- Beijing 2008
The Olympic Games are over. In my personal opinion, this was the best Olympics I have witnesses in my life, not that I have witnessed many. I missed the closing ceremony but I’m sure it was just as marvelous as the opening one. China did an excellent job in preparing an organizing for this Olympics. London has its work cut out for it if they want to resemble what China has done when 2012 comes. I doubt they’ll outdo Beijing.
China came in first with a total of 100 Medals; 51 of which were Gold medals. Americans are sore losers because I noticed as I watched various American news programs, none of them referred to the official ranking of countries and some of them even listed USA at the top because it won a total of 110 medals although only 36 of them were Gold. However, we all know that China kicked the American ass! Russia came in 3rd and UK was 4th.
37 world records were broken in this tournament which is a first, if I remember correctly. The grand winners were of course Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. Phelps is the American swimmer who broke the world record for the number of Gold medals won in a single tournament by one athlete. He won 8 Olympic Gold medals. He also broke the world record of the number of Gold medals won by one athlete in the Olympics. Combining his latest 8 Gold medals with the 6 Gold ones he won in Athens 2004 brings his total to an astounding 14 Gold medals.
Bolt, the Jamaican who is considered the fastest man on earth now, has won 3 Gold medals in 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay breaking the world records in all three races! Watching him run, he didn’t even look tired to me! It seemed as if he could’ve run even faster.
Arab athletes were of course a disappointment winning a total of 8 medals; 2 of which are Gold through the Tunisian Osama Mallouli in 1500m Swimming Freestyle and the Bahraini Rashid Ramzy in 1500m track race.
Saudi athletes won nothing which is expected albeit all our hopes for the opposite. The fact is that the Saudi Government doesn’t really pay much attention to the Olympic games. We cannot blame our athletes for not achieving anything. If you look at the amount of money and time spent on the athletes in all the developed country you’ll see that ours basically got nothing. Those in whom we foresee a hope of achieving something in the next Olympics should be taken care of beginning right this moment and should be given time and money to practice and perfect their skills. I would argue that only half or let’s say quarter of the money going to football players and footballs clubs in this country will be enough to support our athletes in all different sports. God knows our national football team isn’t accomplishing much anyway. We should start focusing on other sports. Isn’t it the prophet, peace be upon him, who instructed us to teach our sons archery, swimming and horse riding? How come we have virtually no achievements in these sports?
Let us all hope and pray that the Arab and particularly Saudi athletes will demonstrate a much more honorable performance in London.
For pictures and clips from this Olympics, the full results and various interesting stuff, check the Beijing 2008 official site.
I’m proud of the Saudi athletes performance considering the limited resources provided. I also find the county’s obsession with football a tad bit disturbing. Football has always been favoured over any other sport; why not spread the lurve
I hope by 2012 we’ll be able to see much better presence in the Olympics and a friendly female face, or maybe two
Can’t say more on 8bitsofcoffee comment!!
I do share my wish of my goverment to care more of our athletes who just need support and good training!!
8bitsofcoffee, Same point I was making. Football’s great and all that but love should go around !
About the female presence, I have deliberately neglected to bring up that issue because I believe that it’ll stir up a lot of controversy but most importantly due to the fact that I don’t think there will be any female athlete ready to compete at the Olympics by 2012, That is of course if the government allowed such a thing
hissweetheart, inshallah. Let’s keep hoping and try to talk about this topic as much as we can to shed more light on it
yeah, it has been the most successful games ever. even after all those fiasco created by the other countries that their air is polluted and they will boycott the opening ceremony, blah blah, no one faced a single problem with the air! how amazing!
as for the women’s particiaption, its good u did not mention it or else it will be up for a serious debate whatsoever.
there was a very loooong discussion of women participation in another blog and i would like to share with everyone.one of the longest debates that i have ever took part in!
http://saudijeans.org/2008/08/08/saudi-olympics-women/
thanks alot,
Hisham
If the Olympic Games is all about overcoming differences and bringing peace to this bloodthirsty world (which is quite ridiculous, I think), then having China,specifically, to hold the event this year was the irony of it all.
I mean think about it! In a country where human rights barely exist, where oppression is a political agenda, where Tibetans are exiled and violently treated, do you think China was a good choice, afterall?
Regarding the participation of Saudi women in the Olympics! From a total realistic view, I say not anytime soon.
Really? I didn’t quite enjoy them much this year. Heh.
HishMaj, I have participated in that discussion with my point of view. Anyone who didn’t see it before should take a look at it. It’s interesting indeed.
A Global Citizen, It was a political choice above all to pick China for the games. The world was hoping it’ll better its act and China was hoping to show the world that they’re a good country and that their system is fine !
As I said above, we won’t be seeing any women soon
manutdfanatic, perhaps London will be your games!
they did a magnificent show in the opening day ..
SwaRwaR, everyone agrees on that
I don’t know how far it’s true; but I did come across a news report claiming that half the magnificent fireworks on the opening day were computer-generated.. seen only by television viewers.
Oh yeah, magnificent all right. ;p
It is true! The director of the organizing committee admitted it. Not to the extent of half the fireworks but a portion of it. They said they didn’t want to pollute the air with that much amount of fireworks dust and chemicals. Doesn’t really make a difference, does it? The show was magnificent to those who attended and to those who watched too!
The Olympic flame may have been extinguished and the athletes have gone home, but in roughly a week’s time, another world-class competition will come alive in the same venues. Another group of world-class athletes are waiting in the wings, eagerly anticipating for their turn at the world stage of Beijing for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
2008 Beijing Summer Paralympic schedule
I actually didn’t know about that. Thanks for the info. Hopefully I get to watch some of it at least