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.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Why The UK Won't Be Hosting The 2012 Olympics
London does not stand a "cat's chance" in hell of winning the 2012 Olympics bid:
- The London transport infrastructure is not up to standard, and will not be in time for the Games.
- The decision as to who will host the Games will be made next year. The near debacle of the Athens Olympic Games, with regard to delayed construction projects and cost overruns, means that the judging panel will never put themselves in a position like that again. They will be looking for infrastructure that is already in place. The UK does not have that infrastructure in place.
- The voting panel for the IOC consists of a number of European countries. It is well understood that if the 2012 Games were to be held in Europe, then the 2016 Games (for political reasons) could not be held in Europe as well. Spain, for one, wish to bid for the 2016 Games; they will vote against London and Paris in the 2012 decision.
- The cost overruns of the 2004 Games, $12BN against budget of $5BN, plus the expected costs of the 2008 Games ($35BN); means that the cost of holding the 2012 Games are prohibitively expensive. It would be lunacy to bid for them, we can't afford them.
Friday, October 29, 2004
Idiot
The idiot who disrupted the Olympics marathon, by running near the finishing line and pushing the lead runner, has been cleared of indecently assaulting a 7 year old girl.
Cornelius Horan, who was a priest, said:
"I feel now I have completed my mission at sporting events to tell the world about the second coming of Christ..".
Cornelius Horan, who was a priest, said:
"I feel now I have completed my mission at sporting events to tell the world about the second coming of Christ..".
Thursday, October 28, 2004
All Change
One half of the disgraced "dynamic duo" of Greek sprinting, Costas Kenteris, has named Giorgios Panagiotopoulos as his new coach.
Kenteris sacked his last coach, Christos Tzekos, after his expulsion from the Olympic Games in Athens; for avoiding a dope test, and faking a motorcycle accident.
Kenteris and his partner in crime, Thanou, are expecting to find out on Monday if they will face misdemeanour charges; for obstructing a doping test, and for making false statements after their motorcycle "crash".
Kenteris sacked his last coach, Christos Tzekos, after his expulsion from the Olympic Games in Athens; for avoiding a dope test, and faking a motorcycle accident.
Kenteris and his partner in crime, Thanou, are expecting to find out on Monday if they will face misdemeanour charges; for obstructing a doping test, and for making false statements after their motorcycle "crash".
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Putting it Behind Her
British world marathon record holder, Paula Radcliffe, has put her failure at the Athens Olympics behind her; yesterday she announced that she will run in the New York marathon on November 7.
During the Olympics she dropped out of both the marathon, and 10,000 metres.
She started as the favorite for the marathon in the Olympics. However, she crashed out in tears 6km from the finish; describing it as the most traumatic experience of her life.
During the Olympics she dropped out of both the marathon, and 10,000 metres.
She started as the favorite for the marathon in the Olympics. However, she crashed out in tears 6km from the finish; describing it as the most traumatic experience of her life.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Athlete's Fake Penis
In the increasingly bizarre world of athletics, especially the Olympics, nothing exercises some athletes' "mental capacities" more than how to cheat the dope tests.
The World Anti-Doping Agency director-general David Howman, yesterday displayed one of the devices that was used by a member of the Hungarian team in Athens in August.
It comprises a plug which is inserted in the rectum, a small reservoir for "clean" urine, and a tube which is attached to the underside of the penis.
If these cheats stopped wasting their time and energy on cheating, they might actually win gold without having to cheat.
The World Anti-Doping Agency director-general David Howman, yesterday displayed one of the devices that was used by a member of the Hungarian team in Athens in August.
It comprises a plug which is inserted in the rectum, a small reservoir for "clean" urine, and a tube which is attached to the underside of the penis.
If these cheats stopped wasting their time and energy on cheating, they might actually win gold without having to cheat.
Monday, October 25, 2004
Britain's "Plans" To Win the 2012 Olympics
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Demos, think tanks who advise the UK government, have come up with a "brilliant wheeze"; designed to ensure that the UK wins the bid to host the 2012 Olympics.
It seems that the bright boys in Demos and IPPR have suggested that pubs should stage their own Olympics, apparently this will sway the Olympic judges decision as to which country should host the 2012 Games.
Clearly the members of these "think tanks" don't get out much.
They also suggest that Britain should host "Street Olympics".
I have to say, I find it incredible that good money is being thrown away on coming up with ideas that have no chance of winning the bid.
The bottom line is very simple, the UK will not be hosting the 2012 Olympics.
Let us move on, and focus our attention on more pressing issues.
It seems that the bright boys in Demos and IPPR have suggested that pubs should stage their own Olympics, apparently this will sway the Olympic judges decision as to which country should host the 2012 Games.
Clearly the members of these "think tanks" don't get out much.
They also suggest that Britain should host "Street Olympics".
I have to say, I find it incredible that good money is being thrown away on coming up with ideas that have no chance of winning the bid.
The bottom line is very simple, the UK will not be hosting the 2012 Olympics.
Let us move on, and focus our attention on more pressing issues.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Olympic Flower
It is reported that the Iranian sculptor, Jamshid Moradian, will visit Italy to take part in the third Symposium of Mountains and the Winter Olympic Games.
He will create the symbol for the Winter Olympic Games 2005, known as the "Olympic Flower".
The design depicts a rock from which five olive leaves, representing the 5 continents, protrude. Each of the leaves has a ring of the Olympics emerging from below.
The artistic work will be carved onto the mountain, and will be illuminated by lamps.
He will create the symbol for the Winter Olympic Games 2005, known as the "Olympic Flower".
The design depicts a rock from which five olive leaves, representing the 5 continents, protrude. Each of the leaves has a ring of the Olympics emerging from below.
The artistic work will be carved onto the mountain, and will be illuminated by lamps.
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Judge Loses Place
It is reported that George Beckstead, the US judge involved in the scoring mistake that helped Paul Hamm win the gymnastics gold medal at the Athens Olympics, has lost his place on the committee of the gymnastics' world governing body.
Beckstead was not re-elected to the men's technical committee of the international gymnastics federation.
Beckstead was not re-elected to the men's technical committee of the international gymnastics federation.
Friday, October 22, 2004
Hamm Breaths Sigh of Relief
It is reported that U.S. gymnast Paul Hamm will keep his gymnastic gold medal from the Athens Olympics, despite the protest from a South Korean competitor.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected the request by Yang Tae Young to award him the gold. Yang Tae Young based his claim on the judges making a 10th-of-a-point mistake, that gymnastics officials said cost him the title.
The court statement said:
"An error identified with the benefit of hindsight whether admitted or not, cannot be a ground for reversing a result of a competition...".
I agree, judging sports will always be prone to human error; that's life.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected the request by Yang Tae Young to award him the gold. Yang Tae Young based his claim on the judges making a 10th-of-a-point mistake, that gymnastics officials said cost him the title.
The court statement said:
"An error identified with the benefit of hindsight whether admitted or not, cannot be a ground for reversing a result of a competition...".
I agree, judging sports will always be prone to human error; that's life.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
The Mafia and The Olympics
Yesterday's story about the attempted murder of Filippos Sirigos, sports editor of the newspaper Eleftherotypia, looks like being the thin end of the wedge of a very nasty affair.
It seems that Sirigos was not just unpopular for reporting on the case of the "dynamic duo" of sprinting's, Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, lame attempt to hide from a drugs test; by staging a fake motorcycle accident.
He was also reporting on the Octagon scandal (reported on this site some weeks ago); which involves the head of the Athens Games, Gianna Angelopoulos, and her husband.
This story alleges that $450M, originally intended for the Games, has been stolen by these two; using Octagon to syphon the money into various hidden bank accounts.
Gianna Angelopoulos and her husband are suing Sirigos for Euros10m in compensation.
There are strong rumours of Mafia involvement; specifically there is a suspect deal that gave the Karaiskaki soccer stadium to a company belonging to an alleged Mafia boss Sokratis Kokkalisso, who is also involved with Octagon.
So much for the Olympics cleaning up its act!
It seems that Sirigos was not just unpopular for reporting on the case of the "dynamic duo" of sprinting's, Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, lame attempt to hide from a drugs test; by staging a fake motorcycle accident.
He was also reporting on the Octagon scandal (reported on this site some weeks ago); which involves the head of the Athens Games, Gianna Angelopoulos, and her husband.
This story alleges that $450M, originally intended for the Games, has been stolen by these two; using Octagon to syphon the money into various hidden bank accounts.
Gianna Angelopoulos and her husband are suing Sirigos for Euros10m in compensation.
There are strong rumours of Mafia involvement; specifically there is a suspect deal that gave the Karaiskaki soccer stadium to a company belonging to an alleged Mafia boss Sokratis Kokkalisso, who is also involved with Octagon.
So much for the Olympics cleaning up its act!
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Decision Day
Today is the day that Greek prosecutors announce their findings into the scandal involving the dynamic duo of Greek sprinting, Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou
You will recall that these were the two idiots who avoided a drugs test, by faking a motorcycle accident.
Interestingly enough one of the main witnesses, sports editor Filippos Sirigos, has been stabbed and beaten. Gas canisters and petrol were also sent to the owner of the newspaper that Sirigos works for.
Seemingly some people don't like the truth to come out.
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has condemned the attack, noting that it could damage Greece's reputation.
What's the betting that the dynamic duo get let off with a very light sentence?
You will recall that these were the two idiots who avoided a drugs test, by faking a motorcycle accident.
Interestingly enough one of the main witnesses, sports editor Filippos Sirigos, has been stabbed and beaten. Gas canisters and petrol were also sent to the owner of the newspaper that Sirigos works for.
Seemingly some people don't like the truth to come out.
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has condemned the attack, noting that it could damage Greece's reputation.
What's the betting that the dynamic duo get let off with a very light sentence?
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
High Tech Games
The 2008 Olympic Games, being held in Beijing, promise to push the frontiers of technology.
The Beijing Olympic Games organisers are going to complete 116 technology projects, in time for the 2008 Games.
The projects will covers TV, telecom and architecture.
On site broadcasting, and on site wireless communication feature heavily in the projects.
The Beijing Olympic Games organisers are going to complete 116 technology projects, in time for the 2008 Games.
The projects will covers TV, telecom and architecture.
On site broadcasting, and on site wireless communication feature heavily in the projects.
Monday, October 18, 2004
London Parade
London will be hosting a parade today, for the British athletes who competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Once the parade is over, the athletes will meet the Queen.
Once the parade is over, the athletes will meet the Queen.
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Cooking Olympics
The Gastric Olympics start today in Germany.
Competition between the world's leading culinary "athletes" will be fierce, as they compete to see who can cook the best.
Competition between the world's leading culinary "athletes" will be fierce, as they compete to see who can cook the best.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)