Beijing has picked 8:08pm August the 8th 2008, as being the starting date and time for the 2008 Olympic Games.
This is a lucky date, as it contains a string of 8's (the luckiest number according to Chinese tradition).
This date also avoids a clash with the US Open tennis tournament and that American baseball pennant races, which are held at the end of August.
Saturday, November 06, 2004
Friday, November 05, 2004
A Little Bit of Politics
Valentino Castellani, the chief organiser of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics (TOROC), has resigned 15 months before the Games are due to start.
It seems that Castellani, who will formally submit his resignation on 24 November, is feeling "undermined" by the Italian government's nomination of Mario Pescante, culture ministry undersecretary and former head of the Italian Olympic Committee, as overall supervisor for the Games.
Quote:
"The powers given to Pescante ... represent a lack of confidence in the work done here up until now, and above all, in the capacity to continue it..."
TOROC has been criticised for a $227 million budget shortfall; plus, as usual with Olympic events, there has been a distinct lack of enthusiam in the host nation for the event.
TOROC has also been under attack from the media, Il Giornale has publicly "shredded" every detail of TOROC's financing; alleging that excessive amounts have been set aside for food, wine and plane tickets.
Excess spending on drink and hospitality, by Olympic officials, surely not!
Let's face it, the Olympics are regarded by those who organise them as nothing more than a large trough of money in which they gorge themselves like pigs.
It seems that Castellani, who will formally submit his resignation on 24 November, is feeling "undermined" by the Italian government's nomination of Mario Pescante, culture ministry undersecretary and former head of the Italian Olympic Committee, as overall supervisor for the Games.
Quote:
"The powers given to Pescante ... represent a lack of confidence in the work done here up until now, and above all, in the capacity to continue it..."
TOROC has been criticised for a $227 million budget shortfall; plus, as usual with Olympic events, there has been a distinct lack of enthusiam in the host nation for the event.
TOROC has also been under attack from the media, Il Giornale has publicly "shredded" every detail of TOROC's financing; alleging that excessive amounts have been set aside for food, wine and plane tickets.
Excess spending on drink and hospitality, by Olympic officials, surely not!
Let's face it, the Olympics are regarded by those who organise them as nothing more than a large trough of money in which they gorge themselves like pigs.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Winter Sale
The tickets for the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, being held between 10-26 February 2006, have now gone on sale.
There are 1 million tickets; 650000 are available for the public, the remaining 350000 are reserved for national Olympic Committees, sponsors, international sports federations and broadcasters.
The tickets will be priced at between $25.50 and $1082 (how very reasonable!).
The first phase of the ticket sales start today, and will end on the 15th of December.
There are 1 million tickets; 650000 are available for the public, the remaining 350000 are reserved for national Olympic Committees, sponsors, international sports federations and broadcasters.
The tickets will be priced at between $25.50 and $1082 (how very reasonable!).
The first phase of the ticket sales start today, and will end on the 15th of December.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Dynamic Duo Wait in Limbo
The prosecutor deciding the fate of the dynamic duo of Greek sprinting, Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, has postponed his decision as to whether they should be charged for faking a motorcycle accident on their way to a dope test.
The reasons for the delay have not been explained. However, it is reported that the prosecutor is exploring the possibility of pressing charges against the doctors who "treated" the dynamic duo.
In the meantime, it is understood that the Supreme Court has been asked to review a recommendation that Parliament begin an investigation into state funding for a business owned by the coach of the sprinters.
The reasons for the delay have not been explained. However, it is reported that the prosecutor is exploring the possibility of pressing charges against the doctors who "treated" the dynamic duo.
In the meantime, it is understood that the Supreme Court has been asked to review a recommendation that Parliament begin an investigation into state funding for a business owned by the coach of the sprinters.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Frugality Rules!
Jacques Rogge, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, expressed his support on Monday for Beijing's decision to scale back their Olympic construction.
He noted in Beijing, that the Chinese plans for a "frugal Olympics" wouldn't interfere with holding the 2008 Summer Games.
The Chinese have suspended their work on Beijing's 100,000 seat Olympic stadium, and several other facilities, whilst they redesign them to be more "frugal".
Rogge said that the IOC was confident that China could meet its commitments, with regard to its detailed agreement with the committee, on facilities and the conduct of the games.
Good to see the Chinese using common sense; there has to be a limit on how much is spent on the Olympics, otherwise no one would be able to afford to host them.
He noted in Beijing, that the Chinese plans for a "frugal Olympics" wouldn't interfere with holding the 2008 Summer Games.
The Chinese have suspended their work on Beijing's 100,000 seat Olympic stadium, and several other facilities, whilst they redesign them to be more "frugal".
Rogge said that the IOC was confident that China could meet its commitments, with regard to its detailed agreement with the committee, on facilities and the conduct of the games.
Good to see the Chinese using common sense; there has to be a limit on how much is spent on the Olympics, otherwise no one would be able to afford to host them.
Monday, November 01, 2004
Plonker
Greek dope (sorry doping suspect) Kostadinos Kenteris, one half of the "dynamic duo" of sprinting who were disqualified from the Athens Olympics for missing a drugs test, says that he is looking forward to prosecution; so that he can clear his name.
Rather bizarrely Kenteris, in an interview, blamed the Greek Olympic Committee HOC and the International Olympic Committee for setting him up.
He went on to dig an even larger hole for himself by saying:
"Evidently, from what I understand... it starts with IOC President Jacques Rogge, who was looking for me to make sure I entered the Olympic village as early as 12:00 (that day)... and from below his court -- don't forget the HOC is holding elections in a few days....They executed me...".
Some people don't seem to know when to shut up and slink away.
Rather bizarrely Kenteris, in an interview, blamed the Greek Olympic Committee HOC and the International Olympic Committee for setting him up.
He went on to dig an even larger hole for himself by saying:
"Evidently, from what I understand... it starts with IOC President Jacques Rogge, who was looking for me to make sure I entered the Olympic village as early as 12:00 (that day)... and from below his court -- don't forget the HOC is holding elections in a few days....They executed me...".
Some people don't seem to know when to shut up and slink away.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Donation
Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong's and Asia's richest man, has donated US$12.8M to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Liu Qi, Hong Kong's top Communist Party official, has declared him to be a patriot:
"What we received is not just money but more importantly the patriotism of Mr. Li and his support for the Olympics..." .
Li is known to be close to the Chinese leadership, and frequently donates to charitable causes in the mainland.
Li, Nicknamed "Superman" for his moneymaking prowess, has an empire that includes real estate, shipping, mobile networks, oil and retail companies. He is ranked the world's 19th richest man by Forbes.
Liu Qi, Hong Kong's top Communist Party official, has declared him to be a patriot:
"What we received is not just money but more importantly the patriotism of Mr. Li and his support for the Olympics..." .
Li is known to be close to the Chinese leadership, and frequently donates to charitable causes in the mainland.
Li, Nicknamed "Superman" for his moneymaking prowess, has an empire that includes real estate, shipping, mobile networks, oil and retail companies. He is ranked the world's 19th richest man by Forbes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)