BEIJING OLYMPIC 2008 CITIES (PART III.)

TIANJIN

Construction site of the Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium

Location: Tianjin

Use during the Games: Football Preliminary

Category: New Competition Venue (under construction)

Tianjin

Known as "Diamond of the Bohai Gulf", Tianjin is the gateway to the Chinese capital Beijing. With a population of more than 10 million, it is one of the country's biggest industrial centres and one of the key ports. Tianjin's annual average temperature is 12.2 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Celsius in January and 26.8 degrees Celsius in July).

Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium

Serving as one of the Football venues, the Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium covers 78,000 square meters, with a seating capacity of 60, 000. The project went into construction in August 2003 and is due for completion in 2006. Designed by AXS SAWTO Inc. (Japan), the project fully reflects the three Olympic concepts -- "Green Olympics," "High-tech Olympics," and "People's Olympics."

The six-floor stadium, with a length, width, and height of 380, 270, and 53 meters, respectively, can meet the standards of staging international football games and athletics. Along with such affiliated facilities as big marketplace, exhibition hall, conference room, and gym, the stadium is also able to provide the public with space for entertaining, exercising, and shopping.

The ground floor of the stadium includes a 22,670 square meter indoor parking lot, a 3,460 sq. m. exhibition hall, a 6,400 sq. m. dining room, a 5,930 sq. m. health care centre, and a 4,010 sq. m. section for both athletes and referees.

The franchised stores, the health care centre, and the international convention centre on the first floor cover an area of 3,840, 130, and 85 sq. m., respectively.

The second floor contains a 4,320 sq. m. sports and exercise hall, an 85 sq. m. international convention centre, and a 130 sq. m. health care centre.

There is a 4,166 sq. m. box, a 3,030 sq. m. international convention centre, and a 1,440 sq. m. health care centre on the third floor, while there is a 345 sq. m. international convention centre, and a 1,300 sq. m. health care centre on the fourth floor.

The spectator stand, the 8+1 racetrack, the training field, and the turf field cover 34,740 sq. m., 4,560 sq. m., 20,000 sq. m., and 7,680 sq. m., respectively.

The Olympic Centre Stadium is able to accommodate up to 80,000 people, including 500 of the platform and 300 of the press box.

The Olympic Centre

The Tianjin Olympic Centre is situated to the southwest of the city's downtown area. Covering a total of 966,000 sq. m., the Center is divided into three sections -- the competition section, the comprehensive section, and the accommodation section -- with an investment of 880 million US dollars.

The competition section, the comprehensive section, and the accommodation section occupy an area of 453,000 sq. m., 280,000 sq. m., and 233,000 sq. m., separately.

The competition section consists of a grand stadium, an aquatic sports centre, an international sports exchange centre, and an existing Tianjin sports indoor stadium.

The Stadium under construction

Scale model of the Stadium

info from: http://www.en.beijing2008.com

OLYMPIC FUN FACT (PART 1.)

FUN FACT OF OLYMPIC 1. American Myer Prinstein finished runner-up in the 1900 long jump in Paris, despite not even showing up for the finals. Prinstein, a Syracuse University student who was in fact Jewish, agreed along with several other American athletes not to compete in the finals on Sunday, the Christian Sabbath. Qualifying jumps counted back then, and that's what earned him second place. As legend has it, he was so angry at eventual gold-medal winning jumper Alvin Kraenzlein for competing in the finals that he punched him in the face. Myer Prinstein 2. The 1912 Greco-Roman wrestling match in Stockholm between Finn Alfred Asikainen and Russian Martin Klein lasted more than 11 hours. Klein eventually won but was too exhausted to participate in the championship match, so he settled for the silver. Martin Klein 3. Did you ever wonder why the official distance of a marathon is exactly 26 miles, 385 yards? In 1908, the marathon standard had been set at exactly 26 miles. However, at the Olympic marathon in London, it was decided that the royal family needed a better view of the finish line. Organizers added an extra 385 yards to the race so that the finish line would be in front of the royal box. It's been that length ever since. London marathon 4. The five interlocking rings of the Olympic flag symbolize the five continents of the world (Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas) "linked together in friendship." Olympics founder Pierre de Coubertin claimed that at least one of the rings' colors (blue, yellow, black, green, and red, along with the white background) was present in each country's national flag Olympic flag 5. World record, but no gold medal: In 1924, American Robert LeGendre shattered the world long jump record with a leap of 25 feet, 4 inches. However, the jump was part of the pentathlon competition and LeGendre could muster only a third-place finish overall. The actual long jump competition was won with a jump of 24 feet, 5 inches. Robert LeGendre info from: http://www.infoplease.com

ALL-TIME LEADING OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS (PART 1.)

MOST INDIVIDUAL OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS MEN

PLACE 10. ALADÁR GEREVICH

(WON 7 GOLD, 1 SILVER, 1 BRONZE MEDALS)

Aladár Gerevich

(born 16 March, 1910 in Jászberény – died 14 May, 1991 in Budapest)

Aladar Gerevich is the only athlete in any sport to win the same Olympic event six times. Indeed, he is the only athlete to earn gold medals in six different Olympics. A specialist in sabre fencing, Gerevich's record probably would have been even more extraordinary if his career had not been interrupted when World War II forced the cancellation of two Olympics.

Gerevich made his first Olympic appearance at the 1932 Los Angeles Games when he was 22 years old, earning his first gold medal as a member of Hungary's sabre team.

At the 1936 Berlin Games, Gerevich scored 17 wins against only 2 losses to lead the Hungarians to victory in the team sabre event. He then earned a bronze medal in the individual sabre. He also competed in the team foil event, placing seventh.

After the war, Gerevich returned to the 1948 Olympics stronger than ever. Not only did he win another gold medal in the team sabre and place fifth in the team foil, he earned the gold medal in the individual sabre with a record of 19 wins and only one loss.

At the 1952 Helsinki Games, Gerevich won a complete set of medals: bronze in team foil, gold in team sabre and silver in individual sabre. In 1956, Gerevich placed fifth in the individual sabre and again helped extend the Hungarian winning streak in the team sabre.

He made his final Olympic appearance at the 1960 Rome Games - at the age of 50 - earning yet another gold medal in the team sabre. He was the oldest gold medalist at that event. Gerevich's wife, Erna Bogen, his son, Pal Gerevich, and his father-in-law, Albert Bogen, were also Olympic medalists.

PICTURES:

info from: www.olympic.org

NEWS ABOUT 2014 WINTER OLYMPIC BID CITIES

1. Austria’s Doping Ratification Coincides With IOC. Inspection Of Salzburg 2014

Austria’s ratification of the UNESCO Convention against Doping in Sport has come at an opportune time - during the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Evaluation Commission’s inspection visit to Salzburg of the city’s bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Dr. Heinz Jungwirth, the General Secretary of the Austrian Olympic Committee (AOC) said, “the aim of the convention is the improved combating of doping in sport. International cooperation between the contracting states is to be intensified as part of the convention in order to create as much uniformity as possible in the standards for the international fight against doping”.

Dr. Heinz Schaden, Mayor of Salzburg, said the ratification has come “at a very good time to show the Evaluation Commission and the IOC that Austria is highly committed to the fight against doping”.

Johann Maier, a Salzburg National Council delegate and board member for the Austrian Anti-Doping Committee, said Wednesday, “the Council of Ministers’ positive resolution regarding the UNESCO convention sets the scene for the quick ratification of this international legal contract by the Austrian National Council. The Federal Government thereby gives ongoing support to the Salzburg bid to host the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games”.

Meanwhile Austria’s Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer told reporters Friday that he is backing Salzburg’s 2014 bid, stressing the region’s experience, security and atmosphere. He said, “I think that what Austria and what Salzburg can offer is something you can’t buy for money. We can offer atmosphere, we can offer charm and we can offer professional organization that has been proven several times because organizing huge international sports events is a tradition in our country”.

Gusenbauer said, “we will do the utmost to guarantee and to finance with our partners the Olympic Games here”.

Finance Minister Wilhelm Molterer, also the country’s vice chancellor, said that necessary steps regarding financial guarantees and funding have been taken, adding that “very open” discussions had taken place with the IOC team on the topic.

He said, “we have also very good preparations on security…on the custom side and also the important question of infrastructure investment”.

Salzburg Governor Gabi Burgstaller said the Olympics would bring the city improved infrastructure, including better roads. The athletes village would be used as vacation homes for families who can’t afford hotels or as accommodation for young people, she said.

2.South Korea To Improve Tourism Infrastructure To Win PyeongChang 2014 Bid

Yonhap News reports South Korea saying Friday it will take measures to improve tourism infrastructure in the country’s eastern region in an effort to win the bid for the PyeongChang 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy said in a statement, “the nearby city of Gangneung is in much need of additional deluxe hotels to facilitate organizers of the event”.

The government also reportedly said there is a need to resuscitate the country’s domestic, tourism industry, which has been stagnant since 2001 as overseas trips are becoming more and more frequent.

The government said it plans to conduct a feasibility study on the lifting of restrictions concerning hotels and other accommodation facilities within national parks.

3.Russia’s Supreme Court To Consider Sochi 2014 Appeal

Ria Novosti reports that Russia’s Supreme Court will consider an appeal Thursday by environmentalists against the construction of Olympic facilities in Sochi. The city is bidding for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

Lawyer Mikhail Kreindman told RIA Novosti that the environmental group Greenpeace wants to cancel the federal targeted program for Sochi’s development in 2006-2014, arguing that the construction of sports and tourist facilities fails to observe environmental legislation. He said Greenpeace believes that holding the Olympics in Sochi is possible, but that they “should not cause significant damager to the environment”.

Chiharu Igaya, head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission, said the Olympic building plans affect a number of environmental issues, but said he hopes the Russian government and environmental organizations will reach a compromise.

info from:http.//www.gamesbid.com

HISTORY OF OLYMPIC GAMES PART II. (Paris 1900)

Olympic Games in Paris, France 1900

"The 1900 Olympics, hosted by his own country, greatly disappointed Pierre de Coubertin and the IOC lost control when the French government took over the organizing and planning of the Games.

At the same time of the Olympic Games, Paris was also hosting the World Exhibition, an international fair of immense size. Because of the fair, the Olympics were poorly organized and poorly publicized.

Though more athletes attended the 1900 Games than in 1896, the conditions that greeted the contestants were abysmal. Scheduling conflicts were so great that many contestants never made it to their events. And even when they did make it, athletes found the area for the running events to be on grass (rather than on cinder track) and uneven; the discus and hammer throwers often found that there wasn't enough room to throw so their shots landed in the trees; the hurdles were made out of broken telephone poles; and the swimming events were conducted in the Seine River which had an extremely strong current.

Runners in the marathon suspected the French participants of cheating since the American runners reached the finish line without having the French athletes pass them, only to find the French runners already at the finish line seemingly refreshed. The confusion was so great that many participants had not realized that they had participated in the Olympics.

It was in the 1900 Olympic Games that women first participated as contestants.

At least 1,066 athletes participated, representing 19 countries."

information from: http://www.history1900s.about.com

Pictures about the Olympic Games Paris 1900 :

Olympic 1900

Athletes

Competitor

Olympic games scoreboard

Olympic games medal

Interesting Olympic Facts Part I.

"The Official Olympic Flag

Created by Pierre de Coubertin in 1914, the Olympic flag contains five interconnected rings on a white background. The five rings symbolize the five significant continents and are interconnected to symbolize the friendship to be gained from these international competitions. The rings, from left to right, are blue, yellow, black, green, and red. The colors were chosen because at least one of them appeared on the flag of every country in the world. The Olympic flag was first flown during the 1920 Olympic Games.

The Olympic Motto

In 1921, Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games, borrowed a Latin phrase from his friend, Father Henri Didon, for the Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius ("Swifter, Higher, Stronger").

The Olympic Oath

Pierre de Coubertin wrote an oath for the athletes to recite at each Olympic Games.

During the opening ceremonies, one athlete recites the oath on behalf of all the athletes. The Olympic oath was first taken during the 1920 Olympic Games by Belgian fencer Victor Boin. The Olympic Oath states, "In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams."

The Olympic Creed

Pierre de Coubertin got the idea for this phrase from a speech given by Bishop Ethelbert Talbot at a service for Olympic champions during the 1908 Olympic Games. The Olympic Creed reads: "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

The Olympic Flame

The Olympic flame is a practice continued from the ancient Olympic Games. In Olympia (Greece), a flame was ignited by the sun and then kept burning until the closing of the Olympic Games. The flame first appeared in the modern Olympics at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. The flame itself represents a number of things, including purity and the endeavor for perfection. In 1936, the chairman of the organizing committee for the 1936 Olympic Games, Carl Diem, suggested what is now the modern Olympic Torch relay. The Olympic flame is lit at the ancient site of Olympia by women wearing ancient-style robes and using a curved mirror and the sun. The Olympic Torch is then passed from runner to runner from the ancient site of Olympia to the Olympic stadium in the hosting city. The flame is then kept alight until the Games have concluded. The Olympic Torch relay represents a continuation from the ancient Olympic Games to the modern Olympics.

The Olympic Hymn

The Olympic Hymn, played when the Olympic Flag is raised, was composed by Spyros Samaras and the words added by Kostis Palamas. The Olympic Hymn was first played at the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens but wasn't declared the official hymn by the IOC until 1957.

Real Gold Medals

The last Olympic gold medals that were made entirely out of gold were awarded in 1912.

The Medals

The Olympic medals are designed especially for each individual Olympic Games by the host city's organizing committee. Each medal must be at least three millimeters thick and 60 millimeters in diameter. Also, the gold and silver Olympic medals must be made out of 92.5 percent silver, with the gold medal covered in six grams of gold.

The First Opening Ceremonies

The first opening ceremonies were held during the 1908 Olympic Games in London.

Opening Ceremony Procession Order

During the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, the procession of athletes is always led by the Greek team, followed by all the other teams in alphabetical order (in the language of the hosting country), except for the last team which is always the team of the hosting country.

A City, Not a Country

When choosing locations for the Olympic Games, the IOC specifically gives the honor of holding the Games to a city rather than a country.

IOC Diplomats

In order to make the IOC an independent organization, the members of the IOC are not considered diplomats from their countries to the IOC, but rather are diplomats from the IOC to their respective countries.

First Modern Champion

James B. Connolly (United States), winner of the hop, step, and jump (the first final event in the 1896 Olympics), was the first Olympic champion of the modern Olympic Games.

The First Marathon

In 490 BCE, Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, ran from Marathon to Athens (about 25 miles) to inform the Athenians the outcome of the battle with invading Persians. The distance was filled with hills and other obstacles; thus Pheidippides arrived in Athens exhausted and with bleeding feet. After telling the townspeople of the Greeks' success in the battle, Pheidippides fell to the ground dead. In 1896, at the first modern Olympic Games, held a race of approximately the same length in commemoration of Pheidippides."

information from: http://history1900s.about.com