The Lucky Cloud (绁ヤ簯) torch is fired up again to mark the relay of the Beijing Paralympic Games 2008 in China. The Paralympic Games will be held on the 6th to the 17th of September, a 10-day special sporting event.

Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee, said at the ceremony: “The flame will symbolize over the next 10 days the unique sporting spirit displayed by Paralympic athletes.

“This spirit can overcome many obstacles in the search for sporting excellence.”

The relay will be run over two separate routes: Ancient China and Modern China.

The Ancient relay begins today in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, while the Modern route starts on Saturday from Shenzhen in Guangdong province.

Via China Daily

The lightning Usian Bolt could have smash world record at 9.52 seconds instead of 9.69 seconds. Why? He took some little second to celebrate, that’s all.

Triple Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Usain Bolt could have run the 100 metres in 9.52 seconds if he had not slowed to celebrate, his coach said on Wednesday. Glen Mills said Bolt, who electrified Beijing with his sprint victories, was at the start of his 100 career and would peak only in about two years’ time.

Via Guardian

The baton has been passed to London which will host the London Olympics 2012. Here’s a little promotional video on London.

Are you suffering from the Olympic Syndrome? Feeling lost, sad, helpless after the Beijing Olympics is gone for good?

You are not alone as many Chinese sports fans have suffered the same syndrome but the experts are dishing out 3 tips to make your real life wonderful again.

Getting more rest, participating in outdoor activities rather than watching them, and making more friends were three potential cures.

We hope you get over it. Don’t become us…

Via AFP

This article  ‘One thing is clear: you cannot protest legally in China’ from the Chicago Tribune is worth reading, but the short version is this:

77 applications were filed to protest in designated protest zones during the Olympics.

74 were voluntarily withdrawn after their problems “were properly addressed by relevant authorities.”

3 were denied.

Looks like the joggers and tai chi-ers had Ritan Park to themselves.

(Thanks, PandaPassport!)

We will be blogging on the Beijing Paralympic Games which will commence on the 6th to 17th September 2008. Here’s the official Beijing Paralympic Games website.

Shout out who do you think is/are the Champions of this Beijing Olympic Games 2008 and why.

After losing his temper, Cuban Angel Valodia Matos was banned for life.

BEIJING (Reuters) - Cuba’s Angel Valodia Matos was banned for life from taekwondo on Saturday for kicking a referee and a Chinese favorite was knocked out in a controversial ruling as the final bouts of the Olympic tournament descended into chaos.

The confusion overshadowed victory for Cha Dong-min, who took South Korea’s fourth taekwondo gold medal at the Beijing Games in the men’s +80-kg category, and Mexico’s Maria Espinoza, who won gold in the women’s +67-kg.

Leading 3-2 in the men’s +80-kg bronze-medal bout against Kazakhstan’s Arman Chilmanov, Matos slumped to the floor rubbing his leg and was disqualified for exceeding a minute’s injury time, prompting the Cuban’s coach to rush onto the mat.

After a heated exchange, Matos struck the referee in the head with a high kick. He also kicked another official before being escorted out of the arena.

A tournament official announced the life ban for Matos and his coach over a loudspeaker a few minutes later.

I completely agree with the ban for assault, but how sad that after making it to the Olympics, Matos will never compete again!!!

Via Cuban banned for referee kick | U.S. | Reuters

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