not to dwell on the negative - the swimming and diving venue is amazing.

The Water Cube.

[NumStulpata]

Disgusting, Pierre. What a heartless, inhumane soul.

[nuveem7070]

Disgusting, Pierre. What a heartless, inhumane soul.

In these kinds of state controlled systems individual humans are irrelevant.

[plalleste]

You'd think they'd give China some wild card love. I know they do that for hockey, which is why Japan and Italy could compete in their games.

[OgrGlgHu]

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

[FinanseMikky]

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

You're not alone

[didrexx]

This is the iconic National Stadium. The Bird's Nest. So cool.



Velodrome



Sailing in the city of Qingdao



Equestrian Events take place in Hong Kong

(Venue change is due to concerns that a disease-free zone, which would allow the horses to return home after the games, could not be delivered in China. Hong Kong's quarantine procedures will allow the equine athletes to compete without concerns for their health. Expensive horsies.)



Shanghai Stadium and Tianjin for footy





Here's hoping there is an ample supply of chill pills and that it is a great success.

[ButKnillinoi]

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?

[didrexx]

Marathon should be interesting.

[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!