Tag Archives: Olympic Games

Boxing, Football, Olympics, Tennis

Weekly Wrap: Beckham, Pacquiao, Liverpool, Asian Cup & ATP

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Pac-Man, Zou Shiming have early start in Macau

Manny Pacquiao takes on Brandon Rios in Macau at around lunchtime on Sunday China time (to ensure a prime-time Saturday evening audience in the US). There was lots of talk from the Manny camp about how this one is for the Philippines given the recent typhoon, but that will all be forgotten when the bell goes. There was also a predictably entertaining build-up with trainers from each side getting into it in the gym – in other words, typical pre-bout stuff.

ImageTop Rank promoter Bob Arum said he expects around 200 million homes in China to tune in to see the main event, which, as usual, is way, way beyond the realms of reality. Continue reading Weekly Wrap: Beckham, Pacquiao, Liverpool, Asian Cup & ATP →

Olympics, Swimming

Sun Yang’s veggie demands anger fellow inmates

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Sorry for the lack of posts (a few busy/sick days…), but I’m back – as is Sun Yang.

The Chinese Olympic swimming champ has served his seven days in detention for driving without a license and is a free man once again, though is still banned from competition indefinitely and can’t even train with the national team. The Wuhan Morning News (via SCMP) has the scoop on the details of his stay behind bars: in another knock against China’s food safety, Sun was worried that any meat served to him could be tainted, resulting in a failed drugs test further down the line. So all the inmates had to go veggie for the week, since the guards weren’t allowed to serve him a special meal.

Image Continue reading Sun Yang’s veggie demands anger fellow inmates →

Olympics

Why China won’t host the 2022 Winter Olympics – and knows it

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There was stunning news out of China on Tuesday when it was revealed the Chinese Olympic Committee had recently submitted its bid to host the 2022 Winter Games, with events held in both the world famous city of Beijing (ice sports) and the ever so slightly less well-known city of Zhangjiakou (snow sports).

Image Continue reading Why China won’t host the 2022 Winter Olympics – and knows it →

Tennis

Li Na crushes Djokovic in China Open opener

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The star-studded line-up that is the China Open (Djokovic, Nadal, Serena, Sharapova et al) is underway, with an intriguing match on Monday between China’s breakout star of recent weeks Zhang Shuai, who won the Guangzhou Open and reached the final of the Yinzhou Bank International Women’s Tennis Open in Ningbo last week, and Peng Shuai, a member of the old guard [UPDATE: Zhang Shuai won 6-3, 6-3]. Elsewhere, 2010 champion Caroline Wozniacki raised a few smiles with her discussion about her favorite opponent, Bye.

Microphones were essential accessories...
Microphones were essential accessories…

Things kicked off last week with a fun game between Li Na and Novak Djokovic that was more entertainment than tennis. Below is my Sports Talk take. Li Na continues to lead the Chinese women on the world stage. If only the men could catch up… Continue reading Li Na crushes Djokovic in China Open opener →

Basketball, Olympics

Stephon Marbury Jr and his mad skillz

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Stephon Marbury – hated in the US for his antics in the NBA, but loved in China for embracing the country and taking the Beijing Ducks to the CBA title – has previously said he wants to coach the Chinese national team and would be a popular choice if appointed. For now, he has to be content with coaching his kids, in particular his son, Stephon Jr aka Turkey.

Turkey may not sound as if he’s destined to be a great, but he looks pretty good in this video, which was posted by Stephon’s wife Tasha (who you all know, I’m sure, is starring in the current season of Basketball Wives, and Stephon cheated with their chef, but they paid her off and yada yada yada).

Fast forward to the 2024 Olympics when Turkey leads Team USA against Pop’s China…

Olympics, Swimming

Sun Yang wins 10 golds, 1 bronze at National Games

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Remember how the medal tally system at China’s National Games is ridiculous, with certain performances from nearly four years ago being converted into medals that actually count at this event? Well, this is what happens. According to the official rules for counting medals, swimming star Sun Yang has won 11 medals for Zhejiang, 10 of them gold. Here’s how:

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Photo credit Victor Puig, victorpuig.com

Continue reading Sun Yang wins 10 golds, 1 bronze at National Games →

Olympics, Swimming

Is Ye Shiwen back?

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A little over a month ago, 17-year-old Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen was in pieces. The reigning Olympic champion in both the 200 and 400 IM had failed to win a medal in either race at the World Championships in Barcelona, and Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu had reclaimed her position as the medley queen.

But things are looking up for Ye. She won both events in Shenyang at the Chinese National Games, but more importantly her times were competitive:

A tired Ye Shiwen after victory in the 400 IM
A tired Ye Shiwen after victory in the 400 IM

Continue reading Is Ye Shiwen back? →

Olympics

Chinese news agency: Istanbul will host 2020 Olympics!

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Whoops.

The announcement of the next host city for an Olympic Games is not something that creeps up on you by surprise. Precisely seven years before each Olympics, there is a very carefully choreographed announcement, during which the IOC President reveals the winning city. It’s very hard to confuse which city has won. The IOC broadcasts this live. If you don’t hear the announcement, then the President holds up the name of the city, and the director cuts to shots of the winning delegation and host city for immediate reaction and celebration.

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Wait – who won again?

So how on earth did China’s official news agency Xinhua put out a statement that Istanbul, not Tokyo, would host the 2020 Olympics? Continue reading Chinese news agency: Istanbul will host 2020 Olympics! →

Football, Olympics, Swimming, Tennis

Medal tally, scandals turn China’s National Games into a joke

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The far northeastern province of Heilongjiang came into China’s National Games with 43 medals already in the bank. Yes, you read that right. 17 gold medals were “won” before the official start of the Games, and only one of those was due to an event being scheduled ahead of the opening ceremony. That’s because some bright spark had the idea of converting medals from previous events into medals that actually count at the National Games:

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Everyone’s a winner at China’s National Games!

Continue reading Medal tally, scandals turn China’s National Games into a joke →

Football, Olympics

Huawei to take global sporting PR tour to London

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I’ve written before about Chinese telecoms company Huawei using sports and entertainment to combat the atrocious PR it tends to get around the world. That trend is continuing, but the company now appears to be spurning the US and focusing more on Europe.

huawei-triathlon1

Continue reading Huawei to take global sporting PR tour to London →