Gymnastics Coaching.com

The Olympics is one opportunity every 4yrs where even mortal enemies cooperate. That’s good for the world.

Happily, it looks like no nation will boycott Beijing.

All the countries in a colour boycotted at least one Olympics of ’76, ’80 and ’84.

Wikipedia

Still, in the U.S. election, grandstanding candidates talked about boycotting the opening ceremony, instead:

Hillary Clinton today called for George Bush to protest China’s human rights record by boycotting the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

Barack Obama, said last week that he is conflicted over whether the US should participate fully in the August Olympics given China’s dismal human rights record.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives, recently called for a Bush boycott of the opening ceremonies after meeting with exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama in India.

For once I agree with George W:

… Bush remains committed to treating the Olympics purely as a sporting event rather than an opportunity for political gestures. The White House reiterated today that Bush would travel to China as planned.

Quotes taken from the Guardian in April, 2008.

Iraq, however, has been banned from the 2008 Olympic Games, their 7 qualified athletes now ineligible.

Related: Boycotting and Banning: The Real Olympic Sports – Mental Floss

Gymnast.com just posted video of the official announcement.

See the video on Gymnast.com

Particularly poignant is an interview with injured Shayla Worley.

Dwight Normile opines on Stress Factors … and Fractures on International Gymnast.

Normally I completely agree with Dwight on everything. This time, not so much.

Were there more injuries this time than other Olympic cycles? I’m not so sure. There have always been many injuries. This is a brutal sport.

The new Code of Points has definitely not reduced the injury rate. But I’d like to see some statistics before I believe it’s increased the rate.

And do the Karolyi camps help or hurt? I’d argue they help, forcing coaches and athletes to be “consistent”, the #1 thing they must demonstrate when there. Those camps are reality checks.

Close to Wellington, a wonderful city on the sea.

Senior Coach MAG / WAG required …

Hutt Valley GymSports, located in Lower Hutt, New Zealand is seeking to employ a full-time senior coach able to coach both Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics.

Our club is one of the most successful in our region of New Zealand and has around 400 members with about 70 of these in the competitive artistic gymnastics squad.

… please email a resume and covering letter to admin AT huttvalleygymsports.co.nz.

HuttValleyGymSports.co.nz

Gymnasts are famously anaerobic athletes.

So why would a group of ex-gymnasts decide to train for a 6-12hr Adventure Race?

Because gymnastics coaches are gluttons for punishment! Here we are training in conjunction with the 2008 Funtastics High Performance Training Camp.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

We have a race Saturday, July 26th near San Francisco, California: Ocean Blue A.R.

(via the FART — Funtastics Adventure Racing Team — website)

by site editor Rick McCharles

Just got back from 2 days hiking to find 46 comments on my post Paul Hamm arrogant?

Seems I’ve touched a nerve.

People are still polarized about his controversial 2004 Olympic win. Though most, including me, agree that he is the Champion.

Perhaps I can help stop the bleeding.

Yes, I think Paul is a “little” arrogant. Not many athletes preparing for their 3rd Olympics would say anything like this:

“They should be worried. I guess also Yang Wei should be a little worried, too. He’s probably counting on me being out.”

Paul Hamm, U.S. gymnast, offering words of warning to the all-around world champion and the rest of his competition at the Beijing Olympics. – Overheard: Paul Hamm – Buckeye xtra

Yes, I think it’s refreshing that Paul is not trotting out the usual sport cliches when asked about his rivals.

Do I think he can win? Certainly!

But he’s not the favourite. And “dissing” your opponent in a subjective sport is not the best way to optimize your chances of winning. What do the international judges think of this kind of statement?

I hope all the top guys hit 6 for 6 in All-around Finals. And may the best man win. If that’s Paul, I will be happy to congratulate him.

Related post: “Paul will defend the AA in Beijing. He’s awesome tough.” – Paul Hamm is BACK – by Rick McCharles

MakingTheOlympics.com

From her interview on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel:

… “I feel sad that a gymnast so accomplished as Dominique, being part of the 1996 Olympic team and being the individual medalist in 1995 world championships … can remember the harder days during the preparation,” Karolyi said Tuesday during a conference call to discuss the U.S. team for the Beijing Olympics. “I feel sad.” …

Karolyi ‘sad’ that Moceanu focusing on hard times, not success – ESPN

Via Gym Chat you can watch the original TV program on YouTube, if you missed it.

The same YouTube clips are posted on Gymbrooke Sports News along with some commentary on abusive Romanian gymnastics coaches.

UPDATE: Dominique has a terrific follow-up interview:

An HBO Real Sports segment last night included an interview with you. How did you feel about the way it turned out?

DM – I felt that the final quote on the HBO show was taken out of context. I said I would put my daughter in gymnastics, but when it came to the elite scene, if she made it there, we would go for the college route. I think it’s a healthier route, and that gymnasts have much better experiences in college. They made it seem as though I wouldn’t put my daughter in the sport.

In the recent press, I’m very disappointed in what Kim Zmeskal has said. She’s had beef with me since I called her out for being an unethical athlete representative two years ago. …

Talking to Dominique Moceanu – About.com Gymnastics

Certainly things were far worse in her heyday than today.

This is a screen shot of my buddy Toshi getting ready to do standing back tuck on a log beam on a high ropes course.

To see what happens, click through to Gymnast.com.

OUCH.

It is believed that Coke has spent US$75 million on the Games to boost sales and build long-term loyalty in China.

“The Olympics goes beyond sport,” said Kevin Tressler, Coca-Cola’s director of worldwide sports and entertainment marketing.

“There’s a warm feeling that comes to people when they think about the Olympics.”

Coke’s red marketing strategy aligns with the national colour of China. Good move!

Beijing Olympics Fan blog

Does anyone else find this ironic?

The great Communist icon hawking for Coke?

Interesting article on five technological changes in the Olympics 2008:

Supercomputers and weather control
Cyber warfare
On demand coverage
Anti-terrorism efforts
Timing

io9

It was linked from a Beijing Olympic Games blog post which added a few more:

Stadium technology
Blogging and social media
Twitter
Amateur video

How technology will change the Olympics

This blogger will be covering the Games. It will be interesting to see how fans skirt the unenforceable restrictions of NBC and IOC.

Athletes are allowed to blog — but only under silly guidelines.

image source

China is obviously conflicted and confused. They want to clamp down on freedom of Olympic speach. Yet 90% of Beijing’s major streets will be covered by Wi-Fi and WiMAX technologies for the Olympics.

It will be amusing to watch them try to restrict independent commentary.

Ever since I travelled there in 1997 I’ve believed that the internet will be the main agent forcing change in the doddering regime.

Athletes are highly motivated and pain tolerant when an Olympic Team spot is on the line.

… X-rays today showed a small fracture in the tibia, something she may have had since the final day of the Olympic trials last month. Eric (her father) said Mattie began experiencing pain in Philadelphia but was determined to finish the selection process. …

L.A. Times via Shergymrag