Year: 2011

Martha Teichner takes you behind the scenes of “Zarkana,” the new $50 million Cirque du Soleil production at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

Framed around the new show, this news piece looks at the big picture, including interviews with billionaire owner Guy Laliberté.

Click PLAY or watch it on CBS News. (after the ad)

http://cnettv.cnet.com/av/video/cbsnews/atlantis2/cbsnews_player_embed.swf

This popular blind change drill I find more problematic than actually doing the blind change from giant on Bar.

To simplify, Al Fong recommends learning it off a box.

Click PLAY or watch the drill on YouTube.

Al really is a genius of progression. Find more great drills on his YouTube channel.

LIKE A GIRL

You run like a girl
You jump like a girl
You hit like a girl
You tumble six feet over
a four-inch beam like a girl!

Author unknown

(via sophgymnast on Chalk Bucket)

The London 2012 medals will be the largest Olympic medals to date. Designed by British artist David Watkins, they will be made by the Royal Mint in Wales.

See how the London 2012 medals compare to all of the medals they are following from the past 29 Olympics here. …

See more photos on Full Twist

At the Olympic Museum last week I learned that the coolest Olympic medals are from Winter Olympics. (They have far few restrictions on size, material and image than the Summer Games.)

Couch Gymnast has been telling us that the Italian Juniors are the up-and-coming gymnasts in Europe for some time.

Here’s some evidence.

The Italian team upset Romania for the women’s team title Wednesday at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Trabzon, Turkey. ..

Defending champion Russia — competing without the services of injured gymnasts Anastasia Grishina and Anastasia Sidorova — struggled on uneven bars and balance beam to place fourth. …

Full results on IG – Italian Women Triumph in Trabzon at EYOF

Couch Gymnast has some video from Day 1 – Italy takes Team EYOF Title

Larissa Iordache (57.800) dominated the AA in prelims. AA and Apparatus Finals are yet to come.

Click PLAY or watch Larissa’s Beam on YouTube.

Despite the good results there is bad news from Italy too – Enrico Pozzo, their top male AA gymnast, has been kicked out of his gym.

From David Macnamara by email:

Royal Mail is issuing a set of ten 1st Class stamps on 27 July 2011 to celebrate the one year countdown to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. …

The stamps are the final set to be issued in its three year countdown which has seen a total of 30 stamps issued. The creation of 30 stamps marks the fact that this is the 30th Olympiad, and also represents every sport in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. …

details – The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

… in the world, Katelyn Ohashi.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Here’s her (also impressive) Bars. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

This fellow lost his leg to Cancer in 2009.

Click PLAY or watch him on YouTube.

And even more impressive …

Click PLAY or watch her on YouTube.

Kyle Shewfelt announced that he will be part of CTV’s Broadcast team for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

… specifically be covering the Men’s Artistic, Women’s Artistic and Trampoline competitions. I will also be playing a role in the Opening Ceremonies coverage and of course, I will be blogging, tweeting and facebooking through out the Games for CTVOlympics.ca.

Congratulations.

related – Shewfelt interview on Sport At Its Best

… With more than 10,000 pieces, the museum is the largest archive of Olympic Games in the world and one of Lausanne’s prime tourist draws attracting more than 250,000 visitors each year. …

… Six-time Olympic gymnastics medalist-turned sporting goods entrepreneur, China’s Li Ning today donated USD 1 million to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. …

“As a former athlete and Olympic champion I have always felt strongly about the Olympic Games. The Olympic Museum is a good way to learn about this spirit and draw inspiration from it. The Lausanne Olympic Museum has managed to collect and introduce almost every inspiring moment in the long Olympic story, and I believe anyone who has the opportunity to visit it will be profoundly touched and encouraged just as I was,” Li said, speaking through an interpreter. …

“Tomorrow is the beginning of the one-year-countdown of London Olympic Games, which makes this donation especially meaningful. …

AIPS

Most participants at World Gymnastrada last week in Lausanne checked out the Museum, including me. It is fantastic.