Seven of Eight Diving Golds for China
China's nearly all-gold run at the first diving World Cup event at the Water Cube was disrupted on the penultimate day of competition by a single German diver.
Sascha Klein won gold in the men's 10m platform event at the International Swim Federation Diving World Cup on Feb. 24. The other seven golds – as well as four silvers – went to host China.
"There were still some world class divers who did not come," says Zhou Jihong, director of the Chinese diving team.
"In the men's three-meter springboard and 10-meter platform, Russia didn't send any divers. We just take the World Cup as a training session," she said.
This week's event contributed to Olympic qualification in both individual and synchronized disciplines. British diver Tom Daley, only 13 years old, qualified for the Games with a seventh place finish in the 10m individual. He becomes one of the youngest males in Team GB in Olympic history – but not the youngest male, as many media have reported.
Martial artists are gathering for the next Beijing test event – a taekwondo invitational at the University of Science and Technology Beijing Gymnasium beginning on Feb. 26. The four-day event will see teams from 27 countries test the venue.
Spotlight on Beijing Directors
The Vision Beijing project goes public with broadcast of five short films by five directors about the preparations for the 2008 Olympics.
Daryl Goodrich from the U.K., Patrice Leconte from France, Andrew Lau from Hong Kong, Iran's Majid Majidi and Gieuseppe Tornatore from Italy each created a film at the invitation of Beijing. From Feb. 28, the five-minute films will be available on television in China, Italy, France, Iran and on sohu.com.
At a press conference to debut the films, reporters asked the directors about their colleague Steven Spielberg's departure from the Games.
"It's sports, it's not political," said Lau.
"It's very clear. The Olympics is not political. I was surprised at why he (Spielberg) did this thing. Of course, he has his own thinking," Lau continued.
On freedom of expression in China, Goodrich commented that he was allowed total liberty in filming. He declined to comment on concerns that Chinese citizens may not have the same rights, though he said human rights are essential in every country.
After the public event, Goodrich's producer told British media that their position was becoming uncomfortable.
"I think that both of us acknowledge a bit of naivety now that we've been involved in the situation here, and been confronted with the kinds of questions we've had in the last few days," says Caroline Rowland.
Beijing Briefs…
IOC member Kip Keino tells Chinese media that the Olympics and politics do not mix. "We are supposed to get united in the name of Olympic spirit and sportsmanship. Therefore, we neither support, nor intend to get involved in the current political movements towards the Beijing Olympics," the president of the Kenya NOC is quoted in an interview with Xinhua.
A prominent group of democratic activists in Myanmar are calling for an Olympic boycott. The 88 Generation Students group calls on people worldwide to "pressure the Government of China to withdraw its unilateral support of the Burmese military junta and to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics in response to China's bankrolling of the military junta that rules our country of Burma with guns and threats," according to a new statement. The informal network of activists is named for the 1988 pro-democracy uprising in their country.
Written by Maggie LeeFor general comments or questions, click hereThe Golden 25 special edition magazine is now available in PDF. Click here to see who will be most influential in the Olympic Movement in 2008.
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