http://www.china.org.cn/english/sports/197247.htm

Chief Warns Against Olympics Selection Cheating

The country's sports chief has warned that no tolerance will be shown for cheating during the Beijing 2008 Olympics team selection process.

"We have started to select players to prepare for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. The selection process must be open and fair. No cheating is allowed," said Liu Peng, head of the State General Administration of Sport (SGAS). "Selecting the best players to compete in Beijing is one of the most significant tasks during the preparation period."

Liu revealed his determination to eradicate unfairness and cheating during a SGAS anti-corruption conference.

"The selection task is sensitive and related to different departments. Everything is in the media spotlight. Any bribery cases or scandals will undermine the image of Chinese sport.”

"We must be committed to selecting the best players for Olympic preparations. Every department and administration center must obey the rules. We will take cheating or bribery seriously and people who make mistakes will be harshly punished."

There was controversy ahead of the Athens Games in 2004 when two-time Olympic weightlifting champion Zhan Xugang was selected for the team despite retiring after the Sydney Games four years earlier. He failed all three snatch attempts, prompting questions over why he had been selected over younger candidates.

Liu also stressed his resolve to fight against on-court discipline problems, doping, bribery during venue construction, and abuse of sports lottery and charity funds.

Test events

This year is seen as a tune-up for the Beijing Games in terms of player selection, venue testing and security efforts.

From July to May 2008, China will host 42 test competitions, with 26 of them taking place this year.

Beijing will host 23 events and the remaining tests will be in Hong Kong, Qingdao, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao.

The events are an overall examination of the venue infrastructure, technical system, scheduling, results processing and security protection capabilities.

"Ensuring all the test competitions are a big success is the most important task for the year. It is a rehearsal for the Beijing 2008 Olympics, and it is a showcase to the nation about how we are prepared," said Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

Liu insisted all the test competitions must be planned and organized to Olympic standards.

"We must host characteristic and high-level tournaments and make sure we set up a solid base for the Beijing Olympics."

I guess this Liu Peng must be Li Yongbo's big sports daddy :rolleyes:


http://www.china.org.cn/english/olympic/231458.htm

More than 500 Chinese athletes qualified for Olympics

More than five hundred Chinese athletes have qualified for the upcoming Beijing Olympics next year, said China's sports authority on Friday.

"514 athletes of 26 sports including 211 events have qualified for the competitions in the Olympic Games," said Cui Dalin, vice president of China's General Administration of Sport and vice president of the Chinese Olympic Committee at the press briefing about the preparations of the Chinese athletes.

"Team China is expected to field 550 to 570 athletes in the 2008 Oympic Games, representing the largest group of Chinese athletes to attend any Olympic Games," Cui added.

According to Cui, some 1,300 athletes from 55 national teams were currently in their final winter training sessions.

All this sounds almost like preparing for war :eek: :eek:

"We must be committed to selecting the best players for Olympic preparations. Every department and administration center must obey the rules. We will take cheating or bribery seriously and people who make mistakes will be harshly punished."

Just wondering how they define the best players?:rolleyes:

Just wondering how they define the best players?:rolleyes:
The players line up... and then LYB walks up.
'You, you and you,' he picks a few.
And, there you have it... China's best. :D

It's not just sportspersons that are practicing for the 2008 Games ;) http://www.china.org.cn/english/olympic/228961.htm :eek:
http://www.beijingolympicsfan.com/2007/10/28/olympics-watermelons-squarish-melons-for-beijing-2008/ :eek:
and, finally: http://www.china.org.cn/english/olympic/229732.htm ;)

..as mentioned on the BWF's official website:
http://www.internationalbadminton.org/news1.asp?pageid={DB7C1CFE-AA46-4E2B-AF9A-5036491176FE}
================================================== =========
Top BWF umpires awarded their third Olympics

22 January 2008

WITH less than seven months to go to the Beijing Olympic Games, the Badminton World Federation today confirmed their Olympic umpire list.

http://www.badmintoninternational.net/NewsEditor/Data/330-Mike_and__Yau_li_na_1[1].JPGPictured are umpire Mike Walker (Canada) and Yau Lin Na (M'sia).

The officials come from the top umpires in Europe, Pan America, Oceania and Asia but Anne Smillie, chair of the BWF EVents Committee, is determined to see at least one African umpire at the London 2012 Games.

Hosts China will have two umpires - Hou Longhu and Zhang Peihua - while Ms Zhang Ze Ren is a reserve.

For European umpires like Phil James of England, David Davies of Wales and Sweden’s Hakan Fossto it will be their third Olympics.

James and Fossto umpired at Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000 while Davies officiated at Sydney and Athens 2004, as did Beijing reserve umpire Per Ake Andersen of Sweden. Marcel Schormans of the Netherlands officiated in Athens.

Pan American officials Mike Walker (Canada) and Ms Elaine Kong (USA) both umpired in Athens while, from Oceania, New Zealand's Mrs Lynne Nixey also umpired in 2004. Australia's Greg Vellacott, who umpired at the last two Games, is on the reserve list for Beijing.

http://www.badmintoninternational.net/NewsEditor/Data/361-Shon_Hee_Joo_1[1].JPGPictured is umpire Shon Hee Joo (Korea).

The referee for the Olympic badminton tournament will be Hong Kong's Dennis Li, making his Games debut. He will be able to call on a rich vein of experience from his Deputy Referees. France's Isabelle Jobard officiated in Athens and Indonesia's Juniarto Suhandinata officated at Atlanta '96, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. Charlotte Acherman makes her debut as a Deputy Referee.

Dutchman Ben Lageweg, who officiated at Athens, is the match control coordinator while Singapore's Henry He is the umpire coordinator.

Among the Olympic debutants, Scotsman David Craig and Korean Ms Shon Hee Joo's appointment reflects their rapid rise to the ranks of Certificated umpires.

A record total of 23 nations will be represented among the technical officals in Beijing compared to 18 in Atlanta, and 20 in both Sydney 20 and Athens.

Referees for Beijing Olympics 2008:

Referee: Dennis Li (Hkg); Deputies: Isabelle Jobard (Fra), Juniarto Suhandinata (Ina), Charlotte Ackerman (USA).

Match control coordinator: Ben Lageweg (NED); Umpire coordinator: Henry He (Sin).

Umpires: Badminton Asia Confederation: Hou Longhu (Chn), Zhang Peihua (Chn), Edy Rufianto (Ina), Girish Natu (Ind), Sano Tomoharu (Jpn), Ms Shon Hee Jo (Kor), Ms Yau Lin Na (Mas), Vachara Tungkaparhara (Tha), Chen Chi Shen (Tpe), Nguyen Pham Duy Anh (Vie); Reserves: Ms Wong Mei Peng (Mas), Cheng Wing Kei (Hkg), Ms Zhang Ze Ren (Chn).

Europe: Phil James (Eng), David Davies (Wal), Ms Mojmir Hilica (Cze), Niels Holms Mortensen (Den), Hakan Fossto (Swe), Michael Fyrie-Dahl (Norway), Cormac Breslin (Ire), Marcel Schormans (Ned), David Craig (Sco), Gilles Cavert (Fra); Reserves: Mark Speight (Ger), Ian Spear (Eng), Jane Hancock (Eng), Per Ake Andersen (Swe), Ildiko Lundquist (Swe).

Oceania: Peter Cocker (Aus), Mrs Lynne Nixey (Nzl); Reserves: Greg Vellacott (Aus), Richard Bramley (Nzl).

Pan America: Mike Walker (Can), Ms Elaine Kong (USA); Reserves: Marc Furnemont (Can), Kelvin Martin (Bar).

Have you ever thought about training to be an umpire? You could be like Phil James and become an Olympic veteran. The Badminton World Federation can advise you on courses in your country or your own continental or national association would be able to help you take the first steps. Check out the BWF web site on www.internationalbadminton.org for details.

For further information contact: noridah@internationalbadminton.org or venuvenu@internationalbadminton.org

On the official OG 2008 website, China seem to have forgotten their own badminton stars ;)

On this page (http://en.beijing2008.cn/cptvenues/sports/badminton/index.shtml), they completely forgot Fu Haifeng when mentioning the speed of the birdie. The accompanying picture, a measly one, seems to be of Bao Chunlai... and, if it is, it's a very old one - a pre-ArcSaber 10 BCL picture. In any case, Bao Chunlai is hardly representative of smashing power.

On this page (http://en.beijing2008.cn/cptvenues/sports/badminton/n214070688.shtml), the picture is of Gu Jun who (with Fei Ge) won two OG golds in WD - at the 1996 Atlanta OG and the 2000 Athens OG. It's strange that China chose to use just one player to illustrate a doubles game.

For some reason, none of the more recent winners (like Zhang Jiewen, Yang Wei, Zhnag Ning, Zhang Jun or Gao Ling) has been featured. Alas, not even the photogenic Gong Zhichao made it to the website.

Let's hope for a fair play in Beijing, but having said that, we should look at the history of Seoul Olympics 1988 (esp boxing events). I reserve my comments, only to pray for our shuttlers... :)

From the sports section of the Philippine Daily Enquirer (http://sports.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20080722-149957/Controversial-Lin-set-to-rule-badminton-in-Beijing) :)

Controversial Lin set to rule badminton in Beijing

Agence France-Presse
22 July 2008

HONG KONG -- With a reputation for temper tantrums, supreme confidence and badminton brilliance, Lin Dan is almost certain to steal a share of the limelight at the Beijing Olympics.

World number one for the last 20 months straight, Lin is regarded as the king of badminton and China’s best chance of gold in an event the Red Army is determined to dominate in August.

Winning 13 major singles titles in the last two years, including back-to- back world championships, Lin, with a legion of fans behind him, exudes confidence.

His romance with teammate Xie Xingfang, the world’s number one player on the women's side, has earned them the nickname of badminton's golden couple.

But the 24-year-old has a controversial side which at times has threatened to overshadow his masterful performances on court.

In the lead-up to the Games, Lin has been embroiled in two ugly incidents, the latest prompting calls from some irate fans for his dismissal from the Olympic team.

Lin has apologized for throwing a temper tantrum at a training session in April but denied striking his coach during the outburst.

At the Korean Open final in January, Lin also rushed at the Korean camp after a questionable line call and appeared poised to strike the coach with his racket before trainers and officials intervened.

Later explaining his actions, Lin said South Korea's former Chinese coach was "verbally attacking" him by shouting out offences during the match.

The coach, for his part, called Lin an "ill cultivated player ... the worst he had ever come across."

Lin shrugs off his reputation as one of the bad boys of badminton, insisting he is misunderstood, and that the media is partly to blame.

"Because it is an Olympic year, there have been some verbal attacks on me and the Chinese team, but that is normal," he told AFP on the sidelines on the recent Thomas Cup.

Sporting a T-shirt with a picture of himself on the front, Lin, said "I just try to downplay them and ignore them. I don’t take it personally.

"A lot of it is the media playing it up," the left-hander said.

He added that being number one was tough because everybody wanted to beat him, and upped their game accordingly.

"Because I am world number one, and have been for some time, other players have a bigger desire to beat me and so they often play better against me than against others.

"That will be my biggest problem at the Olympics in Beijing."

Beaten in the first round at the last Olympics in Athens, Lin, seeded number one this time, is determined to make amends on home soil.

Asked who he considered his main threats in Beijing, Lin singled out Malaysian star Lee Chong Wei, Denmark’s Peter Gade, defending Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat and South Korean duo Park Sung-Hwan and Lee Hyun-Il.

Lin and Indonesia’s Hidayat, who has his own reputation for fiery outbursts, have a controversial history, and pundits will relish any showdown.

Hidayat, seeded seven for Beijing, branded Lin arrogant at the 2006 Asian Games, prompting Xie to defend her boyfriend with some choice words of her own about the Indonesian.

Hidayat, who has since insisted he has nothing against the Chinese star, has struggled for form in recent months. But second seed Lee has hit his stride, beating Lin at the Thomas Cup, one of the last major tune-ups for the Games.

Other players expected to threaten Lin include his own teammates, Bao Chunlai and Chen Jin, seeded three and four respectively.

Lin, however, known for his ferocious attacking style, appears relaxed about his chances of clinching his first Olympic gold.

"I never feel I will definitely win the gold medal in Beijing because there are a lot of capable players to challenge me," he told AFP.

"But whoever I play I will always try to perform to the best of my ability and beat them."

Asked who he considered his main threats in Beijing, Lin singled out Malaysian star Lee Chong Wei, Denmark’s Peter Gade, defending Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat and South Korean duo Park Sung-Hwan and Lee Hyun-Il.

Peter Gade? :eek:
Aw, come on!

Lin, however, known for his ferocious attacking style, appears relaxed about his chances of clinching his first Olympic gold.

"I never feel I will definitely win the gold medal in Beijing because there are a lot of capable players to challenge me," he told AFP.

"But whoever I play I will always try to perform to the best of my ability and beat them."

That's a humble yet confident approach to the competition :)

Peter Gade? :eek:
Aw, come on!
please dont over ruled PG out of the contention , men!!:rolleyes::p
this danish shuttlers has a very good chance to win the OG08 also..:o:cool:


[/quote]

please dont over ruled PG out of the contention , men!!:rolleyes::p
this danish shuttlers has a very good chance to win the OG08 also..:o:cool:

Every player in the draw has a chance.
But that doesn't mean much.

The question is: Can it be realised?
Peter Gade is hardly the best bet at OG'08.

Peter Gade? :eek:
Aw, come on!
Surprise 1: He lost to Sato (TC08)
Surprise 2: He beat PSH by outlasting him for 80 mins! (Longest MS match under NSS?)
Surprise 3: He lost to Dane Junior JJ in IO08
Surprise 4: He beat ?? in OG08...Coming soon?
PG is not done yet.(Actually I quite like his chances since there are no young guns in OG08.)
Recent pattern's quite clear and that is: One never knows with PG.
Hopefully the seesawing will be in his favour in OG08.
LD is getting wise and humble.

Surprise 1: He lost to Sato (TC08)
Surprise 2: He beat PSH by outlasting him for 80 mins! (Longest MS match under NSS?)
Surprise 3: He lost to Dane Junior JJ in IO08
Surprise 4: He beat ?? in OG08...Coming soon?
PG is not done yet.(Actually I quite like his chances since there are no young guns in OG08.)
Recent pattern's quite clear and that is: One never knows with PG.
Hopefully the seesawing will be in his favour in OG08.
LD is getting wise and humble.
At the Singapore Open 2008:
- Peter Gade nearly got beaten by Tan Chun Seang.
- Peter Gade nearly got beaten by Nguyen Tien Minh
- Peter Gade was treated graciously by a peak-form Lee Chong Wei :p

Yes, PG is indeed one of the all-time greats.
But this is one Olympics too many and too late ;)

At the Singapore Open 2008:
- Peter Gade nearly got beaten by Tan Chun Seang.
- Peter Gade nearly got beaten by Nguyen Tien Minh
- Peter Gade was treated graciously by a peak-form Lee Chong Wei :p

Yes, PG is indeed one of the all-time greats.
But this is one Olympics too many and too late ;)

erm...pg huh...good to have a seat in quater...maybe will lose to wch...haha...

for the OG, i think every player will put in seriously tranining effort.

At the Singapore Open 2008:
- Peter Gade nearly got beaten by Tan Chun Seang.
- Peter Gade nearly got beaten by Nguyen Tien Minh
- Peter Gade was treated graciously by a peak-form Lee Chong Wei :p

Yes, PG is indeed one of the all-time greats.
But this is one Olympics too many and too late ;)
Is it possible for you to find out how Peter Rasmussen won the OG at the age of 30+?
The scheduling does give allowance for oldies to recover at the late stage.

Is it possible for you to find out how Peter Rasmussen won the OG at the age of 30+?
The scheduling does give allowance for oldies to recover at the late stage.
you mean Paul Erik Hoyer Larsen?

you mean Paul Erik Hoyer Larsen?
yes, you're right.PEHL is a lotta more effort than PR.My apologies to PEHL. Shouldn't apply minimum effort for this kind of thing.

Yeah rite !!! Like it is going to make a difference....is LYB going to listen ????

Yeah rite!!! Like you know whose the best players.

Yeah rite !!! Like it is going to make a difference....is LYB going to listen ????

If these charges are true, this reflects very poorly on China :(

China plans to spy on Olympic hotel guests: US senator

Wed, Jul 30, 2008
AFP

WASHINGTON, US - A TOP Republican US senator on Tuesday said China is planning to spy on guests who stay at foreign-owned hotels during the Olympic Games, which begin next month.

'The Chinese government has put in place a system to spy on and gather information about every guest at hotels where Olympic visitors are staying,' Kansas Senator Sam Brownback told reporters.

'This means journalists, athletes' families, human rights advocates and other visitors will be subjected to invasive intelligence gathering by the Chinese Public Security Bureau.'

The State Department issued a warning in March that Americans travelling to China for the Olympic Games could expect their hotel rooms there to be monitored.

China responded at the time that security arrangements were in accordance with international standards.

Mr Brownback said he was first notified months ago by human rights advocates of Beijing's plan to monitor Internet use at foreign-owned hotels, and that 'several international hotel chains' have confirmed receiving orders to install software and hardware to monitor Internet activity.

He declined to reveal the names of the hotels, saying they feared losing their licences to operate in China and faced large fines if they did not comply with the Chinese order.

'They don't want to do this. They are being forced to do this,' Mr Brownback said. 'If they are specifically identified, they could face retaliation by the Communist government.'

The senator's staff handed out English language translations of two separate documents he said were received by hotels, outlining the government's instructions on how to implement Internet spying software and hardware by the end of July.

'It is required that your company install and run the Security Management System for Internet Access from Public Places in addition to provide network interfaces consistent with the industrial technical standards on public security,' said one of the documents.

'Refusing the installment or stopping operation of the system after installment will be subject to punishment,' it said, citing fines of 5,000 yuan (S$1,002) for an individual and 15,000 yuan for an organisation.

'In the case of serious violation, access to Internet will be suspended or business licence will be cancelled,' it said.

The policy was designed to 'ensure the smooth opening' of the Olympics, as well as 'promote the healthy and orderly development of the Internet, safeguard state security, maintain social order and protect public interests,' the translation of the one of the documents read.

Mr Brownback also distributed a copy of one hotel's privacy warning, which will appear as a pop-window to Internet users.

'We are pleased to offer you high speed Internet service from this hotel. However, before you choose to use this Internet service we wish to advise you that your communications and website activity are not private,' it said.

'All of your activity using this service such as sending emails and accessing websites is required by local law enforcement authorities to be accessible to them and a system is in place to provide that access.'

Mr Brownback called on China to revoke its order, accusing the policy of being contrary to the 'Olympic spirit,' and said he would introduce a Senate resolution condemning China's move.

He also called the Chinese government 'the greatest enabler of human rights abuses around the world.'

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. -- AFP

Haizzzzzzzzzzzzzz,,,
so offensive comment....
this USA senator should ask himself what they had done in abu graffi ( ???) jail,,
or what they have done in iraq,
it's not abuses human rights???

please don't mix the sport with politic


If these charges are true, this reflects very poorly on China :(

China plans to spy on Olympic hotel guests: US senator

Wed, Jul 30, 2008
AFP

WASHINGTON, US - A TOP Republican US senator on Tuesday said China is planning to spy on guests who stay at foreign-owned hotels during the Olympic Games, which begin next month.

'The Chinese government has put in place a system to spy on and gather information about every guest at hotels where Olympic visitors are staying,' Kansas Senator Sam Brownback told reporters.

'This means journalists, athletes' families, human rights advocates and other visitors will be subjected to invasive intelligence gathering by the Chinese Public Security Bureau.'

The State Department issued a warning in March that Americans travelling to China for the Olympic Games could expect their hotel rooms there to be monitored.

China responded at the time that security arrangements were in accordance with international standards.

Mr Brownback said he was first notified months ago by human rights advocates of Beijing's plan to monitor Internet use at foreign-owned hotels, and that 'several international hotel chains' have confirmed receiving orders to install software and hardware to monitor Internet activity.

He declined to reveal the names of the hotels, saying they feared losing their licences to operate in China and faced large fines if they did not comply with the Chinese order.

'They don't want to do this. They are being forced to do this,' Mr Brownback said. 'If they are specifically identified, they could face retaliation by the Communist government.'

The senator's staff handed out English language translations of two separate documents he said were received by hotels, outlining the government's instructions on how to implement Internet spying software and hardware by the end of July.

'It is required that your company install and run the Security Management System for Internet Access from Public Places in addition to provide network interfaces consistent with the industrial technical standards on public security,' said one of the documents.

'Refusing the installment or stopping operation of the system after installment will be subject to punishment,' it said, citing fines of 5,000 yuan (S$1,002) for an individual and 15,000 yuan for an organisation.

'In the case of serious violation, access to Internet will be suspended or business licence will be cancelled,' it said.

The policy was designed to 'ensure the smooth opening' of the Olympics, as well as 'promote the healthy and orderly development of the Internet, safeguard state security, maintain social order and protect public interests,' the translation of the one of the documents read.

Mr Brownback also distributed a copy of one hotel's privacy warning, which will appear as a pop-window to Internet users.

'We are pleased to offer you high speed Internet service from this hotel. However, before you choose to use this Internet service we wish to advise you that your communications and website activity are not private,' it said.

'All of your activity using this service such as sending emails and accessing websites is required by local law enforcement authorities to be accessible to them and a system is in place to provide that access.'

Mr Brownback called on China to revoke its order, accusing the policy of being contrary to the 'Olympic spirit,' and said he would introduce a Senate resolution condemning China's move.

He also called the Chinese government 'the greatest enabler of human rights abuses around the world.'

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. -- AFP

hm... doesn't the USA government also monitor their own internet?

..those countries monitor each other (with satellites, phones, internet etc.2)....ho-hum, this news is almost about nothing...:p

During the opening march-past, China's flag could fly higher than that of any other participating nation :rolleyes:

The reason?

Yao Ming (http://2008.sina.com.cn/en/news/2008-08-07/15545883.html) will be holding the flag at the head of the Chinese contingent.

He is 2.26 metres tall (7.4 feet) :)

..is that with or without his size 18 shoes???.. ;)

If these charges are true, this reflects very poorly on China :(

China plans to spy on Olympic hotel guests: US senator



Than you should read this one: Danish coach accuses Chinese of spying at 2007 Women's World Cup (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/writers/grant_wahl/08/01/denmark/index.html)
(actually heard a different version of this story but that was more of the freaky deaky JPN kind :p)

In any case people with sensitive (business/security) data on their notebooks were advised to not bring those with them is what I've been reading the last few weeks with the internet connections being monitored and all that ;).
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4449148.ece

We see, hear and read a lot of complaints about reduced or restricted internet access in China during the Olympics.

IMHO, this is a misnomer.

I'm hardly endorsing the Chinese policy but, in my view, visiting journalists or the International Olympic Committee complaining about this policy is bizarre, misplaced and ridiculous.

The key question here is:
Do these restrictions hamper 'the media's ability to report on the Olympics' from Beijing?

If the answer is 'Yes', the restrictions must certainly be condemned.
If the answer is 'No', then the complainants need to be condemned.

Why should it bother sports journalists if websites on topics sensitive to the Chinese government are blocked? After all, the press contingents now in China have been sent to cover the Olympics.

If Amnesty's website is blocked, how does that hinder reporting on, say, badminton or wrestling or rhythmic gymnastics? If search engines don't turn up anything on Falun Gong, how does that prevent AFP or the New York Times from reporting on the pole-vault or volleyball events?

Leave it to the 1,327,563,688 Chinese to complain about this issue ;)