Entries from May 2008 ↓
May 23rd, 2008 — Drugs
Earlier, we asked whether American runner Antonio Pettigrew is a doper. Now we know the answer. From the AP:
Olympic gold medalist Antonio Pettigrew admitted publicly for the first time Thursday that he used performance-enhancing substances during a long, successful sprinting career in which he passed all drug tests.
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May 23rd, 2008 — India, Tennis
In the first round we had Mahesh Bhupathi proclaiming that he doesn’t want to play doubles with Leander Paes in the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.
Not surprisingly, Leander Paes — a bronze medalist during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics — poured his heart out “saying that he was hurt” by Bhupathi’s conduct.
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May 23rd, 2008 — Equestrian, United Kingdom
Model Jordan a.k.a Katie Price a.k.a Katrina Alexandra Infield wants to compete in the Olympics but some meanies are making fun of her Olympic dreams. Back off, people, back off. If she wants to compete in the Olympics then she can compete in the Olympics. Can’t a girl dream big anymore?
PHOTO SOURCE: Anorak
May 23rd, 2008 — Equestrian, United Kingdom
Nice hat, Andrew. But do you really abuse your horses with your spiked boots? From the Associated Press:
Three-time Olympic equestrian gold medalist Andrew Hoy appeared at hearing Thursday to answer accusations of horse abuse.
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May 22nd, 2008 — Tibet
Organizers of the Tibetan Olympics which we blogged about here have run into financial difficulties according to our reliable source. But we should give props to the organizers; after all they are what Baron de Coubertin was talking about when he said that the more important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. Go Tibet.
RELATED:
Tibetan Olympic Games: One World, Many Dreams
Photo of the Day: Nagano, Japan
Tibetan Protests Continue
Bjork’s Got Balls
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May 22nd, 2008 — Canada, Figure Skating, Kayaking, Scandals and Controversies, Winter Games
They’re not really fighting but they’re also kind of fighting. Contradictory, eh? If you remember our earlier post, we reported that Elvis Stojko, a two-time figure skating Olympic gold medalist, urged Canadian athletes to boycott the Beijing Olympic Games in the name of human rights.
Adam Van Koeverden, world and Olympic kayak champion, is having none of it: “I respect Stojko and his opinion but I think he would have moderated his comments if he was headed to the Olympics to win a gold medal.” [cbcsports.ca]
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May 22nd, 2008 — Taekwondo, Thailand
Thai taekwondo jins Buttree Puedpong, Chutchawal Khaola-or, and Chonnapas Premwaew (left) are good enough to win Olympic gold medals according to Pimol Srivikorn, president of the Taekwondo Association of Thailand (TAT).
If any of the three will win a gold medal, s/he will receive a bonus amounting to $314,000 as we noted here. Of the countries we’ve tracked so far, Thailand is awarding the richest financial incentive to its Olympic medalists.
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May 22nd, 2008 — Beijing Olympics
The sign for the men’s restroom in Beijing’s National Stadium also known as the Bird’s Nest. Fortunately or unfortunately, the sign for the women’s restroom isn’t as, ehem, graphic.
PHOTO SOURCE: Beijing 2008.
May 22nd, 2008 — India, Tennis
India’s best Olympic medal hope, the tennis doubles team of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes are not exactly best buds right now — Mahesh says he doesn’t want to pair with Leander because Leander is off doing other things instead of going to tune-up tournaments with him — but Leander believes that they can bring home a gold medal for the second most populous country in the world. [Ooops, sorry for the very long sentence.]
Will these two settle their differences in time to go for the gold? Let’s wait for the next chapter.
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May 22nd, 2008 — Tibet
Because they are banned from participating in the Beijing Olympic Games, Tibetan athletes will be having their own Olympics. Organized by Lobsang Wangyal (left) the Tibetan Olympic Games will be held at Dharamsala in northern India starting 22 May to 25 May 2008. Jack Leenars has a report about the Tibetan Olympics here.
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