A surprising win for the USA!

In the Men’s Football (soccer) final at the National Stadium in Beijing on 23rd August 2008, Argentina defeated Nigeria 1-0 to win the Olympic gold medal. The goal was scored by Angel Di Maria at the 58th minute. Brazil took the bronze.

Via Beijing 2008

Shinobu Ohno of Japan is challenged by Babett Peter of Germany. (Photo Credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Germany defeated Japan 2-0 to win the Women’s Soccer Olympic bronze at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing.

Both goals were scored by second-half substitute Fatmire Bajramaj in the 69th and 87th minutes.

Via Beijing 2008

In the second set of 4 soccer matches on 7th August 2008, only Argentina managed to beat Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) with a 2-1 result. The rest of the football matches saw China drew with New Zealand with a 1-1 score, Republic of Korea drew 1-1 with Cameroon and both Holland and Nigeria drew without any goal.

Via Beijing 2008

This blog isn’t all about protests and getting hate mail, sometimes I get to be a Beijing Olympics fan pass along cool tidbits. As a Mandarin student, I really like the sports pictograms, I only wish all characters were as easy to decipher!

Artistic Gymnastics

Football

See the rest here!

Via China Daily

I was on World: Have Your Say again. Tonight’s show is on the Africa Cup Of Nations, and the effects that international sports are having in Ghana, and comparing that to the changes in Beijing for the Olympics. . Download the podcast here, or check out the World Have Your Say blog. Check it out!

The soccer legend, David Beckham, has to sing in Chinese in a music video (MV) that is meant for the Beijing Olympics. The celebs to star in the video are Jay Chou and Lin Chiling, a Taiwanese top model. Shanghai EE Media Co Ltd, the company behind this glam activity, has spent millions of yuan to gather such star powers. However, nothing is heard about how much Beckham is getting.

Beckham is expected to sing some of the lyrics in Chinese, Lu said. But the length of his Chinese singing depends on how quickly he can pick up the language, the report said.

I wanna Victoria to sing Chinese.

Via CriEnglish

If you want to train your soccer skills in your own backyard or the outdoors, you do not have to bring out two rubbish bins and use them as soccer posts or soccer goals.

Heard of portable soccer goals? They are just like easy-to-carry and mobile soccer posts that can be set up easily on any field. With peg hooks provided, you can be sure they would not be blown away by the irritating wind. It also includes a carry backpack to keep everything neat and tidy.

There are two types of portable soccer goals. One is for the kids (probably for 12 years and below) and the other one is the closer-to-the-real-thing type.

The Pop-Up Portable Junior Target Soccer Goal is suitable for children. Assembled size is 4′3″W x 3′2″H. This Franklin Mini Soccer Goal is perfect for a quick game of soccer and ideal for to occupy your kids (usually the boys). Of course, it can be broken down in a swift.

On the other hand, the Portable Backyard Tournament Soccer Goal is more heavy duty and is suitable for youth training (adults can use too). It is 6 feet high by 12 feet wide and complete with heavy-duty galvanized steel tubing.

Care for some soccer mania at your own backyard?

The China Olympic team (China national under-23 football team) is in Venice, Italy, for a 20-day intensive training. They are against A.C. Milan, Juventus and Chelsea in the later part of their football training.

Ratomir Dujkovi膰 is the team’s head coach. As China is the host nation, the soccer team is automatically qualified for the Olympics.

A good training for the China team to “spar” with these Italian professional football clubs.

Via TOM Sports