US Soccer - MLS recent game updates

May 10th, 2008

By Claudia Beckford

The United States Soccer League 2008 season recently began; both conferences’ teams have played a total of 7 games and already we can see some very important point differences amongst the groups; for example: in the Eastern Conference the Chicago Fires lead by 16 points closely followed by Columbus; and in third, fourth and fifth place we find Kansas City, Toronto FC and New England respectively all with 10 points each. On the other hand; in the Western Conference the point gap is evidently smaller as Colorado and Dallas lead by 9 points each and the Galaxy stands in the third position followed by Salt Lake and Chivas USA with five points total.

The current MLS champions the Houston Dynamo has been this season’s major surprise as the team just does not seem to find the answer to get back on track; they have lost two of their six games and only last weekend the team was not able to win over Chivas USA as they draw without any goals. But their next to be rival scoreboard leader Colorado Rapids regained some confidence after the recent win over D.C United placing themselves back at the top. We will see these two teams facing each other next Saturday May 10th at the Robertson Stadium in Texas.

The Los Angeles Galaxy which is one of the most well known teams in the MLS due to the last year’s acquisition of the English former Real Madrid player David Beckham; will give lots to talk about during the present campaign as the team’s stars Beckham and Donovan are becoming the unquestionable duo; together they have achieved 11 of the 13 goals done by the Galaxy. Additionally, they count with the best offensive numbers but the rest of the squad is aware they whole team needs to engage in the same tune in order to be completely successful.

“I feel like we have the ability to [outscore anybody]. Every game is different,” said Mike Randolph. “Sometimes things don’t go your way, or you have a bad game. But I think we really do have the ability to put some high scoring games on the table like the Chivas game. I think we have the ability to do some amazing things.”

The New York Red Bulls will be the next rival the Galaxy will have to overcome; they meet on Saturday May 10 in Los Angeles, California.

Eastern Conference leader the Chicago Fire took great advantage of their match against D.C. United this past Wednesday as the team’s coach Denis Hamlett put to the test the 4-5-1 formation… moving players like Chris Rolfe next to Cuauhtemoc Blanco in the midfield and Barrett leading the top. Doubtless; Blanco has become an important piece of the puzzle as he has to his name three goals so far in the season and continues to seal his presence on the field taking all and every opportunity he is given. The game took place at the RFK Stadium with a 2-0 victory in favour of the Chicago Fire.

About the author:

Claudia Beckford provides current MLS 2008 Season content as well as information in the sports betting industry. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

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Suspension For The Italian Football Star Francesco Flachi

May 7th, 2008

By Emeli Dean

The Italian football player Francesco Flachi’s negative verdict of a sixteen month suspension was already pronounced last year but hadn’t been made definite because the Italian Olympic Committee had raised an objection. The reason for the verdict was the failure of a drug test taken from the 31-year-old forward after a home game from his team U.C. Sampdoria against the Italian champion Inter Milan on January 28th 2007. The founded drug was cocaine. Flachi declared back then that the drug had been in a cigarette which an unknown person offered him. After over one year the International Court of Arbitration for Sport has officially confirmed the suspension and increased it even to a two year ban.

In the past years Flachi already hit one or two headlines. After finding out that Flachi and some of his team mates had passed on internal information about possible game moves to gamblers in September 2006 the Italian Football League suspended him for two month. 

Football is today one of the most popular and worldwide most played sport and doping is extremely rare. That’s what we thought but actually not the truth. In the past years there were detected several cases all over the world. Within the Football World Cups there were so far four international players tested positive: 1974 Ernest Jean Joseph from Haiti, 1978 Willie Johnston from Scotland, 1986 Ramon Caldere from Spain and 1994 the back then 33-year-old Football icon Diego Maradona from Argentina failed a drug test as well. In his blood was found a high dose of the substance Ephedrin. Maradona was also having drug problems in his private live. In 2000 he even suffered from a heart attack caused by an overdose of cocaine.

Some cases have appeared in Germany as well. Of course everybody first denied any contact with this topic but several former football players and coaches confessed that they were involved in doping. The former football player and one of the worldwide best keepers in the ‘80s Harald Anton Schumacher, who everybody just called Toni, published 1987 as a form of interim result of his career the book “Kickoff” with the subtitle “Disclosure about the German Bundesliga”.

The today 54-year-old had made several reproaches to players, coaches and functionaries. He wrote for example that Eike Immel is a compulsive gambler, Olaf Thon is a lazy player and Paul Breitner is a smoker and drinker. He wrote as well about the topic doping in the Bundesliga. He admitted that he was trying out drugs in the practice. His statement was that he wanted it to stop. After that the drug test was introduced. But not everyone wanted to just accept his statements so he had has to bear the consequences.

After a board-meeting of the German Football Association the former president declared that Schumacher will not draft in the national team anymore due to the existing situation. After his 15-year career with the German Club 1.FC Köln he also had to leave his team and switched abroad.

In the past month more and more former players began to speak and start to remember that players in their vicinity were taking incited substances.

About the Author
Emeli Dean is a high-ranking writer on sports for the
football betting industry. You can also find more of his work at http: www.instantactionsports.com

Feel free to reprint this article in its whole on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

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Chris Lofton’s Deep Secret to Success

May 2nd, 2008

By: Cindy Ferguson
 
 

Chris Lofton was very fortunate unlike many others who don’t have the opportunity to beat the odds and he now feels more than overwhelmed with his unstoppable success.
In the beginning of his career things did not look very promising; but Tennessee took him in and he was the man that helped the Vols get back in play and hand by hand; both he and his team headed towards success, while no one knew what he was going thru.
 
 

The 22-year-old and 200 pound guard guided his team to a 31 game school record this past season and were placed at the top spot of the polls for the first time in history making their second straight Sweet 16 appearance.
 
 

Although, the 6 foot 2 youngster had much success while wearing his number 5 jersey, his biggest and greatest defeat was off the courts. Lofton was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of 2006; he had a cancerous tumor removed during a secret surgery from one of his testicles on March 28, 2007.
 
 

The cancer was unbelievably discovered after he was chosen randomly after the first round win over Long Beach State to submit an NCAA mandatory drug test that doesn’t even test for anything like that; reason why people now refer to it as the miracle test because if he had not been chosen he might not have lived to tell the tale.
 
 

Unfortunately; the test came back positive after having blood work and an ultra sound done but the Tennessee officials were not notified until the day after the Ohio State game. 
 
 

Lofton was very good at preventing other teams from reaching their goals with his patented step back 3 pointers; but he was now about to face the fight of his life and the question was if he was going to be able to stop the cancer.
 
 

Like many men, he is not one to get tear eyed in front of people but admitted that he cried more this past year than he has in his entire life. For many people it was a shock when they found out that he went thru this painful and scary situation with hardly anyone knowing. 
 
 

The diagnosis, surgery, radiation, treatments, recovery and emotional distress was all kept undercover to comply his wishes. Lofton is known as a very reserved person and he didn’t want excuses from or about anyone.
 
 

It is an immense suffering to handle and his passion for the sport and love for the team was what made him not want his news to be exposed. He felt it would distract the team and make things change and he did not want that to happen. Even many of his family members had no clue of what he was going on.
 
 

His motivation came from his mother and father and his faithfulness towards the team. Even though some days he felt that he could not move his body he just kept going. Lofton has finished with his treatment and is now cancer-free although he will have to be monitored for the rest of his life.
 
 

Besides the fact of having defeating such a critical condition, the most amazing thing is how he dealt with it and how he managed to continue to play and not let his personal problems get in the way of his dreams. Lofton is now more determined than ever to pursue a professional basketball career and if cancer didn’t stop him I’m sure nothing will. 
 
 

About the Author
Cindy Ferguson is a high-ranking sports writer for NCAA Basketball games and the sports betting industry.  Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

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Schumacher Jr. At A Go-Kart Race In Spain

May 2nd, 2008

By Emeli Dean

The nine-year-old son of the former Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher participated last April 13th 2008 for his first time in an official go-kart race for young talented drivers between seven and eleven years old in Spain close to the Catalonian city Gerona.

The race was part of the Spanish Kart Series ‘Open RACC[tag]’ which is organized by the same-named Spanish Automobile Association. RACC is comparable with the [tag]German ADAC or the British RAC. The Kart Series offers ten different races in five meetings which take place once a month between March and August this year. The race on the Sils Circuit was already the second meeting of the Series. The Series is supposed to open a chance for young talents to enter in the Formula 1 one day. The registration fees for all five meetings aggregate to 290 Euros. These fees do not only justify for the participation but also include the costs for the provision of go-karts, required equipment and technical support. The winner of the Series will receive a scholarship for the next season.

Michael started his kart career very early as well as his father gave him a converted kettcar with motor when he was just four years old. It was tested immediately at the go-kart track located in the neighborhood which was built in 1964. With just five years he won his first title as back then youngest go-kart driver from Germany.

The kart race was after all not Michael’s idea. Actually he hoped that his son would rather play golf or tennis one day. Besides he did not want to expose his son to the stress it may cause him: “I can’t imagine my son to follow in my footsteps. If you think on what the journalists could think, do and ask and under how much pressure he would be until he gets out of my shadow. It would be a heavy burden.”  But after Mick already trained hard on the own go-kart track in Kerpen he could not refuse his son’s wish.

Since there has been one or two headlines about Michael’s participation in different motorsports events in the past month, the family wanted to keep the go-kart race as secret as possible. For this reason Mick started under his mother’s maiden name and was called Mick Betsch. At his first official race he was accompanied by his grandfather who is the current ambassador of the German Republic in Argentina. To preserve the secrecy his parents stayed home.

Despite his talent Schumacher Jr. received only rank eight and ten in the two runs. In total he received 52 points after all from a maximum achievable amount of 70 points by winning both runs.

Since Mick was accompanied by several security forces he drew the attention of the Spanish journalist from the sports magazine ‘AS’ and was exposed. It is not certain if Mick will also participate in the last three meetings. The next race will be on May 25th at the Osana Circuit in the Spanish Catalonia as well.

About the Author
Emeli Dean is a high-ranking writer on sports for the
football betting industry. You can also find more of his work at http: www.instantactionsports.com
 
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1¼ Miles of Astonishing Horse Racing Action - Kentucky Derby 2008

April 25th, 2008

By Claudia Beckford

The Kentucky Derby is one of the major thoroughbred horse racing events in the United States. This 1¼ miles dirt race was created in 1780 and now it takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

The race is also known as “the Run of the Roses” and it pays a $2.0 million dollar purse. The last two races ran at the track have delivered two exceptional winners; Barbaro in 2006 and Street Sense in 2007. Colt Barbaro from Lael Stables will always be remembered as one of the best horses to win this prestigious race; especially after his unpleasant incident at the Preakness the same year which ended the horse racing career.

The 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense owned by James B. Tafel railed through his racing career as an amazing horse earning more than $4 million dollars previous to its retirement last October 2007.

The 134th edition of the Kentucky Derby will be next May 3rd 2008 and the race is expected to be an unpredictable surprise for the horse racing world.  Amongst some of the most popular names that will be part of this year event are: Pyro and  Z Fortune both trained by the well-known Steve Asmussen whose training career dates back from 1986 and whose background include victories at Fair Grounds, Churchill Downs, Remington Park, Keeneland and Lone Star.

Without a question Pyro leads the pack with more than $1.0 million dollars in earnings and a racing record of 7-3-2-1, the horse will be raided by jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. Despite, his stumble at the Blue Grass where he finished in the eleven position he is a heavy favourite. Other strong contestants are; Tale of Ekati whose breeder and owner is Charles Fipke, followed by Colonel John that has achieved three quarters of a million dollars in career earnings and Gayego and Big Brown.

The 3-year-old Big Brown has made some recent news after his five-length romp in the Florida Derby and has awaked the possibility to become the horse to beat at the race.

Let’s not forget the Santa Anta Derby winner Colonel John but there are some aspects such as the surface which will be ran that leave a big question mark in front of our eyes; the horse’s previous races were on Polytrack not dirt besides adding the extra pressure of the event itself.

“For some of those horses that have never run on dirt, obviously people are going to be watching their dirt works with interest at Churchill,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who will run at least two horses (Cowboy Cal and Monba) in the Derby. “It looks to me like the form of the West Coast has held up very well. I thought Gayego winning the Arkansas Derby was a pretty good hint that the California group is very good and that they can transfer their form from a synthetic surface out there to a dirt surface.   
 
Nevertheless; there are just few days before the race we will follow most closely and enjoy to the best; these will certainly be “the best two minutes in sport”. 

About the author:
Claudia Beckford provides current Kentucky Derby content as well as information in the sports betting industry. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

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Kentucky Derby Preps Almost Ready

April 16th, 2008

By Audrey Nolan

The winners of the three major preparation races will continue on their way to the Kentucky Derby which will be held on May 3rd. Unfortunately not everything is good news mainly for the horses that didn’t have a good result on the preparation races as their current situation remains uncertain.

“Colonel John”, the horse which won the Santa Anita Derby will stay in [tag]California for the next two and a half weeks and later on will leave to the Kentucky Derby.

“Recapture the glory”, which achieved the victory at the Illinois Derby, will be in Kentucky as soon as his trainer and co-owner can meet and take him.  “Tale of Ekati”, the Wood Memorial winner was sent to Kentucky on Sunday along with War Pass and Court Vision, who finished second and third, respectively, at the Wood.Of the three winners, Recapture the glory got the best Beyer Speed Figure, a 102. Colonel John got a 95, and Tale of Ekati a 93.

Colonel John made a great effort to win in Santa Anita “I can’t believe the horse won,” Harty said. “I thought he had so much to do. When El Gato Malo went by him, it looked like he wasn’t firing. At that point, I would have been content to be third. How he did it, I don’t know. I thought it was a phenomenal race.

Colonel John will work twice at Santa Anita before leaving for Kentucky about 10 days before the Derby. The horse will have his final work at Churchill Downs, Harty said.Tale of Ekati will be practicing in Keeneland until the Kentucky Derby starts, stated his trainer Barclay Tagg.

Tagg said that he has always think Tale of Ekati is a pretty good horse, it had some trouble at the gate, but Tagg has been practicing throughout the week and his running is better than what they expected.

Recapture the glory’s Illinois Derby victory put it in the Kentucky Derby, justifying the $6,000 Roussel paid to make it a late Triple Crown nominee just before the March 27 deadline. Russell said he has 2 more races that are practices for the Derby, but that Recapture the glory has improved a lot and the Kentucky Derby may be his best race.

“I think he’s improving immensely,” Roussel said. “I saw him improving a great deal at Fair Grounds. His third race back, the Derby, I think it probably will be his best race.”

For this weekend an event of interest will be an expected workout at Churchill Downs by Lane’s End Stakes winner Adriano. That work, trainer Graham Motion said, would be used as a prove to see if he likes the track and whether it should run in the Derby or instead remain on Polytrack in the Grade 2, $325,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland for next April 19.

About the author  Audrey Nolan is a high-ranking writer on sports for the online betting industry. You can also find more of her work at www.instantactionsports.com. Feel free to reprint this article in its whole on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

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Olympic Torch Continues Relay in a Bus

April 8th, 2008

By Audrey Nolan

The last part of the Olympic torch relay will not be run due to the continuous chaotic protests from last weekend. The drama saw for at least five times the security officials putting out the torch and rushing it onto a bus as the harsh protests increased in defense of China’s human rights.

Despite the hopes of the French Olympic committee to have the torch carried by runners to its final destination; it is likely the remaining part of the route will be done in a car which will transport the torch to a sports stadium to the southern part of Paris. Even though, there was plenty of security throughout the scheduled itinerary but in two different occasions the torch was endangered by activists who came very close but were finally taken away by police officers.

One of the demonstrators threw water to the torch with the purpose of extinguish it, but his attempt failed and he was also taken by the police. In Paris at the Eiffel Tower’s first floor where the relay began; the situation was already getting tense as there was a crowd of activists who were screaming: “freedom for the Chinese!!”.

The relay continued but once again the crowd of activists’ Tibetan flags soon interrupted it by confronting the torchbearer on a road along the Seine River. The demonstrators did not appear to get within reach of the torch, but its flame was put out by security officers who stepped into a bus. One hour later the torch was taken out again and this time by a women athlete on a wheel chair, when it was halted again by activists from Tibet, so it was taken into the bus again. After they put the torch back on the bus they were throwing plastic bottles, cups and pieces of bread to the vehicle and to a man on a wheel chair.

The torch disappeared back inside the bus a fourth time shortly after a protester approached it with a fire extinguisher near the Louvre Art Museum. Police grabbed the demonstrator before he could start to spray. Police had hoped to prevent the chaos that marred the relay in London a day earlier. There, police had repeatedly to deal with activists angry about China’s human rights record leading up to the Beijing Olympics. One protester tried to grab the torch; another tried to put out the flame in total an outrageous number of thirty-seven people were arrested.

After witnessing the recent events; the Olympics committee representatives are very concerned that this type of happenings will continue to show around the world and may shadow such an important and historical event. The disagreements in China are due to the Tibetans protesting to get their well-deserved freedom from the government. The Olympic Games will take place in Beijing, China from August 8 to 24.

About the author:

Audrey Nolan is a high-ranking writer on sports for the online betting industry. You can also find more of her work at www.instantactionsports.com/uk. Feel free to reprint this article in its whole on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

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US Davis Cup Roster Remains the Same

April 8th, 2008

By: Cindy Ferguson

While many may be in fear as to which tennis players will be part the US Davis Cup team; that no longer seems to be a topic. Patrick Monroe, captain of the team, got rid of the drama and has made his life simpler and much less complicated by selecting the identical four names that he has chosen for ten consecutive occasions.

This has set a new record and as many already know those players are Andy Roddick, who is my favorite, James Blake, and Bob and Mike Bryan. Roddick and Blake will play singles while the Bryan brothers will play doubles in the coming month’s quarterfinals against France in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The United States has used the same Davis Cup roster since March of 2005 when Andre Agassi played in the final and went twelve years title less until 2007 when Roddick along with Blake and Bryan led the United States to win the Davis Cup.

This crew did very well in the first round of this year’s competition, which started back in February and defeated Austria 4-1 to secure their place in the next stage of the competition where they will play against France.

Perhaps one of the most popular players in the championship, at least on this side of the continent is Roddick who is also number six in the ATP rankings. This gentleman without doubt has an infatuation for the Davis Cup and has won his last seven singles matches besides an overall average of 27-9 for singles at the Cup and this will be his 21st appearance, which is just nine appearances away from John McEnroe’s record.

Blake is at this time ranked as the ninth best player in the world and has won three consecutive Davis Cup matches and six out of seven. No wonder he is once more integrated in the tournament.  As for the Bryan twins they are the top-ranked doubles team and have allowed the United States to have part in these type of events. The brothers have been 14-1 for five years since 2003.

Even though; the rankings speak for themselves and the quality of players the US will be once more using, the defending champion is still up for quite the test and I am pretty sure France will not make it easy for them and their competitors have yet to make known their roster. The two countries have split 14 meetings so far during their last encounter held in Paris, France won the semifinals. Now, the winner of this quarterfinal will face up Spain or Germany in September in the semifinals.

The next stage of the thrilling tournament, which is the quarter finals is scheduled to take place from Friday, April the 11th thru Sunday, April the 13th and may give the US a slight advantage being they will be on home territory and the matches will also be played indoors on hard surfaces. Best of luck to both and may the best win!

About The Author:

Cindy Ferguson is a high-ranking sports writer in the Football Betting industry. To view more of her exceptional work; visit the sports betting archives. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site; make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content

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Kovalainen Feliz con McLaren-Mercedes

April 1st, 2008

Por Audrey Nolan
 
 

El jefe del equipo McLaren Ron Dennos dijo que su nuevo piloto Heikki Kovalainen se ha convertido en un nuevo hombre desde que compite con el equipo Mercedes. Kovalainen se unió a Mclaren recientemente luego de su temporada como novato en el 2007 con el equipo Renault durante el cual demostró un gran progreso y muchas habilidades.
 
 

En la primera carrera del calendario de Fórmula Uno en Australia, Kovalainen logró un quinto lugar y en el Grand Prix de Malasia tan sólo una semana atrás logró un tercer puesto. Dennis se siente muy confiado con el nuevo piloto y mencionó que si sigue trabajando de la manera en que lo ha estado haciendo estará presionando a su compañero de equipo Lewis Hamilton por lo que resta del año.
 
 

“Heikki es un tipo que fue sistemáticamente desarmado el año anterior y que hemos sistemáticamente vuelto a armar” Dennis le dijo al Daily Telegraph “Denle 3 carreras más y le va a estar dando un molestias a Lewis. Lewis ya lo sabe y están felices y bromean al respecto. Espero que cuando esto se torne competitivo entre los pilotos que la armonía se mantenga.”
 
 

El debut de Hamilton en la Fórmula Uno en el Grand Prix de Australia le trajo fama y una visita al podio pero también le trajo momentos difíciles con su ex compañero de equipo Fernando Alonso dado a los rumores de su creciente rivalidad tanto dentro de la pista como fuera de ella; los cuales fueron incrementados por la prensa. En el caso de Kovalainen; Australia fue su propio bautizo y logró una buena posición al finalizar la carrera tomando en cuenta de  que fue su primera vez como parte de McLaren.
 
 

La actuación de Kovalainen fue descrita por el jefe de Renault, Flavio Briatore como una estupidez, pero en un carro mucho menos competitivo que los que utilizaron en el 2005 y 2006 cuando ganaron los títulos mundiales. Pero no olvidemos que Kovalainen le dio los mejores resultados a Renault en la temporada pasada en la cual terminó en un cómodo segundo lugar con Hamilton en el Grand Prix Japonés en setiembre del año pasado.
 
 

Luego de que Fernando Alonso fue transferido al equipo Renault dado a la difícil relación del piloto con su ex compañero Lewis Hamilton así como el resto del equipo, solo parecía que la única opción de reemplazarlo en el equipo McLaren era Kovalainen sin lugar a dudas.
 
 

Cuando comenzaron a buscar un reemplazo y después de ver todas las características que ellos buscaban en un piloto, como por ejemplo ¿quién tiene los mejores patrones de manejo y habilidades? ¿Quién está en el mejor equipo? Eso de seguro aplica para Kovalanien aunque sea un novato.
 
 

Durante el tiempo en que Kovalainen estuvo con Renault; perdió la motivación y eso se reflejó durante las competencias  pero ahora está recuperando la confianza de vuelta y el equipo McLaren es en parte responsable por la mejora así como también el piloto intenta estar física y mentalmente preparado para cada carrera.
 
 

Sobre el autor:
Audrey Nolan es una de las más destacadas escritoras de deportes en la industria de las Apuestas en línea. Este artículo puede ser utilizado en otros sitios web, conservando todo el contenido original.

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2008 Beijing Games Torch Ceremony Clouded by Continuous Protests

March 31st, 2008

By Claudia Beckford

This past Sunday at the archaeological site Olympia – near the Temple of Hera the 29th Olympic Games Torch was lit. This was the beginning of the five-month journey towards the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games which will begin on August 8th.

The first torch bearer will be the Athens 2004 taekwondo medallist - Greek athlete Alexander Nikolaidis who will have the task to take the torch throughout Greece over a period of six days. Luo Xuejuan, China’s Olympic swimming gold medallist was the second bearer, taking the flame from Nikolaidis. The Greek athlete will then hand it over to the Chinese Olympic officials at the Kalimarmaro Stadium.

Despite the high security measures; the event was clouded by the interference of two pro-Tibet demonstrators who were carrying black flags. Also, other three members of the Paris-based press freedom group were displaying a banner with the symbol of the Olympics transformed into handcuffs a clear attempt of disrespect for the national symbols. All activists were detained by the police but later on released on bail.

Afterwards they were interviewed and stated the charges were “absurd and senseless”. Reporters Without Borders said: “We were in no way attacking the Olympic spirit or Greece”, “We were simply protesting against the policy being carried out in China during this period of intensifying repression.”

Despite the unusual oppositions Chinese climbers will carry the Olympic torch to the 8,444 metre summit of the highest mountain in the planet – The Everest.  This is certainly a challenge not only for the climbers but the unsettle situation which is being lived at the Tibet does not make it any easier.  In the past days the capital city of Tibet – Lhasa has been hit by continuous riots as the people who live in this land claim independence from China.

The torch’s 137,000 kilometres journey involves more than 27,870 torchbearers who together will covered five continents and 134 cities. It is expected that along the way there will be more protests pro-Tibetans around the world.  Some of the places which are awaiting the torch and at which there will be additional ceremonies are: Almaty, Istanbul, St. Petersburg, London, Paris, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Dar es Salaam, Muscat, Islamabad, New Delhi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Canberra, Nagano, Seoul, Pyongyang , Ho Chi Minh City , Hong Kong,  Macao, Tianjin and once again Beijing.

Jacques Rogge – President of the International Olympic Committee stated at the ceremony “Today will lead to the opening of the first ever Olympic Games in China, where one-fifth of the world’s population is longing for them.” “The messengers will be citizens, young or old, able or disabled, athletes and members of the Olympic Movement, who are all eager to promote what each one of us can contribute to a better world,” he said.

About the author
Claudia Beckford provides outstanding 2008 Beijing Olympic Games content as well as information in the sports betting industry. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

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