Chinese Infomation

Ethiopia's Dibaba completes golden double

2008-08-23T07:20:00.004-07:00

Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia celebrates after the women's 5,000m final at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. Tirunesh Dibab won the gold.

Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia competes during the women's 5,000m final at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. Tirunesh Dibaba won the title.
Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba won her second gold medal at the Beijing Olympics as she took the women's 5,000 meters gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Friday.

Dibaba, 23, clocked 15 minutes 41.40 seconds for her second gold medal at the Games, following her win in the 10,000m.

Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse took the silver in 15:42.74 and another Ethiopian Meseret Defar, the defending champion, won the bronze in 15:44.12.

Source: Xinhua

Russia wins women's 4X100m relay gold

2008-08-23T07:20:00.003-07:00

Russia's Yulia Chermoshanskaya reacts after the women's 4x100m relay final at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. The Russian team won the title.

Russia's Evgeniya Polyakova sprints out during the women's 4x100m relay final at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. The Russian team won the title.

Russia's runners react after the women's 4x100m relay final at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. The Russian team won the title.
Russia scored a surprise win in thewomen's 4x100 meters relay at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Friday.

The Russian quartet, including Evgeniya Polyakova, Aleksandra Fedoriva, Yulia Gushchina and Yuliya Chermoshanskaya, clocked a season best of 42.31 seconds for the gold. Belgium took the silver in 42.54 seconds and Nigeria won the bronze in 43.04.

Pre-race favorite Jamaica did not finish the race.

Source: Xinhua

Netherlands claim gold in Olympic women's hockey

2008-08-23T07:20:00.001-07:00

Tang Chunling of China vies for the ball during women's gold medal match between China and the Netherlands at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games hockey event in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. The Netherlands won the match and grabbed the gold medal.

World champions the Netherlands snatched the Olympic women's hockey gold with a 2-0 win over China on Friday.

It is their first Olympic hockey title since the Los Angeles Games 24 years ago.

Hosts China also picked up their first ever medal at the Olympic Games.

The first half saw a 0-0 tie, in which the Dutch's four penalty corners were all saved by Chinese goalie Zhang Yimeng.

A penalty corner converted by Van As Naomj in the 51st minute broke the tie and gave the Netherlands 1-0 lead. Maartje Goderie added another in the 62nd and sealed their 2-0 win.

World No. 2 Argentina took the bronze with a 3-1 win over defending champions Germany.

Source: Xinhua

Bolt leads Jamaica to 4x100m relay gold with new world records

2008-08-23T07:19:00.006-07:00

Two sprint gold medals winner Usain Bolt led Jamaica to the men's 4x100 meters win with a new world record at the Beijing Olympic Games on Friday.

Bolt, who broke both the 100m and 200m world records en route to the gold medals, ran the third leg and gave the Jamaicans a big lead before handing the baton to Asafa Powell, the former world 100m record holder. Powell easily anchored the race in 37.10 seconds, breaking the previous mark of 37.40 set by the United States in the 1992 Olympic Games.

Trinidad and Tobago took the silver in 38.06 seconds and Japan won the bronze in 38.15.

Source: Xinhua

Argentina wins men's soccer gold at Beijing Olympics

2008-08-23T07:19:00.005-07:00

Sergio Aguero of Argentina dribbles during the men's gold match of football event between Nigeria and Argentina at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008.

Olubayo Adefemi of Nigeria vies for the ball with Angel Di Maria of Argentina during the men's gold match of football event between Nigeria and Argentina at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008.

Angel Di Maria of Argentina makes a goal during the men's gold match of football event between Nigeria and Argentina at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008.

Fernando Gago of Argentina vies for the ball with Ebenezer Ajilore of Nigeria during the men's gold match of football event between Nigeria and Argentina at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Argentina won the match and claimed the title of the event.

Angel flies to help Argentina defend Olympic title

2008-08-23T07:19:00.003-07:00

Angel Di Maria of Argentina makes a goal during the men's gold match of football event between Nigeria and Argentina at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008.

Defending champion Argentina repeated its victory in the final of men's soccer at Beijing Olympics on Saturday, as striker Angel Di Maria scored the only goal to help the team edge Nigeria to seal the title.

Watched by a crowd of 89,102, Di Maria, already having playing an answer man to matches in group stage, collected a through ball from Lionel Messi and calmly finished the clear shot on the 58th minute, claiming their two consecutive wins at Olympic men's soccer final as they were already crowned four years ago in Athens.

Messi and his Barcelona teammate Sergio Aguero were not given many chances to score as the Nigerian defenders tried hard to manmark the duo, which, however, also left much space for Di Maria to come up and break Nigeria's defense line.

Luciano Monzon of Argentina heads the ball during the men's gold match of football event between Nigeria and Argentina at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0 and claimed the title in this event.

Messi earned himself a chance at the 77th minute when he stole the ball from Nigerian defender. Boosting up in speed, Messi struck his trademark left-footed shot which was eventually blocked away by Nigerian central defender Onyekachi Apam.

The Nigerians had quite a number of chances to even the score as Argentina gave up the middlefield after taking the lead. Striker Victor Obinna almost scored on 63rd minute from a right pass, but his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Sergio Romero with his body.

Nigeria's best chance came in a sudden flank attack when midfielder Ever Banega delivered a beautiful pass from the right side, but two of the Nigerian strikers, Peter Odemwingie and Emmanuel Ekpo, both charged into the area, failed to catch.

Ezequiel Garay of Argentina vies for the ball during the men's gold match of football event between Nigeria and Argentina at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0 and claimed the title in this event.

Source: Xinhua

Bronze medal restores confidence of China's women volleyballers

2008-08-23T07:19:00.001-07:00

Players of China celebrate their victory over Cuba after Women's Bronze Medal Match of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games volleyball event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. China beat Cuba 3-1 and grabbed the bronze.

Just as their favorite song - "Sunshine Comes after Rainstorm" - goes, a smiling Chinese team rallied to remedy their semifinal loss with a consoling bronze medal at the Olympic women's volleyball on Saturday.

The three-time Olympic champion Cuba finished their Beijing journey with a disappointing fourth place.

Inspired by the deafening cheers of more than 14,000 Chinese fans, the host beat Cuba 25-16, 21-25, 25-13 and 25-20 in the pride-saving match.

Players of China celebrate their victory over Cuba after Women's Bronze Medal Match of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games volleyball event in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. China beat Cuba 3-1 and grabbed the bronze.

"They were so hopeless that I believed they gave up at the third set," said a home fan Yi Sheng, referring to the disappointing performances of the Chinese women in the semifinal against Brazil on Thursday. The defending champion lost surprisingly in straight sets and they only took 14 points in the third set.

"But today, I saw perseverance on them again, the most valuable quality which I think helped them win the Athens gold and will help to overcome the adversities to be stronger in the future, " the 28-year-old sales manager from a Beijing-based oil company told Xinhua after the match.

"In this aspect, the bronze medal means much more than the gold medal," he said.

Due to a slow start, China opened the match with a dismal 2-6, when the ace spikers Wang Yimei and captain Feng Kun scored five points to help the host take over lead 7-6. Though the Cubans followed up closely, the Chinese managed to keep a slight advantage to 14-13.

China launched a stunning 8-2 run to enlarge the gap to 22-15. Wang's service error helped Cuba pull back one point, but her two ace serves helped China take the set 25-16.

The Cuban spikers came back to life in the second set to establish an early led 9-4 with quick spikes of Nancy Carrillo and Yanelis Santos. China strived to catch up before a 17-all, when Carrillo and another high jumper Rosir Calderon broke the tie and crushed China's attempts to bounce back with attacks from the left flank and the middle court, 24-21 in favor of Cuba.

Veteran captain Yumilka Ruiz sealed the set 25-21 with an unanswered spike.

China staged a brilliant attacking wave from the start of the following set with a 8-4 lead and extended the winning momentum to take the set 25-13.

China took an early lead 10-5 and 15-10 in the fourth set, when Cuba surged back 20-21 with the astonishing performance of its wing hitter Calderon. But that was the furthest they could go. China clinched the meaning victory 25-20 with a spike of middle blocker Zhao Ruirui.

Later on Saturday night, Brazil, who sailed into final without losing a single set, will fight for their first-ever Olympic gold against the United States. The latter, led by China-born head coach Lang Ping, made their historic return to the gold medal match in 24 years after toppling Cuba 3-0.

Source: Xinhua

Russia wins synchronized swimming team gold

2008-08-23T07:18:00.004-07:00

The death toll from the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan Province and its neighboring region increased by one from Monday's figure to reach 69,226 as of Thursday noon, according to a statement released by the State Council Information Office.

The number of people listed as missing and injured remained unchanged and stood at 17,923 and 374,643 respectively.

As of Thursday noon, a total of 1,486,405 survivors had been relocated.

Among the 96,544 who had been hospitalized for injuries, 92,686have been discharged, the statement said.

Government spending on relief and reconstruction had exceeded 66.92 billion yuan , including 59.74 billion yuan from the central budget and 7.17 billion yuan from the local budget.

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, domestic and foreign donations had reached 59.28 billion yuan in cash and goods by Thursday noon. Of this, 24.15 billion yuan had been forwarded to quake-hit areas.

About 1.58 million tents, 4.87 million quilts, 14.1 million garments, 3.16 million tonnes of fuel and 6.76 million tonnes of coal had been sent to the quake-hit areas, it said.

As of Wednesday, relief workers had built 658,400 temporary houses and another 2,600 were being installed.

Between Monday noon and Thursday noon, 611 aftershocks at or below magnitude 3.9 were monitored in the quake zone, while no aftershock at or above 4.0 magnitude were reported, according to the China Earthquake Administration. A total of 25,270 aftershocks had been detected since May 12.

The statement said 392,056 tonnes of grain and 9,435 tonnes of edible oil have been allocated to the quake zones from central reserves as of Wednesday. It also said that 127,937 of the 138,960businesses damaged had reopened.

And 32,398 km of the 37,028 km ruptured telecommunication optical cable had been restored.

As of Thursday noon, 175,858 survivors had found jobs outside of the area, while another 671,774 were employed in their home towns.

Source: Xinhua

Chinese Zhang Yining wins Olympic table tennis singles gold

2008-08-23T07:18:00.003-07:00

Zhang Yining of China returns the ball during the women's singles gold medal match of Beijing Olympic Games table tennis event against her compatriot Wang Nan in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. Zhang Yining won the match and grabbed the gold medal.

Chinese Zhang Yining beat teammate Wang Nan 4-2 to win the women's singles gold medal at the Olympic Games on Friday.

Earlier, Chinese Guo Yue downed Singapore's Li Jia Wei to claim the bronze.

Source: Xinhua

Belarus wins Olympic gold in men's kayak four 1,000m

2008-08-23T07:18:00.001-07:00

Kayak paddlers of Belarus compete in the Kayak four 1000m men final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Canoe/Kayak Flatwater event in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. The team of Belarus clinched the gold medal in this event with a time of 2:55.714.

Belarus claimed the Olympic gold medal in the men's kayak four 1,000 meters in the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Friday.

The team finished in two minutes, 55.714 seconds, 0.879 seconds ahead of Athens bronze medalists Slovakia. Germany, silver medalists in Athens, took bronze in 2:56.593.

It was Belarus' second gold on the first day of the canoeing flatwater finals, a dozen minutes after their compatriots came from behind to win the men's canoe double 1,000 meters race.

The Belarus crew were in second place by the 500 meters, but they came through in the third 250 meters and maintain the lead to the finish line.

"Today was a pleasant surprise for all four of us," Belarus' Raman Piatrushenka said.

"We've been away from home for a long time and we even turned our mobile phones off. We wouldn't say the gods or stars were smiling on us, we just did our best to get the medal.

"I feel very bad and very tired. We did the 1,000m very fast and did everything we could," Slovakia's Richard Riszdorfer said. "Most of the time we were leading, but we couldn't see how far Belarus were from us."

Hungary, who won the gold medals in Sydney and Athens, missed out on a medal with a fifth finish. China, silver medalists in a pre-Games World Cup race, came in seventh place.

Kayak paddlers of Belarus celebrate after winning the Kayak four 1000m men final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Canoe/Kayak Flatwater event in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. The team of Belarus clinched the gold medal in this event with a time of 2:55.714.

Source: Xinhua

"Olympic Pandas" bear up well in Beijing; likely to stay until year-end

2008-08-23T07:17:00.004-07:00

Eight pandas who were flown to Beijing in May to add cheer to the Olympics are doing well and will probably stay in the capital until year-end, which is when their quake-damaged habitat in Sichuan Province is likely to be rebuilt.

"Olympic pandas" play together at the Beijing Zoo in Beijing, capital of China, July 29, 2008. The eight "Olympic pandas", nominated by netizens to add cheers to the Beijing Olympic Games, have witnessed more than one million visitors since their arrival in Beijing from the Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province on June 5.

Thursday's Legal Affairs Evening News quoted Zhang Jinguo, deputy chief of the Beijing Zoo, as saying that the bears, aged one to two, had all put on 1.5 kg to 2 kg during their stay in the zoo.

"They are fully adapted to the climate and life here in Beijing," said Zhang, who added that rebuilding their home at the Wolong base was another reason they had to stay. They were originally supposed to go home in October.

The cubs are in a newly expanded glass enclosure, where wooden "trees," a mural and swimming pools create a homey environment.

The pandas live in three pens held at a constant temperature, similar to their natural habitat. They were expected to attract 6 million domestic and foreign tourists during their six-month stay in the capital.

They were selected from among 16 candidates at the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in Wolong Town, only 30 km from the epicenter of the devastating May 12 earthquake.

At their newfound home, they usually get out of bed at 7 a.m. and prowl their enclosure until about 6 p.m.

According to Zhang, in their first days in Beijing, the cubs had a poor appetite and could only chow down 2 kg to 3 kg of bamboo a day.

"Now their appetite has become so good that they eat twice as much and they're putting on weight."

The pandas also eat carrots, apples and milk, which is said to produce the fine sheen of their fur. They also got a weekly shampoo ahead of the Olympics.

Except for Fengyi, the youngest of the eight, who suffered from a minor case of worms upon arrival, the animals have been healthy.

The earthquake caused severe damage to the Wolong base. Five staff were killed, as was one captive panda. Two pandas were injured and six went missing, five of which were eventually found.

A donation drive to rebuild the damaged habitat started in early June.

"The cubs won't return before workers complete the rebuilding, which for sure can't be done in October," said Zhang.

Source: Xinhua

Argentina win Olympic women's hockey bronze

2008-08-23T07:17:00.003-07:00

World No. 2 Argentina won the bronze medal in the Olympic women's hockey tournament in Beijing on Aug. 22, beating defending champions Germany 3-1.
World No. 2 Argentina won the bronze medal in the Olympic women's hockey tournament in Beijing on Aug. 22, beating defending champions Germany 3-1.

This was Argentina's third Olympic hokcey medal following a silver in 2000 and a bronze in 2004.

The third-ranked Germany, the surprise winner of Athens Games, failed to make their second appearance on the Olympic podium.

Argentina took a 2-0 lead at halftime with a penalty corner from Rosario Luchetti in the 11th minute and a field goal from Carla Rebecchi in the 22nd.

World No. 2 Argentina won the bronze medal in the Olympic women's hockey tournament in Beijing on Aug. 22, beating defending champions Germany 3-1.
Anke Kuehn narrowed the gap for Germany in the 45th with a field goal which was finally ruled valid by video umpire. However, Noel Barrionuevo once agian widened the margin to 3-1 in the 63rd minute and sealed the win.

Germany got three chances for penalty corner in the second half but they failed to convert any of them.

Argentine coach Gabriel Minadeo said it was a tough game for both sides. "We find spaces to take an early 2-0 lead. Germany played well in the second half, but we hold on the board 3-1."

World No. 2 Argentina won the bronze medal in the Olympic women's hockey tournament in Beijing on Aug. 22, beating defending champions Germany 3-1.
"Hockey is important and popular in Argentina. I hope the medal will encourage more boys and girls to play hockey," Gabriel noted, adding that of course a gold medal was the best way to finish the tournament.

German coach Michael Behrmann was very disappointed about the result. "Australia did better in the first half, and we try to make up for the second, but two goals are hard to catch up," he said.

Both the coaches predicted that the Dutch would win the gold medal over China in the later match. "The Dutch are extremely strong and experienced."

Source: Xinhua

China's Olympic medal hopeful Zou enters boxing final

2008-08-23T07:17:00.001-07:00

China's medal hope and world boxing champion of light flyweight Zou Shiming advanced into the final at the Beijing Olympic Games by beating Paddy Barnes from Ireland 15-0 here on Friday.

Zou Shiming of China poses during Men's light fly semifinal 1 at the Beijing Olympic Games boxing event in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. Zou Shiming won the match over Paddy Barnes of Ireland.
Zou initiated attacks in the first round and won two points, and then made it at 8-0 in the second round, successfully dodging all the punches by Barnes. Zou performed a perfect defense in the third and fourth rounds, leaving no chance for his rival.

"I am persistent today as I always did," said Zou. "I was close to the Olympic gold four years ago, and this time I will try my best to get it."

Zou Shiming of China fights with Paddy Barnes of Ireland during Men's light fly semifinal 1 at the Beijing Olympic Games boxing event in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. Zou Shiming won the match.
Zou attributed the overwhelming victory to his strategy on the ring, which Zhang Chuanliang, head coach of the Chinese boxing team, said was defense-attack tactics.

Barnes said after the competition against Zou "he beat me with speed. I thought I was doing well but he's just a great fighter, too fast."

"He tried to get him, tried to hit, tried to block, but he couldn't do anything," said Barners' coach Billy Walsh.

Barnes was in the fifth position in the World Championships last year.

Source: Xinhua

World champion Guo makes do with Olympic bronze

2008-08-23T07:16:00.006-07:00

China's Guo Yue won a bronze medal in the Olympic women's singles table tennis competition in Beijing on Aug. 22, beating Singapore's Li Jia Wei 4-2.

The color of the medal is a big disappointment for the reigning world champion who has rarely finished lower than second in international singles tournaments in the last two years.

China's Guo Yue won a bronze medal in the Olympic women's singles table tennis competition in Beijing on Aug. 22, beating Singapore's Li Jia Wei 4-2.
Guo failed to reach the final because of her loss to China's "Big Sister" Wang Nan, who is going to retire and determined to win as much as possible at her last Olympic Games.

But Guo won the bronze medal contest 11-6, 14-12, 9-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4, shattering Li's hope of winning a second medal at the Beijing Olympics.

China's Guo Yue won a bronze medal in the Olympic women's singles table tennis competition in Beijing on Aug. 22, beating Singapore's Li Jia Wei 4-2.
The Beijing-born Li put up a brave fight until her semifinal loss to former schoolmate Zhang Yining, the world's top-ranked player and defending gold medalist.

Li and two other former Chinese won a team silver, which is the first Olympic medal for Singapore in 48 years.

"It's an achievement for me to finish in the top four in the singles event in Beijing, with all the other three being Chinese players," she said.

Li finished fourth in the Athens singles competition and failed to reach the last eight in the doubles.

Source: Xinhua

S Korea's Hwang claims title in women's 67kg class taetwondo

2008-08-23T07:16:00.005-07:00

Karine Sergerie of Canada fights with Hwang Kyungseon of South Kroea during the women's 67kg gold medal match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games taekwondo event in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. Hwang Kyungseon won the match and gained the gold medal.

South Korea's Hwang Kyung-seon won the women's 67kg class taekwondo event at the Beijing Olympics on Friday, beating Karine Sergerie of Canada 2-1.

It's the third gold South Korean taekwondo players have clinched in Beijing.

Sergerie took the lead in round 1 while Hwang, adopting defensive tactics, scored her first point in round 2. The two became more aggressive in the third round and both made a lot of attacks, but only Hwang managed to score when there were 20 seconds left and locked the gold.

The bronze was shared by Gwladys Patience Epangue of France, and Sandra Saric of Croatia.

Source: Xinhua

Chinese Guo wins table tennis bronze

2008-08-23T07:16:00.003-07:00

Guo Yue of China celebrates a point during the women's singles bronze medal match of Beijing Olympic Games table tennis event against Li Jia Wei of Singapore in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. Guo won the match 4-2 and grabbed the bronze medal.

Chinese Guo Yue beat Singapore's Li Jia Wei 4-2 to win the women's singles bronze medal at the Olympic table tennis tournament on Friday.

Wang Nan, 2000 Olympic singles champion, will take on defending champion Zhang Yining in the all-Chinese final late Friday night.

Source: Xinhua

Iranian veteran Hadi Saei wins men's 80kg class taekwondo event

2008-08-23T07:16:00.001-07:00

Mauro Sarmiento of Italy fights with Hadi Saei of Iran during the men's 80kg gold medal match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games taekwondo event in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. Hadi Saei won the match and gained the gold medal.

Iranian taekwondo player Hadi Saei clinched his second Olympic taekwondo gold on Friday, beating Mauro Sarmiento of Italy 6-4 in the men's 80kg category.

Sarmiento dominated the first round with a 4-2 by a series of attacks, inluding an axe kick to Saei's head. However, 32-year-old Saei, who won the 68kg class at Athens Games, remained clear-minded. He just moved and waited.

When the opponent made mistakes during continuous attacks, Saei successfully threw two roundhouse kicks to Sarmiento's left side and drew the match into a 4-4 tie. He attcked first in round 3, scored his fifth and sixth point.

Sarmiento raised Saei's hand to congratulate the veteran.

China's Zhu Guo won the bronze after an intense repechage match with British player Aaron Cook, beating Cook 4-1 to become the first Chinese male taekwondo player to win a medal at Olympics.

Zhu said his South Korean coach helped him a lot.

America's legendary Steven Lopez, two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion, failed to extend his glory as he lost the quarterfinals to Sarmiento 1-2. He finally got bronze through the repechage.

Source: Xinhua

Beijing Olympics bronze medal priceless to Israel

2008-08-23T07:15:00.003-07:00

The state of Israel was galvanized when its windsurfer Shahar Zubari raised his hands triumphantly after being awarded an Olympic bronze medal on Wednesday by Israeli International Olympic Committee member Alex Gilady.

Zubari, who was considered one of the Israeli Olympic delegation's best hopes for a medal, won the bronze medal of the men's RS:X at the Beijing Olympic Sailing Regatta, Israel's first medal at Beijing Olympics.

"We are very happy about Zubari's medal and proud of him," Michal Shahaf, spokesperson of the Olympic Committee of Israel , who is currently in Beijing, told Xinhua Friday in a telephone interview, adding that it is almost certain that this will be the only medal Israeli Olympic delegation wins at Beijing Olympics.

Before Zubari's medal, some prominent Israeli athletes, who had been pinned much hope on getting a medal, failed to make it, which exerted a lot of pressure on the young windsurfer.

"It was very difficult work. I'm very happy with the accomplishment," Zubari told Israel's Channel 1 after winning the medal, adding that there was a lot of support from Israel.

As for the 21-year-old windsurfer, who will turn 22 on Sept. 1, the medal is doubtlessly a priceless birthday present. In addition, it is also a splendid gift to his country, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

The Jewish state also relished the precious gain. Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert both called Wednesday to congratulate Zubari on his achievement.

"You've made us so happy. I've been following you all of these ten days. I was constantly impressed by your cool demeanor, your level headedness, and your self-confidence - your feeling that you conveyed to us that you will end up bringing a medal," Olmert was quoted by local media as saying.

"You have no idea how exciting it is," the prime minister continued. "I'm looking at you now through the TV and see you holding the flag. There are lots of tears of joy now in the eyes of Israelis. Your future is ahead of you."

Zubari's family was ecstatic at Zubari's victory.

"It's a great joy. Every member of the family except for Zubari was here at home watching the race. He was on a roll when he began and he took it all the way," Zubari's mother told Israel Radio from her home in Eilat, a city in southern Israel.

This is Israel's seventh Olympic medal, and Zubari is the sixth Olympic medalist in Israeli history. In the past, the Jewish state won six Olympic medals, including a gold, a silver and four bronze medals.

Thanks to Zubari's medal, the Israeli Olympic delegation avoided the awkwardness of coming back home empty-handed. However, Shahaf told Xinhua that "we are somewhat disappointed, because we have been expecting better results."

Despite that, Secretary General of OCI Efraim Zinger and the director of Israel's Elite Sport Department, Gili Lostig, told local media Thursday that when looking at the overall picture, the delegation performed as expected at Beijing Olympics.

"The most important fact is that for the fifth consecutive Olympics we have maintained our place in the very prestigious club of medal winning nations," Zinger said.

It may have been much tougher this time due to the improvement of the Asian athletes, and especially China, but Israel once more met this goal, added the secretary general.

Lostig noted that some 23 of the 43 Israeli athletes participating in Beijing Olympics are under 23-years-old, calling it an amazing fact.

"This means we have a young group of sportsmen which is replacing the older generation and this group will blossom in London 2012 ," said Lostig.

Source: Xinhua

French newspaper praises Beijing Olympics

2008-08-23T07:15:00.001-07:00

The Beijing Olympics presented to the world a charming and fine image of China and a Beijing largely unknown to Westerners through TV coverage of the Games, said the French newspaper "La Tribune" on Friday.

The splendid opening ceremony directed by well-known Chinese movie director Zhang Yimou gave the Games a good start. Live TV coverage of the life in Beijing showed an image unfamiliar to Western audience, with lots of skyscrapers, magnificent sports facilities and well-organized Games, which has won the appreciation of all athletes, the paper said in an article.

The paper noted that the Chinese government's measures to reduce emission and improve air quality worked well. Drizzles from time to time brought humid and cool air, making the weather more comfortable.

Beijing had blue skies for more than half of the days during the Games, and the local residents enjoyed the pleasant ever summer in their memories, the paper added.

Beijing has put huge investment into the construction of sports venues and infrastructure, including subway, light rail transit and express way system. All these investments paid off in easing traffic and providing convenient public transport, the paper said.

The paper hailed the Beijing Olympics as the most expected Games over the last decades, and said that Beijing has happily fulfilled people's expectations.

Source: Xinhua

Beijing reports improved environmental quality

2008-08-23T07:13:00.007-07:00

Two major indicators of pollution, SO2 and COD, fell in the first half of this year in Beijing, marking new progress in the city's emission reduction effort, environmental regulators said on Saturday.

Emissions of sulfur dioxide in the Olympic host city in the first half of this year fell by 12.94 percent compared with the same period last year, the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced.

COD, or chemical oxygen demand, a measure of water pollution, dropped by 3.82 percent, it added.

The Chinese capital had projected to cut pollution levels for the two indicators by 10 percent and 4 percent respectively from last year.

The Beijing environment bureau attributed the achievement to the city's painstaking efforts in industrial restructuring and application of environment protection technologies.

According to the Beijing municipal government, the city has invested more than 140 billion yuan since 1998 to improve its air quality.

Air quality in the city so far this month has also been the best for any summer period over the last 10 years -- and within Olympic standards, the city's environment bureau said Tuesday.

Source: Xinhua

Chinese divers breeze into platform final for historic medal sweep

2008-08-23T07:13:00.005-07:00

Olympic champ Huo Liang led a Chinese 1-2 with Zhou Luxin on Saturday to breeze into the men's platform final at Beijing Olympics.

China is just a few dives from a clean sweep of all Olympic golds for the first time since 1952.

Huo, newly-crowned in the synchro platform event, seized the lead after his second dive, an inward three-and-a-half somersault in tuck position, for which he scored the second highest 92.80 points.

He was taken over by teammate Zhou Luxin, silver winner of the 2008 World Cup, after his fourth dive. But the 19-year-old Huo clawed back and finished first at 549.95 points.

"I feel more relaxed today than the preliminary yesterday. I will try to present the best of myself in the final tonight," said Huo, who advanced into the preliminary at eighth place.

Matthew Mitcham of Australia, world No. 3 in the event, took the second place at 532.20 points. Chinese Zhou, as world No. 2, settled for the third with 526.20.

Russian world champion Gleb Galperin qualified for the final at the fourth place.

German top diver Sascha Klein, a pre-competition favorite, was shut out of the final following an embarrassing last place in the semifinals.

Klein had won a surprise title in the World Cup earlier this year,and was considered the strongest threat to the Chinese.

The top 12 finishers in the 18-man field advanced to the platform final scheduled for Saturday evening.

Source: Xinhua

Opalev of Russia wins men's canoe single (C1) 500m gold

2008-08-23T07:13:00.003-07:00

Maxim Opalevo of Russia competes in the men's canoe single 500m final at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park in Beijing, China, Aug. 23, 2008. Maxim Opalevo of Russia won the gold medal.

Maxim Opalev of Russia came from behind to win the gold medal in the Olympic canoe flatwater men's single 500 meters in the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Saturday.

Opalev finished in 1 minute 47.140 seconds, 1.257 seconds ahead of David Cal of Spain, silver medalist in Athens. Lurii Cheban of Ukraine took the bronze in 1:48.766.

The 29-year-old Russian made a slow start and was in fifth by the half-way mark. But he moved past then leader Aliaksandr Zhukovski of Belarus with a late charge in the last 100 meters and kept the lead across the finish line. Cal also won silver in the C1 1,000m on Friday.

Zhukovski, who led most of the way, finished in fifth. China's Li Qiang came in sixth in 1:49.287.

Source: Xinhua

Beijing Olympic village mayor welcomes Pele's presence

2008-08-23T07:13:00.001-07:00

Former Brazilian football player Pele talks to Deng Yaping, deputy director of the BOCOG Olympic Village Department, in the Olympic Village in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. Pele paid a visit to the Olympic Village on Friday.

Journalists interview former Brazilian football player Pele in the Olympic Village in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. Pele paid a visit to the Olympic Village on Friday.
Chen Zhili, mayor of the Beijing Olympic Village, met with Brazilian Pele on Friday and extended her welcome and gratitude to his presence at the Beijing Games.

She said China and Brazil are developing countries, and Brazilian people have made great contribution to the world, hoping that Brazil can help China develop its soccer performance. Pele expressed consent.

The soccer legend offered Chen a football bearing his autograph, and the Olympic village mayor gave the guest a model of the Great Wall.

Born on Oct. 23, 1940, Pele had his original name as Edison Arantes do Nascimento, and has been rated as a great footballer.

Source: Xinhua

Preview: China to face heavy siege in platform diving

2008-08-23T07:12:00.007-07:00

The Chinese "dream team" is cautious than ever for challenges from men's platform rivals on its way to bag the last diving gold at Beijing Olympics.

Chinese favorites Zhou Luxin and Huo Liang are out to stage a one-two finish for China. As world No.2 in the event, Zhou had grabbed silver medals both at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne and the World Cup in Beijing earlier this year.

Huo had replaced another Olympic champion Lin Yue to compete in the individual event, simply because he has better form than his synchro partner Lin.

The duo snatched gold in men's 10m synchro event on Aug. 11.

German top diver Sascha Klein, Russian world champion Gleb Galperin, world No.3 Mathew Mitcham of Australia and his teammate Mathew Helm, silver medalist at the Athens Olympics, are among the strong rivals aiming to end China's gold spree.

Klein, current world No. 1 in platform diving, had won a surprise title in the World Cup earlier this year by fending off strong Chinese divers.

Galperin had been sidelined since 2007 summer due to spinal injury, however he recovered to claim a stunning victory in this discipline at the Grand Prix in Russia last April.

The 27-year-old Helm hopes to end his diving career with a medal in his third Olympic trip.

Source: Xinhua

Brazil beats Belgium 3-0 to win Olympic football bronze

2008-08-23T07:12:00.005-07:00

Brazil won bronze medal of Beijing Olympic men's football tournament here on Friday by beating Belgium 3-0.

The match began with stalemate, in which Belgium offensive performed slightly better. Brazilian big names seemed unlucky, with Ronaldinho yellow carded for faking a fall in the 26th minute, followed by an offside bicycle kick in minute 7.

Diego scored the first goal at Rafinha's cross in the 27th minute. And in the 45th minute Jo scored the second with a nice header, altering the halftime score into 2-0.

However, the consecutive goals didn't drive Brazil toward a more Brazilian way, making the rest of the match unattractive.

The Selecao, though shining with Ronaldinho and Ramires' superb passing capabilities to move past a chain of Belgium defenders, were a little bit conservative. From time to time, rounds of dull exchanges among their own defenders aroused catcalls from the disappointed Brazil fans.

The less lively Selecao left a series of opportunities to Belgium near the net. However, Belgium forwards, more active but less experienced, failed to grasp the chances.

Obviously they were determined for continuous attacks, but neither their individual skills nor team organization was capable of filling the gap. By the end of the match, Jo took a last-gasp goal to seal their victory at 3-0.

Brazil beat Belgium 1-0 in their first group game. Before Beijing Games, the two teams have met only once in a major international tournament, with Brazil defeating Belgium 2-0 in the elimination round of the 2002 World Cup, a tournament that Brazil eventually won.

Despite being five-times world champion, Brazil's best Olympic effort had been two silver medals in 1984 and 1988, plus a bronze in 1996. As Brazil's fourth Olympic medal, the bronze is the only consolation Brazil can be happy with.

Source: Xinhua

Beijing Olympics no pressure on 2012 Games, London Olympics organizers say

2008-08-23T07:12:00.003-07:00

Organizers of the 2012 London Olympics said on Friday the success of the Beijing Olympic Games did not put pressure on the British capital, but rather great inspiration and responsibility.

Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012, told a press conference here that Sunday's official handover ceremony would mark the start of Britain's four-year "cultural Olympiad". It would also provide the opportunity to present Britain's appeal to a global audience.

Sebastian Coe, chairman of London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games , speaks during a press conference held at the Beijing International Media Center in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. LOCOG representatives introduced the organization works of the London Olympic Games and commented on the Beijing Olympics here on Friday.

Coe believed the Beijing Games were very successful and had a detailed plan leading to the success from the very beginning, something which his team had learned much from.

He cited the track and field events at the Games as an example, saying it was "handled extremely well" as the system for transporting participants from the Olympic Village to the stadium was very efficient.

Coe was quite satisfied with the performance of British athletes in Beijing as they inspired London organizers to stage a successful Games.

Christopher Rodrigues, the Visit Britain chairman, said it would remind the world the United Kingdom was the birthplace of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as sports such as rugby, cricket and tennis. The city held the 1948 Summer Olympics after a 12-year interruption caused by the outbreak of World War II.

Representatives from the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games attend a press conference at the Beijing International Media Center in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008.

London will take over as host city of the Olympics at the end of the Beijing Olympics' closing ceremony on Sunday. Guitarist Jimmy Page, footballer David Beckham and singer Leona Lewis are to appear in the eight minute handover performance of the event.

Paul Deighton, the London committee chief executive, said the volunteers at the Beijing Games had done a brilliant job. He clearly remembered "the smiles of their faces trying to help us with everything we want to do". There are going to be 70,000 volunteers working at the London Games, roughly the same as the Beijing Games.

He said about 9 million tickets would be with the London Games but "how they would be allocated has yet to be decided." "Our objective is to ensure there is the broadest possible participation from many countries as we can."

Two people talk beside a poster of the London Olympics after a press conference held by the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games at the Beijing International Media Center in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008.

Similar to the Beijing Games' transportation plan, the London Games would ensure all ticketed spectators arrive at venues by public transport and there would be no private car parking.

Deighton said there were going to be 10 separate train lines coming to the Olympic Park from different parts of London, which involved a significant transport investment.

He said the budget for the infrastructure in the London Games was 9.3 billion pounds . The infrastructure construction was "really a regeneration project, stimulated by the Games," he said.

"The government budget is funded mostly by general taxpayers, partly by lottery players and partly by London taxpayers."

Source: Xinhua

Dalhausser named men's beach volleyball Most Outstanding Player at Beijing Olympics

2008-08-23T07:12:00.001-07:00

U.S. beach volleyballer Phil Dalhausser was named the Most Outstanding Player for the men's beach volleyball competition at the Beijing Olympics on Saturday.

He teamed with Todd Rogers to win the gold medals on Friday, defeating Marcio Araujo and Fabio Luiz Magalhaes of Brazil in the final.

"I'm on cloud nine, I guess," said the 2.06-meter Dalhausser after the gold medal match. "It's the best feeling I've ever had in my life. "I got in a zone. I was on a roll. I saw the ball and put my hand on it, and that's it."

Rogers, who was named the Most Outstanding Player when he and Dalhausser captured the 2007 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships, called his partner "a freak of nature. He can do everything the sport demands."

Brazil's Emanuel Rego, who won the Athens 2004 Olympic gold medal and captured the Beijing bronze with Ricardo Santos, called Dalhausser "a wall". "He is changing the way people see the sport. Before, it was about defense. Now, it is about blocking."

Dalhausser was named the SWATCH FIVB World Tour best blocker in 2006 and 2007, the best hitter in 2007 and the most improved player in 2006.

Misty May-Treanor of the United States, who was paired up with Kerri Walsh to win the women's title, was named the women's Most Outstanding Player in the beach volleyball competition. They defeated China's Tian Jia and Wang Jie in the final.

Source: Xinhua

Romania takes seventh place at Beijing Olympics women's handball

2008-08-23T07:11:00.008-07:00

Romania edged Sweden 34-30 to take the seventh place in the Beijing Olympics women's handball on Saturday.

Swedish coach Ulf Schefvert told reporters after the match, "The debut in the Olympics is a new experience for us. We have matches in the morning during the Games, which is also quite fresh experience. The matches after the quarterfinals have turned into psychological fights as all players are tired."

Romanian coach Gheorghe Tadici said, "Although it was not planned before the match, we decided to remain patient in attacking according to the situation. In the new Olympic circle every team will undergo new changes. Swedish players are young and have plenty of chances to alter themselves."

Romania showed great patience in launching attacks before the halftime. Facing with the defense organized by stronger Swedish rivals, Romanian players transferred the ball before the net frequently and mounted sudden assaults. The trick worked very well in the first 19 minutes and helped Romania extend the lead to seven goals. The first half ended 17-15 with Romania leading.

Debutant Sweden made a strong comeback after the interval. Romania's right wing Ramona Maier and left wing Neli Elisei, however, strengthened the lead of their team by scoring three and four points respectively, leaving no chance to the rival again.

Sweden was edged by host China 20-19 in a 5th-8th playoff while France downed Romania 36-34 in a pulsating two-overtime thriller of the placement.

Source: Xinhua

Persson fails to hold back all-Chinese final in table tennis semifinal

2008-08-23T07:11:00.007-07:00

Swedish veteran Jorgen Persson failed to prevent an all-Chinese final but staged a spirited challenge to world No. 1 Wang Hao in the singles table tennis semifinal of the Beijing Olympic Games on Satursday.

The two sides fought a tense, tight five-set game which featured many long rallies and blistering topspin before the Chinese triumphed 4-1.

Wang Hao, 25, got off a flying start to take the first two sets 11-9, 11-9.

But the clash turned in Persson's favor as the 1991 word champion took a 4-0 lead in the third set and won 11-9.

Wang managed to control his serves and came back to dominate the rest of the game 11-7, 11-9.

"It is unfortunate that I lost the close set today, I have been winning a lot, but today Wang Hao is a little stronger," Persson said.

The 42-year-old snatched down 5th-ranked Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus and Croatia's Zoran Primorac to storm into semifinals, the second-best result he achieved after finishing fourth at the Sydney 2000 Games.

"I am not satisfied with this and I'll go back to prepare for the bronze match," he said.

After days of intensive battles on the court, Persson is the only non-Chinese paddler who reached the top four.

The Swede has vowed to break the Chinese wall which he described as "the Great Wall".

"I can't make it now, but I' ll try to make it tonight, and It's a hard wall to break," the sixth-time Olympian said a laugh. Two Chinese, two South Koreans and one Swede have claimed the men's singles title in Olympic history.

Wang Hao and coach Liu Guoliang hugged each other, both bursting into tears.

"The match reminded me of the time when Kong Linghui and I fought on the table tennis court eight years ago," said Liu.

In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Liu captured the singles bronze medal after losing to Swede Jan-Ove Waldner. Kong battled hard against Waldner to be crowned.

Persson will play 4th-ranked Wang Liqin, who was defeated by Ma Lin 4-2, for the bronze medal Saturday evening.

Source: Xinhua

Colombia awards weightlifter silver medalist

2008-08-23T07:11:00.005-07:00

Colombian government on Friday gave a check for 50,000 U.S. dollars to the weightlifter Diego Salazar, who won a silver medal at the Olympic Games of Beijing.

Salazar received the check from the director of the Colombian Institute of Sports Everth Bustamante.

Salazar said that he will use the money to buy a house for his family. Salazar was welcomed as a hero by multitude in the airport, after he come back from China where he won the silver medal in 62kg weightlifting.

Salazar had won gold at the world Cups of Paris 2003, Helsinki 2005 and Osaka 2007.

Colombia won two medals in the Olympic Games of Beijing, one silver from Salazar and the other a bronze from Jacqueline Renteria at wrestling 55kg class.

Source: Xinhua

Official: Beijing air pollution index down more than 20 percentage points during Olympics

2008-08-23T07:11:00.003-07:00

The Air Pollution Index in the Olympic host city has dropped by more than 20 percentage points compared with the same period last year, said an official on Saturday.

The API declined from around 80 points last year to about 56 during the Olympic Games in August, said Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Environmental Bureau at a press conference.

Major air pollutants on average dropped 40 percent, with nitrogen oxide emission directly related to vehicles down by 61 percent, and inhalable particulate matters falling 40 percent, said Du.

According to the Beijing municipal government, the city has invested more than 140 billion yuan since 1998 to improve its air quality.

Source: Xinhua

Commentary: Beijing Olympic Games to shine in history

2008-08-23T07:11:00.001-07:00

In less than two days, the sacred flame of the 29th summer Olympic Games in Beijing, which has been burning atop the National Stadium in north Beijing since Aug. 8, is going to be extinguished.

The Chinese people now can proudly announce to the world: we have lived up to the trust of the international community and the International Olympic Committee .

Meanwhile, the world can also say with gratification: we have made a correct decision by selecting Beijing and China as the Olympic host.

At the Beijing Olympic Games, miracles were produced and dreams fulfilled. To date, 38 world records have been refreshed at these Games.

American swimmer Michael Phelps grabbed eight gold medals in the Beijing pool with seven fresh world records, while Jamaican Usain Bolt was double crowned in men's 100m and 200m sprint with record speeds. Their superb performance has excited the whole world.

The Chinese delegation has so far topped the gold medal table, while other delegations, such as Mongolia, Togo, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, have made historic breakthroughs by winning their first Olympic medals or gold medals.

The Beijing Olympic Games are also full of touching moments: Russian Natalia Paderina and Georgian Nino Salukvadze hugged each other for celebration after taking silver and bronze respectively in women's 10m air pistol, fully demonstrating mankind's love for peace and friendship.

33-year-old Oksana Chusovitina, a former Uzbek gymnast who prolonged her career and moved to Germany to raise funds for her leukemia-afflicted son, won a silver in women's vault and moved the world with her great maternal love.

When German weightlifter Matthias Steiner held high both his gold medal and a photo of his beloved wife, who was killed in a car accident one year ago, on the award podium, spectators and TV audience were all deeply touched by his endless love.

When South African Natalie du Toit finished 16th in the grueling women's 10-kilometer open water race and told the press "I don't even think about not having a leg," people marveled at her triumph over adversity.

The Beijing Olympic Games are a milestone in the course of the great reinvigoration of the Chinese nation. And this generation of the Chinese people are lucky to witness a century-old dream of the nation finally come true.

The success of the Beijing Olympic Games has also reflected the great achievements China has scored after three decades of reform and opening-up.

Without the material and spiritual progress achieved over the past 30 years, it would have been impossible for the Chinese to attain their goal of "hosting a high-standard and unique Olympic Games."

Over the past seven years, China has tried its best to fulfill its commitments to the international community, earnestly performed its international duties, and prepared for the Games with an open mind and in a down-to-earth manner. It is not just Beijing, but the whole country that has given everything to guarantee the success of the Olympic Games.

The Beijing Olympic Games are an opportunity for China. The hosting of these Games has boosted the Chinese people's self-esteem, enhanced national cohesion, and reinforced the country's faith in pursuing a peaceful development.

The Beijing Olympic Games have helped the world to better understand China's social system and development mode, and have added impetus to China's opening-up to the outside world.

Through the Beijing Olympic Games, the world has had a better knowledge of what China is like -- a country that makes constant progress, emphasizes friendship and harmony, keeps its promises, and respects all international rules.

As the main host city, Beijing has benefited directly from the Olympic Games, which have left such modern, iconic architecture as the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube, and also greatly promoted the local infrastructure construction.

More importantly, these Games have infused the public with the concept of "green Olympics, high-tech Olympics and people's Olympics," which will play a significant role in promoting China's environmental protection, scientific innovation and public participation in social affairs.

The Chinese people have also impressed the world with their immense enthusiasm for the Games and their warm support for all competing athletes, regardless of their nationality, race or sport. The world has seen the hospitality, kindness and tolerance of the Chinese people through the performance of millions of volunteers, cheerleaders and spectators.

The Beijing Olympic Games also mark the integration of the Western civilization with the Chinese civilization. The Olympic spirit, which underlines respect for the rules, encouragement of participation and fair play, has left a precious spiritual legacy for the Chinese people. Just as the IOC predicted seven years ago, the Beijing Olympic Games would "leave a unique legacy for both China and sport as a whole."

The Beijing Olympic Games have also greatly promoted the development of the Olympic Movement. The Olympic Games have become a symbol of modern civilization since their revival 112 years ago. However, such a symbol would have been incomplete if the Games had not come to the origin of the oriental civilization and the home of one fifth of world population.

Thanks to the joint efforts by the Chinese people, the IOC and the international community, the Olympic flame was finally brought to Beijing, lighting up the Chinese people's dream of a harmonious world that features solidarity, friendship and peace.

A successful Olympic Games in Beijing -- it is indeed the most precious gift the Chinese nation has presented to the world.

Source: Xinhua

Breakthroughs are more important than gold medals

2008-08-23T07:09:00.005-07:00

In the Olympics, the gold medal is the highest tribute to an athlete. To appear on the medal list is the dream of every participant. But the theme song of the Olympics is not the one at medal presentation. The Olympic Games is honored as the highest palace of sports, not only because it yields a number of gold medal winners every four years, but also because it fully displays the charm and the true meaning of sports. Through the games and the gold medals, people are moved, enlightened and inspired.

For the first half of the Beijing Olympics, people eyed on Michael Phelps: if he could fulfill his quest for 8 golds, it will be an unprecedented breakthrough. For the track and field, Usain Bolt won more applauses than other gold winners as the record he created represents a breakthrough in human's challenging the physical limit. Similarly, when Xian Dongmei and Chen Yanqing made a comeback and once again won the gold medal, they also represent the spirit of breaking through. The theme song of the Olympics plays for the wonderful performances of these people.

This theme song reverberates over the podium, but the climax part is played during the competitions. At the men's 400-meter free style, Zhang Lin is a real surprise. Though he just wins the second place, it is still a real zinger,: it is the first medal of Chinese men's swimming team ever won in the Olympics and it is probably more impressive than the possibility of the Chinese table tennis team winning all the gold medals.

The theme song of breaking through not only reverberates in the games, but also resonances far away round the world. When an athlete wins the first gold medal for his or her country or makes a historical breakthrough, the news turns the whole country into a sea of joy. 24 years ago, we used to be just as happy with tears when Xu Haifeng fired his winning shots.

The theme song of the Olympics is the song of breaking through, just because breakthroughs are more important than gold medals. Gold medals are won through competing with others. They only represent personal achievements. But to make a breakthrough, is to ceaselessly challenge oneself. Breakthroughs mesh better with the Olympic slogan “faster, higher, and stronger” than winning gold medals.

By People's Daily Online

Nepali 3rd largest CA party not to take oath Friday

2008-08-23T07:09:00.003-07:00

Ministers from the third largest party in the Constituent Assembly , the Communist Party of Nepal will not take the oath of office and secrecy on Friday.

Due to dispute with the Communist Party of Nepal , over who should be the senior-most minister after Prime Minister and CPN-M Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal Puspa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" in the to-be-formed cabinet, the CPN-UML will not be sworn in on Friday, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, senior leader of the CPN-M told reporters on Friday afternoon.

However, Mahara believed the CPN-UML will join the cabinet and the dispute will be solved "after Prachanda comes back from China鈥�to participate in the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

On Friday, a cabinet with four ministers from the CPN-M and another four from the Madhesi People's Rights Forum will take the oath, Mahara informed.

On last Friday, the CPN-UML and the fourth largest CA party MPRF jointly voted Prachanda for the post of prime minister, together with most of the other minor CA parties.

On Friday morning, the CPN-UML has just nominated its ministers for the first Nepali republican cabinet to be formed. The team is to be led by its Standing Committee Member Bamdev Gautam as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.

The party has also decided to send Bishnu Paudel for Ministry of Water Resources portfolio, Kiran Gurung for Forest and Soil Conservation, Gopal Shakya in Youth and Sports and Ram Chandra Jhain Local Development and Astalaxmi Shakya in Industry and Commerce.

An agreement has been reached between the major partners of power that the CPN-UML will get the home ministry, local development, forest, water resources, youth and sports, and industry and commerce in the new cabinet of the republican Nepal led by Prime Minister and Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal Puspa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda".

Source: Xinhua

Merkel watches Olympic events over TV

2008-08-23T07:09:00.001-07:00

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has so far watched various events of Beijing Olympics over television, German government spokesman Thomas Steg said on Friday.

Speaking to a press confernce, Steg said the Olympiad always boasts of special charm and fascination, adding that "it is the biggest sporting spectacle of the world."

According to the spokesman, Merkel herself had watched various events of the Beijing Games over television whenever she got the chances, noting that Merkel was particularly pleased with the two gold medals won by German canoeists.

The German government hoped that the Olympic Games could become an "impetus" for the modernization process in China, said Steg.

German has sent a big delegation to the Beijing Olympiad which consist of some 440 athletes, the biggest one from Western Europe.

By Friday, the German delegation has won 14 golds, 9 silvers and 13 bronzes, ranking the fifth at the gold medal standings.

With just two days to go for the closing of the Games, Steg said the German government was "satisfied" with the result although there were "surprises" and "disappointments."

Source: Xinhua

70 pct Chinese plan trips after Olympics: survey

2008-08-23T07:08:00.010-07:00

Seventy percent of Chinese plan to travel around the country or abroad after the Olympic Games, an on-line survey has found.

The latest survey, by China's leading on-line travel agent Ctrip, was conducted among 1,000 respondents nationwide.

August has been the traditional peak season for China's tourism industry. However, this August many people have chosen to stay at home to watch the Olympic Games and postponed their travel plans. Ctrip said that accounted for the high percentage of people intending to travel after the Games.

The survey said that among the respondents, more than 50 percent chose long-distance domestic destinations, more than 30 percent favored short-distance tours and over 10 percent said they would go abroad.

Among the domestic destinations, Olympic co-host cites are people's favorites, with nearly 60 percent choosing Beijing, followed by Hong Kong, Qingdao, Shanghai, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang and Tianjin.

The Beijing Olympic Games run from Aug. 8 through 24.

Source: Xinhua

Beckham, Jimmy Page in Beijing Olympic handover to 2012 Games

2008-08-23T07:08:00.009-07:00

Footballer David Beckham, British singer Leona Lewis and guitarist Jimmy Page will appear in an eight-minute segment in the Olympic handover to London 2012 at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Games, said the London Olympics organizer on Friday.

Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012, told a press conference here that the segment in the closing ceremony on Sunday would be "young and vibrant."

It will "show the cultural diversity, the great city of London, modern and contemporary dances and elements of Olympics and Paralympics."

The eight-minute contribution to the finale was said to cost 2 million pounds . Beckham will arrive on a red double-decker bus, according to earlier media reports.

Source: Xinhua

Survey: Two-thirds Asia Pacific people awaiting Olympics closing ceremony

2008-08-23T07:08:00.007-07:00

About two-thirds of people across Asia Pacific are eagerly awaiting the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, almost the same high anticipation as for the opening ceremony, according to a Visa survey released on Friday.

Of the 4,315 people from the region who said they would watch the Games, 63 percent said they would be watching the closing ceremony, said the survey conducted between March and April with 4,556 people from nine Asia Pacific countries and regions.

The opening ceremony was a resounding success, with an estimated four billion people tuning in to watch. The survey found the closing ceremony holds the same appeal.

People from countries and territories across the region are looking forward to the fanfare of the closing ceremony. It is the second most popular event at the Games for 87 percent of Malaysians and 78 percent of Indians, ranking even higher in popularity than other events and sports at the competition.

The final event of the Games is among the top three Olympic Games events for Australians , and Hong Kongers , and the fourth most popular event for Koreans , New Zealanders , and Singaporeans , showed the survey.

Source: Xinhua

Preview: Canada's kayaker van Koeverden eyes title defence

2008-08-23T07:08:00.005-07:00

Adam van Koeverden of Canada is looking forward to retaining his title in the men's kayak single 500 meters on Saturday, the second and final day of canoeing flatwater competitions at the Beijing Games.

Van Koeverden is a strong favorite for the K1 500 meters race. He has been unbeaten so far this season and beat his own world best to set a new one in the heat. Tim Brabants of Britain, who won the K1 1,000m gold on Friday, and Eirik Larsen of Norway will be his main rivals.

In the men's canoe single 500m, Attila Sandor Vajda of Hungary will seek his second gold medal at Beijing Games after claiming the C1 1,000m title on Friday. He will be pushed hard by Athens silver medalist David Cal of Spain. Cal failed to retain his title in the C1 1,000m with a second finish.

In the women's kayak single 500m, Katalin Kovas of Hungary will be out to claim the only major gold medal not already in her trophy cabinet. Her major rivals will be Katrin Wanger-Augustin of Germany and Josefa Iden of Italy. China's Zhong Hongyan could also stand on the podium

In men's kayak double 500m, Germany's Ronald Rauhe and Tim Wieskotter is the strong favorite. Belarus, Spain, France, and Italy are the main opponents after staging good performances in the heats.

In the men's C2 500m, Chinese crew Yang Wenjun and Meng Guanliang was the main gold medal contender. They finished first in two heats and got their title defence to a strong start on Tuesday. Russia, Germany, and Belarus could have a podium finish.

In the women's K2 500m, Katalin Kovas and Natasa Janic will be aiming at the title, but they will be challenged by world champions Fanny Fischer and Nicole Reinhardt. Poland or France could win a medal.

Source: Xinhua

Brazil leads Belgium 2-0 at halftime

2008-08-23T07:08:00.003-07:00

Brazil led Belgium 2-0 in the first half of their Olympic men's football bronze medal match on Friday.

The match began with 20 minutes' stalemate, in which Belgium offensive performed slightly better. Brazilian big names seemed unlucky, with Ronaldinho yellow carded for faking a fall in minute 26, followed by an offside bicycle kick in minute 7.

Diego scored the first goal at Rafinha's cross in the 28th minute. Surprising enough, the goal didn't drive Brazil toward a more Brazilian way. During the rest of the first half, they kept less lively, leaving a series of opportunities to Belgium near the net.

However, Belgium forwards, more active but less experienced, failed to grasp the chances.

In the 44th minute, after several rounds of dull passings among Brazil defenders, Jo scored their second goal with a nice header.

Brazil beat Belgium 1-0 in their first group game. Before Beijing Games, the two teams have met only once in a major international tournament, with Brazil defeating Belgium 2-0 in the first-stage elimination round of the 2002 World Cup, a tournament that Brazil eventually won.

Source: Xinhua

Defending champion Croatia shut out of the final at men's handball

2008-08-23T07:08:00.001-07:00

Highly favored reigning champion Croatia was dethroned after conceding 23-25 to France in the semifinals of Beijing Olympic men's handball tournament on Friday.

French right back Cedric Burdet ignited the team with five goals from five shots in the first half, giving the fifth placer at Athens a 12-11 lead by the break. And center back Daniel Narcisse netted in six points in the second half, including two in the final minutes to seal the final berth for France.

Talking about his last goal, Narcisse appeared excited. "It was a flying jump shot. We had trouble getting past the Croatian defence, but we had guys who could jump over them."

"We knew the game would be tough. Defence is the key to our victory. We could have enjoyed an easier win but for the nerves from the semifinals and some slapdash shots during the match,"said French coach Claude Onesta in a post-match conference.

The tight match witnessed seventeen draws from the two sides and came to a deadlock with six minutes on the clock, when France led 24-22 and no team managed a goal in the following five minutes.

Narcisse's diving shot broke the deadlock and widened the gap to three goals, while left wing Goran Sprem's last minute goal was too late to save the Croats.

"It's unbelievable. We're in the final and we're sure to get a medal. We knew we played good, especially today, we played good defence on the ball. And we were fast on the breaks. It was just so beautiful," said French star left back Karabatic, newly elected IHF World Handball Player of the Year in 2007.

Participating in Olympic Games twice and winning two gold medals in 1996 and 2004, Croatia is the most efficient team in Olympic history. However, their legend ended in Beijing and they have to fight for the bronze against the winner of the match between Iceland and Spain.

Source: Xinhua

Chinese Premier meets Lithuanian prime minister

2008-08-23T07:06:00.010-07:00

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Saturday hailed the role of sports in promoting international friendship in a meeting with Prime Minister of Lithuania Gediminas Kirkilas.

"The Chinese men's basketball team is led by a Lithuanian coach, and also many coaches from China are working in other countries. This shows that sports can go beyond borders and promote the friendship between peoples of different countries," Wen told Kirkilas who is here to watch the Beijing Olympic Games and attend the closing ceremony.

He said the Chinese men's basketball team's performance at the games is approved by the Chinese people, and he is also interested in the matches of the Lithuanian basketball team.

He welcomed Kirkilas to watch the Beijing Olympic Games and to attend the closing ceremony, saying he believes the Beijing Games has indeed shown the Olympic aim of friendship, unity and peace.

Hailing the smooth development of China-Lithuania relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Wen said China appreciated Lithuania's adherence to the one-China policy.

He said China will strengthen high-level exchanges with Lithuania to jointly promote bilateral ties based on the principle of mutual respect, mutual benefits and win-win results.

Kirkilas congratulated Wen and China for hosting a "very successful" Olympic Games, and praised the "very successful performance" of the Chinese athletes.

He said the organization of Beijing Olympic Games is excellent, the Chinese people are very friendly and Beijing is filled with the Olympic spirit.

"China has set a very high standard for the Olympic Games," he said.

He said Lithuania is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields and coordination in international affairs, and he hoped both sides would take the 2009 Europe-Asia transportation ministers meeting in Lithuania as an opportunity to further promote bilateral cooperation.

Source: Xinhua

Chinese Premier meets Belgian Prime Minister

2008-08-23T07:06:00.009-07:00

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met here Saturday morning with Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme, who is here to attend the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games and other relevant activities.

Wen congratulated the Belgian delegation to the Beijing Games for winning a silver medal in Friday's women's 4x100m relay, saying this medal was won with hard efforts.

Leterme said the Belgian delegation has met difficulties to win medals and this medal is a breakthrough, adding he hoped the Belgian delegation would continue to win medals.

Wen said one of the important principles of the Olympiad is that participation is the most important thing, adding China is glad the the successful Beijing Olympic Games has provided a platform for friendly exchanges between the world people.

Leterme said the Beijing Olympic Games is perfect and has impressed him a lot, adding the excellent organization of the games reflects China's great ability to organize international grand events like the Olympics.

Source: Xinhua

Chinese Premier meets U.S. Secretary of Labor

2008-08-23T07:06:00.007-07:00

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met here Saturday morning with a U.S. government delegation to the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, headed by Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

Wen expressed his welcome to the delegation's visit, saying it has shown the importance attached by the United States as the U.S. President George W. Bush and his family attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics and the U.S. government also sent officials to attend the closing ceremony.

"It is also an embodiment of China-U.S. friendly cooperation," he added.

He congratulated the U.S. athletes' good performance at the Olympic Games, saying the total number of U.S. delegation's medals is till ranked in the first place.

Chao conveyed Bush's greetings to Wen, and expressed sympathy to the victims and families in the May 12 earthquake in China's Sichuan Province, saying "our heart is still with them,"

Source: Xinhua

Typhoon Nuri forces 160,000 to evacuate

2008-08-23T07:06:00.005-07:00

Nearly 160,000 people in 13 coastal cities in Guangdong were evacuated Friday after Typhoon Nuri, the strongest this year, hit the southern province.

The provincial observatory issued a Class-I warning - the highest level - before the tropical cyclone landed in Hong Kong at 5 pm Friday, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall. But it inflicted little damage.

Sources with the Guangdong provincial flood control center said more than 45,000 vessels working at sea had been recalled before Nuri hit.

Nuri, which packed gale force 12 at its center, weakened into a tropical storm after its landfall and was moving northwest around 14 km an hour, the Hong Kong Observatory said.

The Guangdong provincial weather bureau said Nuri will bring torrential rains in the coming days to Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

In Shenzhen, which neighbors Hong Kong, more than 40,000 trees were toppled by strong gales. As of 6 pm Friday, more than 20 injuries had been reported in the city, but there were no reports of any casualties, Shenzhen Emergency Center said.

Train services in Shenzhen were not affected but passenger bus services were all suspended. The Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport suspended almost all flights.

In Guangzhou, construction of the 499-m Guangzhou TV Tower, the tallest building in the city, was suspended. Subway services on the Huangge-Jinzhou section of Line 4 were also closed.

In Hong Kong, the observatory issued its second-highest tropical cyclone warning. Eight people suffered light injuries, the government said. There were also reports of toppled trees, collapsed walls and scaffolding.

Flights, bus and ferry services were canceled, and offices, schools and financial markets were closed. As of 2 pm Friday, at least 308 passenger flights had been canceled or delayed while nine flights were diverted, according to the Hong Kong Airport Authority.

The Home Affairs Department has opened 26 temporary shelters in various districts.

Source: China Daily

Drowsy driver under detention for bus crash killing two Russian tourists in NE China

2008-08-23T07:06:00.003-07:00

Drowsy driving was found to have caused the bus crash, in which two Russian tourists were killed and several others injured in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province early on Friday, according to the police's interrogation of the bus driver.

The bus driver, who was under police detention, admitted that he was sleepy while driving.

The bus carrying 22 Russian tourists veered and overturned at across road of Tielinghe Town of Mudanjiang City at about 4:40 a.m., five hours after the driver drove in dark from Hunchun City in Jilin Province to the border city of Suifenhe in Heilongjiang, where the tourists would finish their China tour and go back to Russia.

The long-distance trip was supposed to have two drivers drive in rotations. However, there was only one driver on the tourist bus, said the police.

The injured were taken to hospital immediately.

The accident is still under investigation.

Source: Xinhua

Macao's traffic resumes after Typhoon Nuri sweeps away

2008-08-23T07:06:00.001-07:00

The Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau lowered all strong wind signals at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, as Typhoon Nuri moved further away from the island city.

According to the SMG, Nuri has edged further northwest toward Guangzhou, capital of China's southern Guangdong province, at a velocity of 12 km per hour, and was over 100 km away from Macao this morning.

As the weather conditions enhanced, local land, air and sea traffic was back in operations. The three bridges connecting the Macao Peninsula and the Taipa Island were open to local vehicles again after their temporary shutdown Friday when the SMG hoisted the strong wind signal No. 8.

Local bus service and ferry service linking Macao to Hong Kong resumed operations this morning as well, while flights at the Macao International Airport started boarding this morning following Friday's cancellation or delay, according the information posted on the Airport's website.

During Friday's storm, some 62 minor accidents were reported, most of which involved falling objects, such as advertising signs, iron sheets and aluminum windows, from a height, and three civilians were injured in these accidents, according to the city's Civil Defense Center.

In addition, 14 civilians took shelter in the refuge center provided by the Special Administration Region government Friday.

Source: Xinhua

Chinese Premier meets U.S. presidential delegation

2008-08-23T07:05:00.010-07:00

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met here Saturday morning with a U.S. presidential delegation to the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, headed by Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and Secretary of Health Michael O. Leavitt.

Wen expressed his welcome to the delegation's visit, saying it has shown the importance attached by the United States as the U.S. President George W. Bush and his family attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics and the U.S. government also sent officials to attend the closing ceremony.

"It is also an embodiment of China-U.S. friendly cooperation," he added.

He congratulated the U.S. athletes' good performance at the Olympic Games, saying the total number of U.S. delegation's medals is till ranked in the first place.

Chao and Leavitt conveyed Bush's greetings to Wen, and expressed sympathy to the victims and families in the May 12 earthquake in China's Sichuan Province, saying "our heart is still with them,"

They said the Beijing Olympic Games has given the U.S. people a new understanding of China.

Wen called on the two sides to firmly adhere to the general direction of constructive cooperation in bilateral ties, and steadfastly pursue common interests to continuously strengthen mutual trust and cooperation and properly handle differences and sensitive issues.

He said exchanges and cooperation in social security, medicine and health, and inspection and quarantine are important aspects of China-U.S. ties. The two sides should learn from each other in these fields to better protect people's health and promote social welfare.

Chao and Leavitt said that the U.S. and China should further strengthen cooperation and exchanges, expressing hope that the two countries can gain more fruits in the cooperation on labor, social security, health and food safety.

Source: Xinhua

China sees tax revenue up 13.8% in July, but corporate income tax down

2008-08-23T07:05:00.009-07:00

China's revenue on corporate income declined 4.2 percent in July from the same month of last year, with total tax revenue up 13.8 percent year-on-year, the Ministry of Finance said on Friday.

Last month, China collected 149.635 billion yuan in corporate income tax, down 4.2 percent from a year earlier. The decline was attributed partly to a drastic slowdown in growth of corporate earnings.

Earlier data showed that between January and May, major industrial enterprises nationwide saw their profits up 20.9 percent year on year, 21.2 percentage points lower than the year-earlier level. Of them, petrochemical, power, nonferrous metal and oil companies suffered profit declines of 79.65 percent, 79.01 percent, 17.95 percent and 16.26 percent respectively.

According to the ministry, tax revenue totaled 532.325 billion yuan nationwide in July, up 13.8 percent over the same month of last year. The growth rate was 19.3 percentage points lower than the year-earlier level, due partly to efforts to cool down the economy and curb inflation.

Source: Xinhua

China's first commercial nuclear power plant installed steam generator for expansion

2008-08-23T07:05:00.007-07:00

Workers on Friday hoisted a 335-tonne steam generator into place over the underground workshop of the Qinshan nuclear power complex, the first commercial nuclear power facility in China.

The steam generator is a heat exchanger used to convert water into steam from heat produced in a nuclear reactor core, and is used in pressurized water reactors between the primary and secondary coolant loops, said Yang Lanhe, General Manager of the China Nuclear Power Qinshan Joint Venture Co.Ltd., the investor of the second phase of the Qinshan complex.

This step cleared the way for installation of two 650,000 kw pressurized water reactors at the nuclear complex, which is in Haiyan, on the northern coast of Hangzhou Bay, in the country's eastern Zhejiang Province.

Yang said that the Qinshan complex has three phases, each featuring different types of reactor. The second phase involves the plant where work was done on Friday.

The phase two now has two functioning 650,000-kw units that began generating power in 2002 and 2004, respectively. And the expansion of phase two will involve the installation of other two 650,000-kw pressurized reactors, which kicked off in April 2006.

"When all four units are in operation, the second phase will be able to produce 18-20 billion kwh of electricity a year," said Yang adding that it will be fully completed and start power generation in late 2011.

The first phase of the Qinshan facility was also the first nuclear power plant on the mainland built independently by home engineers.

The facility started construction in 1985. The first phase featured a 300,000 kilowatt prototype reactor with a lifespan of 30 years, which went online in 1991. The first phase has so far generated 31 billion kwh of electricity and produced 9.6 billion yuan in revenue and paid 1.8 billion yuan in tax.

According to the country's long and mid-term development plan of nuclear power plants, China's nuclear power installed capacity will reach 40 million kw by 2020, and will generate 260-280 billion kwh electricity each year, accounting for four percent and six percent of the country's total, respectively.

China has Qinshan, Daya Bay, Lingao and Lianyungang Tianwan - four nuclear power stations with 11 generating sets and an installed capacity of nine million KW.

Source: Xinhua

China securities watchdog raises refinancing threshold, dividend

2008-08-23T07:05:00.005-07:00

China's securities watchdog on Friday announced to raise the refinancing threshold for listed companies. The move was to foster the long term investment environment and facilitate the sustainable and healthy development of the capital market.

"For those listed companies scheduled to refinance on the market, the dividend they pay to shareholders in the recent three years should be no less than 30 percent of its distributed profits," said the China Securities Regulatory Commission in a new administrative rule.

The dividend could be either in cash or stock. The previous setline was 20 percent.

The market watchdog also asked listed firms to reveal its cash dividend policies and previous cash dividend data to investors in their annual reports in a bid to improve transparency.

"The listed company should give reasons why it failed to pay cash dividends if it is able to and where the money goes," according to the rule.

Amid the broad decline of the A-share stock market, excess supply was a problem because "the unlocking of non-tradable shares and listed companies' insatiable demand for equity refinancing" meant there was a need for fresh capital. But "wary investors are broadly cashing in their shares," said Cao Honghui, a Chinese Academy of Social Sciences senior researcher.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index has shed more than 60 percent from its peak in mid October.

Zhai Peng, a Guotai Junan Securities analyst, said this new move would help to boost sluggish investors confidence.

However, some experts held the key concern of investors in the near future was still the unlocking of large amounts of non-tradable shares.

The CSRC also would seek public opinion on this new rule through Aug. 29. The public can voice their comments on the rules through email to csrcflb@csrc.gov.cn.

Source: Xinhua

26 miners confirmed dead in China colliery gas explosion

2008-08-23T07:05:00.003-07:00

Chinese rescuers on Friday recovered the last four bodies of miners killed in a gas blast at a coal mine in northeast China, bringing the death toll to 26.

Eighty-one miners were working underground when the accident happened at about 8:50 a.m. on Monday in Baijiagou colliery in Liaoning Province, said Sun Shikui, head of the general hospital affiliated to the Tiefa coal industry group.

Eleven miners were injured in the accident, four of them were severely injured.

Family members of the 20 dead miners, whose bodies were already cremated, signed their named on the compensation agreements with the coal mine. The mine promised that each family will receive a minimum of 200,000 yuan as compensation.

The mine was opened in 1976. It was fully-licensed and has 450 employees. The mine produces 100,000 tons of coal a year.

Source: Xinhua

China provides $50,000 flood relief to Nepal

2008-08-23T07:05:00.001-07:00

Chinese ambassador to Nepal Zheng Xianglin handed over 50,000 U.S. dollars of flood emergency relief to Nepal on Friday.

On behalf of the Red Cross Society of China, Ambassador Zheng Xianglin handed over the amount to the Red Cross Society of Nepal in Kathmandu.

Dev Ratna Dhakwa, Secretary General of the Red Cross Society of Nepal appreciated the aid provided by the Red Cross Society of China, and introduced the situation of the flood occurring in southern Nepal.

Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" said China giving a hand when Nepal is in need fully reflects the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Prime Minister Prachanda, on behalf of the government, on Thursday called on all the friendly countries and other international community to provide necessary cooperation in flood relief.

In the public appeal, the Prime Minister said the Nepali government was quite aggrieved from the misfortune and the painful situation created by full inundation of three Village Development Committees including Sripur, Haripur and Kusaha and four other VDCs partially submerged in Sunsari district, some 220 km southeast of Kathmandu, after the embankment of Saptakoshi River suddenly broke down, affecting more than 50,000 people while displacing thousands.

The appeal states that the terrific flood after the breaking of the embankment has swept away about 1,000 houses and crops in vast range of land, and thousands of houses have been affected besides the damage of many bridges and three km of the East-West highway, and at the same time drinking water supply and telephone lines were disrupted.

Source: Xinhua

Chinese premier meets British prime minister

2008-08-23T07:04:00.009-07:00

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao thanked Britain's support to the Beijing Olympic Games Friday afternoon in a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Wen said that to hold a successful Olympic Games needs both the efforts of the hosting country and the support from other countries in the world, and he should thank for the support of the British government.

He also expressed his wish that the next Olympic Games in London in 2012 would be a successful games of high standard, saying the Chinese government would also give its full support to the London Games.

He said China and Britain should strengthen cooperation on hosting the Olympic Games and take such cooperation as an opportunity to promote the cooperation in other fields.

Congratulating British athletes' remarkable performance at the Beijing Olympic Games, Wen said he would watch the British culture show at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Brown congratulated Wen for the "wonderful success" of the Beijing Olympic Games, saying the Games was excellent and billions of people around the world have witnessed both the growth of the Olympic movement and China's rapid development

He also congratulated the Chinese athletes for their success in "winning so many medals."

Source: Xinhua

Top Chinese legislator meets Australian governor-general

2008-08-23T07:04:00.007-07:00

China will work with Australia to increase cooperation and advance the bilateral relations, said top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo on Friday.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress , made the remarks in a meeting with Australian Governor-General Michael Jeffery, who was here on a visit to China for the upcoming closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Wu welcomed Jeffery to the Games, and congratulated Jeffery on Australian athletes' outstanding performances at the Games.

Hailing the China-Australia relations, Wu said the two nations enjoy comprehensive and important common interests, and the present bilateral ties are in the best period of history.

China treats the relations with Australia from strategic height and long-term perspective, he said, noting that China is ready to work with Australia to enhance exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

Jeffery congratulated China on the great success of the Games and on Chinese athletes for their remarkable performances.

Australia values the relations with China, and adheres to the one-China policy, he said, hoping that the two nations would increase cooperation in economy, trade, energy, environment, education and culture, so as to jointly cope with the challenges faced by humankind.

Source: Xinhua

Chinese FM offers condolences to Pakistan over deadly terrorist bombings

2008-08-23T07:04:00.005-07:00

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Friday sent a message of condolence to his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi over Thursday's terrorist bombings in Pakistan, which caused a large number of deaths and injuries.

China condemns all forms of terrorism, Yang said in his message.

China will, as always, continue to support the efforts of the Pakistani government as well as its people in maintaining stability in the country, he added.

Yang also expressed deep condolences and sympathies to the victims of the deadly bombings and their families, as well as to those injured in the attacks.

As many as 76 people died and 110 others were injured in two suicide blasts Thursday in an arms factory in Pakistan's northeastern state of Punjab, state-run PTV reported.

The blasts occurred at two gates of the Pakistan Ordnance Factory in Wah Cantonment during a shift change, the report said.

Source: Xinhua

Flights canceled in S China as Typhoon Nuri approaches

2008-08-23T07:04:00.003-07:00

Eighty-six flights going to south China's coastal Shenzhen City and Hong Kong were canceled as Typhoon Nuri approached, a major carrier said on Friday.

In total, 18 flights heading to Hong Kong were canceled after 10 a.m. and 68 flights expected to arrive in Shenzhen after 3 p.m. were also canceled, a China Southern Airline official said.

Three flights heading to the coastal city of Zhuhai and Shenzhen landed at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on Friday afternoon and 423 passengers were stranded, the official said.

In total, 284 passengers flying to Zhuhai took buses there or were accommodated in Guangzhou. The other passengers to Shenzhen were sent to hotels near the airport, he said.

The Xiamen-Jinmen sea route, a major cross-strait direct sea route between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, was suspended from traffic at 3:30 p.m. as the waves picked up.

The provincial observatory said the eye of the storm was in the South China Sea about 180 km from Shenzhen as of 8 a.m. on Friday, packing strong winds.

Typhoon Nuri was moving northwest at 15 to 20 km per hour and was expected to hit the coast between Shanwei and Yangjiang in Guangdong Province between Friday afternoon and evening, the observatory said.

It warned it was highly possible the storm would make a head-on strike at the economic hub of the Pearl River Delta, where the cities of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao were clustered.

Source: Xinhua

UN raises $15 mln from int'l community to aid China quake zone

2008-08-23T07:04:00.001-07:00

Organs of the United Nations in China has raised about 15 million U.S. dollars in donations from the international community for the country's earthquake-hit areas, an official for the organization announced here on Friday.

Contributions of nearly 11 million dollars came from commitments pledged by the European Union and the governments of Canada, Belgium, Norway and Saudi Arabia, said Khalid Malik, the UN Resident Coordinator in China.

The UN had mobilized another 4 million U.S. dollars from its own resources and private donors, he said.

"We are very grateful for the contributions of the four nations and the European Union," he said. "They will help the survivors of the earthquake recover their livelihoods, return to school and to have more sustainable access to health care and better living conditions."

He said the funds would support the most vulnerable survivors living in remote areas hit by the quake who had received basic assistance but required much more comprehensive aid over the next six months as the reconstruction got fully underway and before winter set in.

The 8.0-magnitude earthquake centered on Wenchuan County in southwestern Sichuan Province killed more than 69,000 people. Another 17,000 were listed as missing. Some 25,000 aftershocks had been recorded.

The UN launched a donation project on July 16, appealing to the international community to contribute 33.5 million U.S. dollars to the quake zone. The project, or the UN China Appeal for the Wenchuan Earthquake Early Recovery Support, was designed to bridge the phases of immediate relief assistance with the longer-term process of reconstruction, Malik said.

He stressed more efforts were required.

"We have emphasized from the beginning that the needs are simply tremendous. We very much hope these contributions will mark the beginning -- a first step -- of increased support for the appeal from the international community," he said.

Several sectors of the appeal required additional financing, including livelihood, health, nutrition and HIV/AIDS, ethnic minorities, protection of vulnerable groups and the environment, he said.

The appeal is part of the UN's overall efforts to assist the people and communities affected in Sichuan and other quake-hit provinces.

The UN organs in China had delivered more than 18 million U.S. dollars in emergency relief to the affected population in the quake zone, and was working closely with the government and the international community to assist in the reconstruction, he added.

Source: Xinhua

Chinese vice president hosts dinner banquet for Olympic Family members

2008-08-23T07:03:00.006-07:00

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping hosted a dinner banquet on Friday for members of the Olympic Family who are in Beijing to attend the Beijing Olympic Games.

Athletes from worldwide countries and regions have achieved outstanding results at the Beijing Games, Xi said while addressing the guests at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

"They have promoted the International Olympic Movement, carried forward the spirit of modern Olympiad and intensified mutual understanding and friendship among people from different countries and regions," he said.

The Beijing Games are therefore more than an international sports rally, he added. "It's also a gathering for peace and friendship."

"Without the strong support and help from the International Olympic Committee and all our friends, Beijing's preparations and hosting of the Games would never have been so successful," Xi said. "You will be remembered forever by the Chinese people for your outstanding contributions to these Games."

IOC President Jacques Rogge praised the Beijing Games as successful.

In his speech delivered at the banquet, Rogge said the IOC and the Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games have forged profound friendship and worked together over the past seven years.

Rogge expressed thanks for everyone involved in the preparations and hosting of the Beijing Games, adding that their hard efforts have brought about the memorable Games.

BOCOG President Liu Qi presided over the banquet, which was attended by IOC Honorary President Juan Antonio Samaranch, senior Communist Party of China official Zhou Yongkang and chairman of IOC Coordination Commission for the Beijing Games Hein Verbruggen, among other members of the Olympic Family.

Source: Xinhua

Tropical storm Nuri makes landfall in China's Guangdong

2008-08-23T07:03:00.005-07:00

Tropical storm Nuri made landfall in Nanlang Town, Zhongshan City, of the southern Guangdong Province at 10:10 p.m. on Friday, packing winds of up toforce-10, or 90 km per hour.

Typhoon Nuri was downgraded to a strong tropical storm, the 12th this year, at 4:55 p.m. on Friday after it landed in the coastal areas along Sai Kung of Hong Kong, according to the provincial meteorological station.

Under its influence, force 8 to 10 winds hit the eastern part of Guangdong and the Pearl River Delta. In Shenzhen, the strongest wind was clocked at 42 meters per second, an equivalent of force 14.

Nuri was likely to continue ebbing and moving northwestward. From Friday night till Sunday, torrential rains were expected in western Guangdong and the Pearl River Delta.

Source: Xinhua

Int'l donation goes to Sichuan quake recovery

2008-08-23T07:03:00.003-07:00

The international community has donated through the United Unions to China's early recovery efforts in the areas affected by May 12th's devastating earthquake.

Mr. Khalid Malik, UN Resident Coordinator in China, declared in Beijing today on August 22 that 15 million USD in donations had been offered by the governments and private sectors of the international community since the UN launched its appeal for early earthquake recovery support on July 16. The initiative is expected to raise 33.5 million USD and spend it by the end of the year.

The 11 million USD comes from the governments of Canada , Norway , Saudi Arabia and Belgium , and the European Union . The UN has allocated another 4 million USD from its own resources and private donors.

Donors can specify the use of their contributions in any of eight priority fields including livelihood, healthcare, ethnic minorities, and protection of vulnerable groups. Reports about the use of the fund will be prepared and made public.

UN organizations will work closely with Chinese ministers to identify and implement projects financed with the money. Those projects will also bring the best international practices to China's reconstruction.

The EU and several countries have expressed interest in working with the UN to continue their support on the longer term reconstruction efforts.

Visiting Belgian Foreign Minster Karel De Gucht said at a press conference today in Beijing that Belgium would have its 500,000 euros in commitments in place "immediately." The money will be part of the cooperation between the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and China's Ministry of Agriculture to provide the necessary tools and fertilizer to affected local farming communities in Sichuan, where FAO has worked together with Chinese authorities for nearly 30 years.

The FAO projects as a whole, under the livelihoods categories, will benefit some 8,000 farming households, or about 30,000 people.

Belgium offered 680,000 euros worth of immediate aid to China right after the earthquake rocked Sichuan in southwest China.

The UN system in China has already delivered more than 18 million USD in emergency relief to the affected population in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces.

By People's Daily Online

Food for Beijing Olympics "100 percent" safe, Beijing official says

2008-08-23T07:03:00.001-07:00

As the relay events began at the Beijing Olympic Games, the former president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria has predicted that it will be tough for Team Nigeria to win a medal, local media reported on Friday.

Nigeria used to be very strong in the sprint events, but recently has seen its ratings by the International Association of Athletics Federation drop consistently.

Former AFN President Adeyemi-Wilson said that unless the team gets its acts together, it cannot win any relay medal at the ongoing Olympics.

"Our only hope is in the relays and if we do not get our acts together, it is going to be very tough," he said. "I watched the Ethiopian girl winning the 10,000 meters race and my conclusion was that we should start focusing on what we know best."

"I have always opposed spending millions of naira on sponsorship of marathons. We should immediately set up training camps for sprints, jumps and throws in preparation for the 2012 Olympics," he said.

"We can also use part of the money from the National Lottery to train our athletes. The Niger Delta Development Commission should also wake up and sponsor sports in the nine oil-producing states. It will go a long way in reducing militancy by the youths," he added.

Adeyemi-Wilson also urged the armed forces and the paramilitary to develop sportsmen and women for the country, stating that the command schools can produce highly disciplined sportsmen and women for the nation.

He said:"Please, appeal to the governments -- federal, state and local -- to start programs, beginning from now, so that we do not continue performing poorly at international arena."

"I read that the Kenyan male athletes have so far won 16 gold medals at the previous Olympics, while their female athletes have not won any. But camps have now been set up for young female athletes so that they too can be golden! It is a challenge to us," he said.

Source: Xinhua

Traffic suspended as Typhoon Nuri edges closer to Macao

2008-08-23T06:59:00.000-07:00

The Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau hoisted the gale signal No. 8 at 12:30 p.m. local time on Friday as Typhoon Nuri gathered speed and moved closer to Macao.

The bureau said that by 2:00 p.m. local time, Nuri was 110 km east off the coast of Macao, with a max wind speed of the center at 118 km per hour, and was sweeping northwest or northwest by west at a speed of 15 km per hour toward the estuary of the Pearl River.

The tropical cyclone has brought strong winds and heavy showers to the island city. The bureau's meteorological station recorded a wind speed of up to 110 km per hour in the afternoon, and it forecast that there will be flooding in some low-lying areas.

Bad weather has caused the suspension of most of the city's public traffic. Local flagship airline Air Macao and Taiwan's Eva Air announced the cancellation of all the flights scheduled to depart Macao this afternoon. Other flights at the Macao International Airport were either delayed or canceled.

Ferry services between Macao and Hong Kong were also temporarily closed after 7:45 a.m. on Friday, and dozens of passengers were stranded at Macao's Outer Harbor this afternoon.

As for the land transport, the city's two major bus companies were forced to suspend their operations at 1:20 p.m. due to the Typhoon.

With weather conditions deteriorating, most of the employees of local companies and government departments and local students took their extra leave, and exams scheduled to take place at local schools and institutions were canceled after the hoisting of the gale signal No. 8 this afternoon.

Source: Xinhua

Beach volleyball preview: U.S. May-Treanor/Walsh seek to repeat glory

2008-08-20T09:16:00.001-07:00

Without losing a single set, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the United States breezed into the beach volleyball final at the Beijing Olympics.

Far more than that. Dubbed as "queens of the beach", the American duo have not been defeated in a single match since last August.

The 1.75-meter May-Treanor and 1.88-meter Walsh play so solid that almost every time when the rivals launch a powerful attack and you expect the Americans to lose a point, they return the ball back, and score directly sometimes.

It's not only about techniques, but experiences as well.

The three-time Olympian May-Treanor said experiences are their advantage and they will use them to gain the upper hand over their rivals in Beijing. "Experience in beach volleyball comes into play in those big matches where fatigue sets in." said May-Treanor.

"We know where each other is going to be and where each other wants the ball. We're relentless. We keep the ball in play and let the other people make the mistakes," said Walsh, who is also for the third time at the Olympics. She played indoor volleyball in the last Games.

The combination of the pair is another factor which has contributed to their outstanding results. Men's beach volleyball legend and three-time Olympic champion of the United States Karch Kiraly also prized the partnership of May-Treanor and Walsh "the best ever".

Strong psychology is another significant weapon for the U.S. duo to perform well. "I will pretend that the crowd was cheering for us," May-Treanor said of the audience's anticipated strong support in the final at the Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground on Thursday , but not for them.

The U.S. duo will face China's Tian Jia and Wang Jie in the gold medal match.

Tian and Wang said their rivals were "very strong" both in experiences and techniques and they just wanted to do their best in the final match.

The Chinese duo remained unbeaten at the Beijing Games but sometimes they had to come from behind to win a match. Their instability in performance will be meeting the hardest test in the final.

Tian and Wang, who have already made history for China whose previous best Olympics finish was ninth place, are expected to pose some threats to the defending champions with the support of thousands of home crowd but the result may still be that the American duo prolongs its current 107-match winning streak to a 108-match one.

Source:Xinhua

South Korea to dominiate taekwondo featherweight events

2008-08-20T09:13:00.001-07:00

Two rookie South Koreans will make their debut on Thursday to defend the honor of the taekwondo powerhouse.

Lim Su-jeong, who celebrated her 22nd birthday Wednesday, will compete in the women's 57kg category, and Son Tae-jin, 20, will fight for the title in men's 68kg division in the Olympic taekwondo events, which began on Wednesday in the University of Science and Technology Beijing gymnasium.

Head coach Kim Sei-hyeok said after the draw that South Korea is to win four golds.

It won't be an easy job for Lim, gold medalist in the world qualification events, to present the ambitious team a good start, as she will face a tough opponent, Su Li-Wen of Chinese Taipei, in the first round during the preliminaries.

Veteran Su, Asian Games gold medalist in women's 63kg category, has already been prepared "physically and mentally no matter who she will fight against", according to head coach Ho Wei-Hsing.

If Lim wins, she will not meet real challenges until fighting against the younger sister of the famous Lopez's, Diana Lopez, in the final if the 2005 world champion can also make it in another pool.

Son Tae-jin will also have a tough fight in the preliminaries and another Lopez, Mark Lopez of the USA, also a 2005 world champion will also be a potential gold contender. The question is whether they can meet in the final competition.

Source:Xinhua

Offcial: Olympic seat occupation on rise as Games roll on

2008-08-20T09:12:00.001-07:00

Seat occupancy at the Beijing Olympics is gradually on rise as the Games go on, an official with the Olympic organizers said on Tuesday.

"In the early stages, several events have seen a fairly low seat occupation because of their unfavorable timing - either too early or too late," Yao Hui, a vice director in charge of venue management with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games told a press conference Tuesday noon.

Yao cited several other factors for the empty seats - no-shows among ticket-holding Olympic sponsors and officials, and fans not staying for the entire program when events last a full day.

"However, as many of the sports events enter their finales, seat occupation is gradually on the rise," he said, adding that "quite a number of sport events are performed in almost full venues".

Preliminary track and field events held at the Bird's Nest over the past few days have seen a 90 percent seat occupation in the morning. There is a full audience at night in the 91,000-capacity stadium, according to Yao.

At least 24 out of 31 venues in Beijing are seeing an average seat occupation rate above 80 percent, he said.

More than 1.3 million people have visited the Olympic Green, the centerpiece zone of the Games where most of the main venues are.

Yao said the Olympic venues are all in smooth operation, with no report of equipment and Olympic venue malfunction disturbing the games so far.

He also spoke highly of Chinese audience present at the Olympic venues for their "enthusiasm and civilized behavior".

"Athletes such as Michael Phelps could not have performed so well without the audience's enthusiasm. I want to say thanks to all the audience from China and around the world," he said, "All of you deserve a gold medal."

With four days left of the Olympics, more than 40 countries have won a total of 205 gold medals by Tuesday noon, as China leads the medal list with 43 golds.

More than 30 world records and 50 Olympic records have been broken during the Games.

Source:Xinhua

Official: Beijing Olympics become biggest broadcast event in Olympic history

2008-08-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

An official with the International Olympic Committee said here on Wednesday that the Beijing Olympic Games look to be the biggest broadcast event in the Olympic history.

There is an unprecedented amount of Olympic sports content available, with around 5,000 hours of coverage provided for viewers in around 200 countries and regions worldwide through the rights holding broadcast partners, Timo Lumme, managing director of IOC Television and Marketing Services, said at a press conference in the Games' Main Press Center.

During the Beijing Games, these partners are expected to make a combined total coverage which will be around three times that of the Athens Games, Lumme claimed.

He also hailed the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games as a sports-related event with the highest broadcast rating in the history of Chinese television.

"A staggering 842 million people in China tuned in to watch some coverage of the Opening Ceremony," he said.

"Although we won't have the complete definitive global statistics for sometime yet, indications suggested that the figure for the total viewing in the world could be around 1.2 billion people," he said, adding that the figures from the major markets of the world had in general surpassed those for the opening ceremonies of the Sydney and Athens Games.

In the United States, the NBC also registered the largest audience on Saturday night for 18 years as over 40 million viewers tuned in to watch Michael Phelps win his record eighth gold medal at one Games.

In China, over one billion people have already watched some Olympic sports coverage. To cater for this demand, CCTV, IOC's broadcast partner in China, has dedicated nine channels to the Games' overage, Lumme said.

ONLINE COVERAGE

The Beijing Olympic Games also feature an unprecedented level of digital media coverage. Live broadband Internet coverage, including online high definition and mobile phone video clips, is available across the world.

At the Athens Games four years ago, only eight countries and regions in the world experimented with some delayed Internet coverage, said Lumme.

"Taking the United States as an example, our partner in the United States, the NBC's Olympic website is receiving 30 times more video views online than it did in Athens and 12 times more mobile phone clip downloads than it did for the Torino 2006 winter Games," he said.

In China, in the first 12 days of the competition, 102 million people watched live broadcast of the Games online, with another 146 million watching video on demand online.

In addition, the IOC has launched its own online channels to broadcast the Beijing Games in 77 countries and regions across Africa, Asia and the Middle East including India, the Republic of Korea, Nigeria and Indonesia.

There were 12 million online video views on India's Abhnav Bindra winning a shooting gold medal, the first individual Olympic gold for the country, Lumme said.

"This marks the first time that the IOC has produced footages to the end users directly," he claimed.

MAKING OLYMPIC GAMES REACH MORE PEOPLE

"We expected a global reach of approximately 4.5 billion people. As you all know, it is the mission of the IOC to make available the Olympic Games coverage to as many people as possible around the world," Lumme said.

Particular emphasis has been paid on supporting those areas and regions of the world for whom access maybe a little bit more challenging.

"So in that context, we are pleased that in regions such as the sub-Sahara in Africa and in the Caribbean, our respective broadcast partners, the African broadcasting union and the Caribbean broadcasting union, have doubled the amount of coverage for Beijing Olympic Games from that of the Athens Games.

The very big positive effect for the IOC and for the Olympic movement is that the global interest for the Olympic Games is growing, Lumme claimed.

"We always knew that bringing the Games to China of course would open up the Olympic Games. And we are particularly happy that we have been able to work very closely with our partners to harness the technology of media to reach more people than ever before," he said.

Source:Xinhua

Chinese vice premier inspects northern port city, urging efforts to boost economy

2008-08-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday urged local officials and enterprises to seize opportunities and persevere in reform and opening-up to achieve stable and fast economic growth.

Efforts should be made to foster new areas of economic growth so as to reach the goal of long-term steady and fast economic development, Li said during an inspection tour from Aug. 18-19 in Tianjin, a north China port city.

Li Keqiang , Chinese Vice Premier and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspects in Tianjin, north China, Aug. 18, 2008. Li Keqiang paid a visit to Tianjin from Aug. 18 to Aug. 19.
Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited local factories, construction sites, port, commercial and trade service zones and residential districts during his inspection tour.

He urged local officials to speed up efforts to build the Binhai New Area into a northern portal of the country's reform and opening up drive, a base of modern manufacturing and scientific research and application, and an international shipping and logistics center.

The Binhai New Area, a pilot reform zone, consists of the three administrative districts of Tanggu, Hangu and Dagang and eight industrial zones currently under construction.

Li Keqiang , Chinese Vice Premier and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspects in Huaming Township of Dongli District in Tianjin, north China, Aug. 18, 2008. Li Keqiang paid a visit to Tianjin from Aug. 18 to Aug. 19.
Li stressed the importance of expanding domestic market demands in boosting economic development in an era of global economic uncertainty. He called for greater efforts to raise Chinese people' income through various channels and actively explore the rural consumption markets.

Source: Xinhua

China meets Brazil, Cuba takes on US in Olympic women's volleyball semis

2008-08-20T09:04:00.002-07:00

Players of China celebrate their victory over Russia during their Women's Quarterfinals match of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games volleyball event in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. China beat Russia 3-0.
Host China will meet Brazil in the semifinals of the Olympic women's volleyball event, but the teams followed different path in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

The Chinese girls, who claimed the gold medal in an epic final against Russia in the Athens Games four years ago, edged out the same opponents 25-22, 27-25, 25-19 in the one hour and 24 minutes thriller.

In an earlier quarterfinal, world number one team Brazil was hardly tested before blitzing Japan 25-12, 25-20, 25-16 in just 67 minutes.

Megumi Kurihara of Japan spikes the ball during Women's Quanterfinals - Match 34 between Brazil and Japan of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at Capital Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Brazil beat Japan 3-0.
The team, labeled as the heaviest favorite for the gold medal, has now compiled a 6-0 clean sheet since the preliminaries and did not even drop one single set.

"It will be a very difficult match against Russia or China but our team is confident because of the way we have been playing," said Brazilian winger Sheilla Castro, the best scorer of the team.

Players of Cuba celebrate during Women's Quarterfinals - Match 31 between Cuba and Serbia of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at Capital Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Cuba beat Serbia 3-0.
Cuba also pulled off a solid game to beat Serbia 26-24, 25-19, 26-24, and will in the other semifinal take on the United States, who survived a five-set thriller to beat World Cup winner Italy.

Lang Ping, coach of the women's volleyball team of the United States, hugs her team members during the Women's Quarterfinals match U.S. vs Italy of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games volleyball event in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. The U.S. beat Italy 3-2.
The United States twice rallied from one set down to force a tie-breaker, which they won at 15-6.

"I felt very happy with the result, they can always bring me surprise. I am so proud of them," American head coach Lang Ping, a former Chinese player, said after the match.

Cuba, former world champions and Athens bronze medalists, met serious challenge from the Serbian girls in the beginning of the match. The opening set was close as either of the teams could pull away until the set was levelled at 24-all.

Cuban spiker Yumilka Ruiz hit an excellent smash and then an error from Serbia gave Cuba the first set.

It was in the second set that the Cuban girls, who won three straight Olympic gold medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000, have started to take control over the match.

After claiming the set at 25-19, Cuba took their opponents lightly in the third set while Serbia mounted a strong comeback and after two straight blocks from Maja Ognjenovic, the Serbian team overtook the lead at 22 -20.

However, Serbia was not consistent in the remaining time.

"We're pleased with this victory, and with the opportunity to fight for the medals. It was a tough match and Serbia are a tough team," said Cuba head coach Antonio Perdomo Estrella.

"Today's match was very difficult and both teams were under mental pressure. Despite the victory we didn't feel relaxed, and we must play better in the next two matches. All four teams will be feeling the same emotions."

Playing in a repeat of the Athens Games final, China and Russia both needed a win to stay on course especially after they compiled a disappointing 3-2 record in the preliminaries.

"We had chance to win the first and second sets, but we are troubled with our poor attack and the Chinese girls did a good job in blocking," Russian head coach Giovanni Caprara said.

The Russian girls did not give up even when they lost the first set and squandered two set points in the second set.

But in the third set, the team showed some signs of vulnerability when they were up 16-13. Since then, the match turned in China's favor, with the Russian attack stuffed on the net. China used a 12-3 run to take the set and the whole match.

"This was a very important game for us, we are so happy that we won because we knew that Russia is a very strong team," said China captain Feng Kun. "In the quarterfinals there are no weak teams, so we knew we must win every point, so we fought for each point and were successful in the end."

"This victory did not come easily. In the preliminary round we suffered setbacks, we lost two matches and we knew we needed to control our emotions in order to succeed."

Public traffic in Beijing

2008-08-20T09:04:00.001-07:00

The flood crest of the Huaihe River surpassed the danger mark at Wangjiaba, a hydrological station in east China's Anhui province on Monday, intensifying risks of the river bursting its banks.

The water level monitored at Wangjiaba was 63 cm above the danger mark on Monday morning, when the flow at 3,910 cubic meters per second.

The provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters warned the water level could rise by another 30 cm by Tuesday, when the flood peak was expected to reach Wangjiaba.

More that 20,000 hectares of farmland have been inundated since the river began to swell on Saturday, according to the headquarters, which has mobilized more than 2,700 people to patrol the embankments.

The flood was triggered by heavy rainfall in the catchment area since Wednesday. The weather cleared on Monday and the provincial observatory was forecasting no heavy rain in near future.

The headquarters on Monday called on government institutions to allocate more personnel to flood control efforts along the embankment.

The sixth longest river in China is one of the most flood prone in the country. Its first flood this year was on April 22, and the highest water level monitored at Wangjiaba was 27.78 meters. It was the most extensive spring flooding since 1964.

Source: Xinhua

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2008-08-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

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