There are few Olympic sports which have the historic tradition that Olympic boxing has built over the years. Great boxers such as Oscar de la Hoya, George Foreman, and “The Greatest” himself, Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) have fought and succeeded on the international stage at the Summer Olympic Games.
Nowadays, it lives on as one of the more popular, and sometimes controversial, Olympic sports. Whether you’ll be watching along with 13,000 other fans at the Worker’s Indoor Arena, or watching from the comfort of your own home, prepare yourself for boxing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with this basic history and explanation of Olympic boxing.
Surprisingly, the first modern Olympics didn’t include boxing as an Olympic sport. The reason? It was considered too violent. However, in 1904 boxing debuted at the St. Louis Olympic Games, albeit only as a demonstration sport. In 1908, boxing was included as a medal sport in London, but was once again, not a part of the Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden four years later. Finally, in the 1920 Olympic Games, boxing returned to stay (there were no 1916 Olympics).
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There has never been women’s boxing in the Olympic Games, though in 2012 there will be for the first time ever. Somewhat appropriately, London will host those Summer Olympics, since London was also host when boxing first appeared as a medal sport in 1908.
Olympic boxing is notable for several reasons. For one, there are actually two bronze medals in Olympic boxing. Each loser in the two semifinal bouts receives a bronze medal. Also, the boxing tournament is a single elimination one, so there is very little margin for error- actually, there is none.
Some of the rules and guidelines of Olympic boxing are different from the professional boxing ones that many fans are more familiar with. Olympic boxing separates competitors into twelve weight classes, ranging from light flyweight (approximately 106 pounds) to super heavyweight (over 200 pounds). Also, all competitors are made to wear headgear, similar to amateur boxing in the United States.
Some of the rules of Olympic boxing, particularly the scoring and judging system, have been controversial over the years. In Olympic boxing, points are scored by hitting the opponent in the head or torso, as long as it is a legal blow. Judges don’t score the bouts by round, giving ten points to the winner. Instead, they use an electronic scoring system to register how many punches land.
When a punch lands, the judge presses a button, and if three of the five judges do so, a point is registered. Judges must also hit the button within one second of the others. However, if a flurry is exchanged, judges are told to wait until it is over, than give a point to whomever they feel got the better of the exchange. As you can see, the judging is quirky, to say the least.
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At the end of the fight, if the time is up and neither fighter has been defeated, points are added up to decide the winner. If the fight is a draw, the judges vote based upon who they felt fought the better fight. However, there are no points awarded for a knockdown, so a punch that results in a downed opponent is no more valuable than a jab that lands, if a knockout doesn’t result. Similarly to in most boxing bouts, three knockdowns in a single round result in a technical knockout, although in the Olympic Games, four knockdowns in a total fight also give the same result.
The combination of these somewhat strange rules and judging guidelines have led to some controversial decisions and frustration from fans and competitors alike. However, Olympic boxing has remained as one of the purest outlets for boxers to ply their trades, and also remains one of the greatest tests possible for the world’s top amateur pugilists.
Monday, 11 August 2008
Thursday, 7 August 2008
Female Athletes to Follow at the Beijing Olympics
Whether you’re just a fan of the Olympic Games in general, a woman who has competed in sports herself, or a young girl who looks up to the athletes who perform on the grand stage of the Olympics, it’s easy to admire the skills and determination shown by women athletes in the Olympic Games. The Beijing Olympics will put many talented female athletes at centre stage, and many of these athletes will, in turn, inspire another generation of women to aspire to one day compete in the Olympic Games. Here are just a few of the female athletes you’ll want to keep an eye on during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Natalie Coughlin, a United States swimmer, is tipped to win several medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She already has experienced Olympic success, as she won 5 medals (2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze) at the 2004 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She has only continued her success since then, and her skill in the 100 yard backstroke is not even approached by other competitors. Look for her to make a big splash in Beijing.
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Yelena Isinbayeva is a Russian pole vaulter who has already been the winner of eight major championships in her event of choice. She has set the world records for both indoor jumps (4.95 metres) and outdoor jumps (5.01 metres). Originally a gymnast, Isinbayeva left the sport when she became too tall to be very successful in it. However, her athleticism has allowed her to win a gold medal already in the pole vault, at the 2004 Sydney Olympics. It would be a tremendous shock if she doesn’t repeat that feat in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics.
Nastia Liukin is a Russian-born gymnast who will star for the United States gymnastic team during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. As a winner of four national all-around championships, she has proven herself to be a versatile competitor, although she excels most on the balance beam and uneven bars. Liukin nearly won the all-around competition at the World Championships in 2005, and has nine Word Championship medals to her credit so far. She’s known for having outstanding technique, and you won’t want to miss her performances in Beijing.
Marta, a Brazilian soccer player who is known by many as a female version of the great Pele, will compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and you won’t want to miss her when she does. Her team qualified by beating Ghana 5-1 to take the final spot in the Beijing Olympics, with Marta leading the way while playing a fantastic game. Widely considered the best women’s player in the world, she was awarded as the outstanding player and leading scorer of the 2007 Women’s World Cup, and her team finished second in the prestigious tournament. When she plays, don’t blink!
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As mentioned before, these are just a few of many outstanding athletes that will be competing at the Beijing Olympics this summer. You’ll want to make sure to follow their performances and root them on, and you won’t be sorry if you do. These women are the epitome of what athletics are all about, and they are going to Beijing for one reason: to win
Natalie Coughlin, a United States swimmer, is tipped to win several medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She already has experienced Olympic success, as she won 5 medals (2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze) at the 2004 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She has only continued her success since then, and her skill in the 100 yard backstroke is not even approached by other competitors. Look for her to make a big splash in Beijing.
HOW TO LOOK LIKE A FITNESS MODEL, WITHOUT BEING ONE!
Yelena Isinbayeva is a Russian pole vaulter who has already been the winner of eight major championships in her event of choice. She has set the world records for both indoor jumps (4.95 metres) and outdoor jumps (5.01 metres). Originally a gymnast, Isinbayeva left the sport when she became too tall to be very successful in it. However, her athleticism has allowed her to win a gold medal already in the pole vault, at the 2004 Sydney Olympics. It would be a tremendous shock if she doesn’t repeat that feat in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics.
Nastia Liukin is a Russian-born gymnast who will star for the United States gymnastic team during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. As a winner of four national all-around championships, she has proven herself to be a versatile competitor, although she excels most on the balance beam and uneven bars. Liukin nearly won the all-around competition at the World Championships in 2005, and has nine Word Championship medals to her credit so far. She’s known for having outstanding technique, and you won’t want to miss her performances in Beijing.
Marta, a Brazilian soccer player who is known by many as a female version of the great Pele, will compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and you won’t want to miss her when she does. Her team qualified by beating Ghana 5-1 to take the final spot in the Beijing Olympics, with Marta leading the way while playing a fantastic game. Widely considered the best women’s player in the world, she was awarded as the outstanding player and leading scorer of the 2007 Women’s World Cup, and her team finished second in the prestigious tournament. When she plays, don’t blink!
Video Lessons- 7 Minutes a Day to get More Muscle
As mentioned before, these are just a few of many outstanding athletes that will be competing at the Beijing Olympics this summer. You’ll want to make sure to follow their performances and root them on, and you won’t be sorry if you do. These women are the epitome of what athletics are all about, and they are going to Beijing for one reason: to win
Monday, 4 August 2008
Male Athletes that will shine in Beijing 2008
Each edition of the Olympic Games showcases some of the finest athletes in the world doing what they do best while representing their home countries. This year’s Games in Beijing, China, will be no different. There are so many great athletes, both male and female, that it can be hard to know who to look out for. Here’s a few of the athletes on the male side that you’ll want to keep an eye on during the Beijing Olympic Games.
On Court Ballers
Yao Ming is a Chinese basketball player who has blossomed to one of the best players in the entire world, and most likely the best player at his position anywhere. Yao has succeeded in the NBA, becoming the first Chinese player to do so, and has experienced international success in the past, being named to All-Tournament teams at the Olympics and World Championships. Yao’s ultimate goal is to bring a gold medal to China, and the fact that this year’s Olympics are in his own home country only intensifies this desire. At over seven feet fall, Yao possesses uncommon agility, shooting ability, and passing, and will be playing his best basketball when the Olympic Games begin in Beijing. Don’t miss a moment of Yao and company on the court!
Get the Physique of an Olympian
While we’re talking basketball, we have to discuss United States basketball superstar Kobe Bryant. Bryant is arguably the most exciting player in the world, and is in the prime of his career. This year, he won the NBA MVP Award for the first time in his career, while taking his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to new heights. Able to soar in the air for acrobatic baskets as well as playing great defense and getting teammates involved, Bryant is the ultimate basketball weapon and is devoted to getting the United States back to the top of the international basketball world. Bryant has proven his dedication by refusing to get surgery on his injured finger until after the Olympic Games. Bryant is not only one of the most exciting athletes in the Olympic basketball tournament, but in the entire Olympic Games.
The Embodiment of True Olympic Spirit
You would be hard pressed to find a more inspirational athlete than South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius. Pistorius was born lacking fibulas in both of his legs, and as a result has been a double-amputee basically all of his life. However, Pistorius never let his setbacks define him, as he’s competed in many sports throughout his life, most at a very high level.
During rehabilitation from a rugby injury years ago, Pistorius fell in love with running, and with carbon fiber blades that allow him to run like an able-bodied athletes, he’s shattered Paralympic sprinting records, and even competed favorably against able-bodied athletes. If Pistorius can either beat the qualifying time he needs for the 400 meters or be invited to be on the South African relay team, he’ll be possibly the biggest story of the entire Beijing Olympics.
Dream Team 2008
This may seem like a cop-out, but it’s impossible to really single out any of them, so make sure to watch the entire Brazilian soccer team. Team Brazil came in second place in the 2006 World Cup, then finished first in the 2007 Copa America, and seems primed for success in Beijing. An extremely fun team to watch, their team includes some of the most exciting players in the world, such as Ronaldinho and Robinho.
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Again, there are many more athletes that you’ll want to watch this summer during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but this list is a good start. Every athlete that reaches the Olympic level is worth watching and will amaze you with their athletic ability, but some athletes always rise above the top with their skill, natural ability, hard work, dedication and perseverance. If you get a chance to watch these talented and inspirational performers, make sure you take advantage of it!
On Court Ballers
Yao Ming is a Chinese basketball player who has blossomed to one of the best players in the entire world, and most likely the best player at his position anywhere. Yao has succeeded in the NBA, becoming the first Chinese player to do so, and has experienced international success in the past, being named to All-Tournament teams at the Olympics and World Championships. Yao’s ultimate goal is to bring a gold medal to China, and the fact that this year’s Olympics are in his own home country only intensifies this desire. At over seven feet fall, Yao possesses uncommon agility, shooting ability, and passing, and will be playing his best basketball when the Olympic Games begin in Beijing. Don’t miss a moment of Yao and company on the court!
Get the Physique of an Olympian
While we’re talking basketball, we have to discuss United States basketball superstar Kobe Bryant. Bryant is arguably the most exciting player in the world, and is in the prime of his career. This year, he won the NBA MVP Award for the first time in his career, while taking his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to new heights. Able to soar in the air for acrobatic baskets as well as playing great defense and getting teammates involved, Bryant is the ultimate basketball weapon and is devoted to getting the United States back to the top of the international basketball world. Bryant has proven his dedication by refusing to get surgery on his injured finger until after the Olympic Games. Bryant is not only one of the most exciting athletes in the Olympic basketball tournament, but in the entire Olympic Games.
The Embodiment of True Olympic Spirit
You would be hard pressed to find a more inspirational athlete than South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius. Pistorius was born lacking fibulas in both of his legs, and as a result has been a double-amputee basically all of his life. However, Pistorius never let his setbacks define him, as he’s competed in many sports throughout his life, most at a very high level.
During rehabilitation from a rugby injury years ago, Pistorius fell in love with running, and with carbon fiber blades that allow him to run like an able-bodied athletes, he’s shattered Paralympic sprinting records, and even competed favorably against able-bodied athletes. If Pistorius can either beat the qualifying time he needs for the 400 meters or be invited to be on the South African relay team, he’ll be possibly the biggest story of the entire Beijing Olympics.
Dream Team 2008
This may seem like a cop-out, but it’s impossible to really single out any of them, so make sure to watch the entire Brazilian soccer team. Team Brazil came in second place in the 2006 World Cup, then finished first in the 2007 Copa America, and seems primed for success in Beijing. An extremely fun team to watch, their team includes some of the most exciting players in the world, such as Ronaldinho and Robinho.
Lose those Man Boobs in just 3 weeks
Again, there are many more athletes that you’ll want to watch this summer during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but this list is a good start. Every athlete that reaches the Olympic level is worth watching and will amaze you with their athletic ability, but some athletes always rise above the top with their skill, natural ability, hard work, dedication and perseverance. If you get a chance to watch these talented and inspirational performers, make sure you take advantage of it!
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
How Beijing has Transformed Itself for the Olympic Games
History shows that one of the greatest honors any city can receive is to be selected as host for the Olympic Games. The selection is the result of a long process that can be as grueling and dramatic as much of the competition that takes place in the Olympics! Only after years of campaigning, promotion and considerable effort is a city finally chosen to host the Olympic Games.
However, once the honor has been bestowed, the real work begins. Each chosen Olympic host must prepare itself to be the sports and cultural epicenter of the world for a period of time. They must be ready for a dramatic influx of new visitors, be prepared to host athletes and workers, and have the facilities necessary to stage all of the events that make the Olympic Games what they are: the biggest spectacle in all of sport.
Beijing gets ready
In the case of Beijing, China, many preparations had to be made to make the city “Olympics ready”. Many new venues were constructed, all of which are state of the art and incredibly expensive. For years, construction crews and architects worked incredibly hard to construct such venues as Beijing’s National Stadium, the National Indoor Stadium, the National Aquatics Center, and other structures that will play host to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
At a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars for each facility, and with a workforce of thousands striving to complete the construction involved, the venues finally became a reality. Officials within Beijing would certainly have breathed a sigh of relief when the completed venues were finally revealed: after all, it’s not as if the Olympic Games can be postponed if construction takes longer than planned!
LEARN MORE ABOUT BEIJING 2008
The venues themselves need to be easily accessible through public transportation. The kind of mass migration of people that the Olympic Games create is hard for any city to prepare for, but it must be done. City officials must make sure that public transportation is optimized and altered to reflect the influx of people and the change in routes that will lead to more and more visitors going to Olympic venues.
Hotels in Beijing have also had to be on their toes. The minute the decision to award the Olympic Games was made, calls started to come in as fans wanted to be a part of the historic action. Even in surrounding areas, hotels are booked well ahead of time, and hotels have had to be prepared, well-staffed, and ready for anything as visitors from all over the world will soon arrive to be witness to sports history in the making.
Cash-Cow Olympics
A well organized Olympic Games can be very, very profitable. The committee of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games revealed a profit of US$167 million. In addition to the profit made by the official games through ticket sales etc, restaurants, shops, and other businesses must be prepared for an amount of people that they have never previously seen before. All of the people who come to be a part of the Olympic Games will need to eat, sleep and purchase. In the months leading up to the games, parking, staffing, and other issues have become important as the time draws near and businesses try to prepare for the chaos that will surely ensue.
Of course, no restaurant owner, hotelier or shopkeeper is going to complain when they double or triple their usual profits as Olympic fans flock to their establishment. Even if the preparation can be stressful, the increase in tourism that results during, and even after each installment of the Olympic Games is a truly wonderful thing for area businesses.
Ready to go
There is a lot of work to be done when a city is chosen to host the Olympic Games. The people of Beijing have worked very hard to make sure that their city is a suitable host for such a world stage, and it’s likely that they are very excited to show off all of that hard work in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
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However, once the honor has been bestowed, the real work begins. Each chosen Olympic host must prepare itself to be the sports and cultural epicenter of the world for a period of time. They must be ready for a dramatic influx of new visitors, be prepared to host athletes and workers, and have the facilities necessary to stage all of the events that make the Olympic Games what they are: the biggest spectacle in all of sport.
Beijing gets ready
In the case of Beijing, China, many preparations had to be made to make the city “Olympics ready”. Many new venues were constructed, all of which are state of the art and incredibly expensive. For years, construction crews and architects worked incredibly hard to construct such venues as Beijing’s National Stadium, the National Indoor Stadium, the National Aquatics Center, and other structures that will play host to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
At a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars for each facility, and with a workforce of thousands striving to complete the construction involved, the venues finally became a reality. Officials within Beijing would certainly have breathed a sigh of relief when the completed venues were finally revealed: after all, it’s not as if the Olympic Games can be postponed if construction takes longer than planned!
LEARN MORE ABOUT BEIJING 2008
The venues themselves need to be easily accessible through public transportation. The kind of mass migration of people that the Olympic Games create is hard for any city to prepare for, but it must be done. City officials must make sure that public transportation is optimized and altered to reflect the influx of people and the change in routes that will lead to more and more visitors going to Olympic venues.
Hotels in Beijing have also had to be on their toes. The minute the decision to award the Olympic Games was made, calls started to come in as fans wanted to be a part of the historic action. Even in surrounding areas, hotels are booked well ahead of time, and hotels have had to be prepared, well-staffed, and ready for anything as visitors from all over the world will soon arrive to be witness to sports history in the making.
Cash-Cow Olympics
A well organized Olympic Games can be very, very profitable. The committee of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games revealed a profit of US$167 million. In addition to the profit made by the official games through ticket sales etc, restaurants, shops, and other businesses must be prepared for an amount of people that they have never previously seen before. All of the people who come to be a part of the Olympic Games will need to eat, sleep and purchase. In the months leading up to the games, parking, staffing, and other issues have become important as the time draws near and businesses try to prepare for the chaos that will surely ensue.
Of course, no restaurant owner, hotelier or shopkeeper is going to complain when they double or triple their usual profits as Olympic fans flock to their establishment. Even if the preparation can be stressful, the increase in tourism that results during, and even after each installment of the Olympic Games is a truly wonderful thing for area businesses.
Ready to go
There is a lot of work to be done when a city is chosen to host the Olympic Games. The people of Beijing have worked very hard to make sure that their city is a suitable host for such a world stage, and it’s likely that they are very excited to show off all of that hard work in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
VISIT THE OLYMPICS
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Headline Makers at the Beijing Olympics
Dara Torres is an American swimmer who remarkably, has been swimming competitively at Olympic level since 1984. Even without competing in the 1996 Atlanta games or the 2004 Athens Olympics, should she be at the Beijing games she will be the first Olympic swimmer to compete in five Olympic Games. If she swims in Beijing this summer, she will also be the oldest swimmer to ever compete at the Olympics. Dara Torres is 41 years old.
Torres has become notable as a television personality outside of the pool, and was also the first non-model to appear in the Sports Illustrated annual swimsuit issue. In case you hadn’t heard, she’s also had a pretty good career as a swimmer.
Career
To this point in Torres’ career she has won nine Olympic medals with four gold medals among them. At the Sydney Olympics in 2000, she won five medals and was the oldest member of the U.S. team, at 33 years old. She had originally planned to retire, raise a family and had no intentions of competing in any further Olympics. By all accounts, the Olympic career of Dara Torres had come to a distinguished end.
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However, things were to take a surprising turn. In August of 2007, when Torres was 40 years old and had given birth just over a year before, she was able to win the gold medal at the U.S. Nationals for the 100 metre freestyle event. She would also go on to break her own American record in the 50 metre freestyle.
Torres was as surprised as anyone. She had joined a local club team after giving birth, just to get back into shape and have a fun outlet for friendly competition. However, as Torres is an exceptionally competitive athlete, one thing led to another, and she began competing again at a progressively higher level. She raced in master’s events, but posted times that would still be competitive at a professional level. Since discovering that she still had the talent, she decided to resume full-time training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Training and preparation
Dara Torres’ training is made a bit more complicated by the fact that she can’t get as much pool work in as her younger counterparts due to family commitments. She works with a team of experts to ensure that there is no wasted time in her workout regime and she relies on weight training to increase her strength and explosiveness.
Even though she spends about half as much time in the pool as she used to, Torres’ philosophy of training smarter rather than harder has led to her posting faster times than she did years ago. She is stronger than in her younger days, although she weighs less, and is more efficient and better balanced in the water. She has also improved her time out of the blocks to start the race, which is vital at shorter distances, where fractions of a second can separate a gold medal from a bronze medal.
Beijing Bound
Dara Torres will be undoubtedly one of the biggest stories of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Just by qualifying and competing, Torres would be making history. However, as you may guess, Torres is not merely content to just “show up”.
BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES INFORMATION
Torres has become notable as a television personality outside of the pool, and was also the first non-model to appear in the Sports Illustrated annual swimsuit issue. In case you hadn’t heard, she’s also had a pretty good career as a swimmer.
Career
To this point in Torres’ career she has won nine Olympic medals with four gold medals among them. At the Sydney Olympics in 2000, she won five medals and was the oldest member of the U.S. team, at 33 years old. She had originally planned to retire, raise a family and had no intentions of competing in any further Olympics. By all accounts, the Olympic career of Dara Torres had come to a distinguished end.
LOVE THE OLYMPICS?
However, things were to take a surprising turn. In August of 2007, when Torres was 40 years old and had given birth just over a year before, she was able to win the gold medal at the U.S. Nationals for the 100 metre freestyle event. She would also go on to break her own American record in the 50 metre freestyle.
Torres was as surprised as anyone. She had joined a local club team after giving birth, just to get back into shape and have a fun outlet for friendly competition. However, as Torres is an exceptionally competitive athlete, one thing led to another, and she began competing again at a progressively higher level. She raced in master’s events, but posted times that would still be competitive at a professional level. Since discovering that she still had the talent, she decided to resume full-time training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Training and preparation
Dara Torres’ training is made a bit more complicated by the fact that she can’t get as much pool work in as her younger counterparts due to family commitments. She works with a team of experts to ensure that there is no wasted time in her workout regime and she relies on weight training to increase her strength and explosiveness.
Even though she spends about half as much time in the pool as she used to, Torres’ philosophy of training smarter rather than harder has led to her posting faster times than she did years ago. She is stronger than in her younger days, although she weighs less, and is more efficient and better balanced in the water. She has also improved her time out of the blocks to start the race, which is vital at shorter distances, where fractions of a second can separate a gold medal from a bronze medal.
Beijing Bound
Dara Torres will be undoubtedly one of the biggest stories of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Just by qualifying and competing, Torres would be making history. However, as you may guess, Torres is not merely content to just “show up”.
BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES INFORMATION
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