This image provided by the National Parks Service taken Tuesday Aug. 5, 2008 shows the collapsed Wall Arch. One of the largest and most visible arches in Arches National Park collapsed according to park officials. Paul Henderson, the park's chief of interpretation, said Wall Arch collapsed sometime late Monday or early Tuesday. The arch is along Devils Garden Trail, one of the most popular in the park. For years, the arch has been a favorite stopping point for photographers. Henderson said the arch was claimed by forces that will eventually destroy others in the park: gravity and erosion.
In Beijing, The Olympic Museum is everywhere!
No fewer than seven operations in Beijing and an eighth in Hong Kong where the equestrian events are being held. The Olympic Museum is everywhere in the Chinese capital!
No fewer than seven operations in Beijing and an eighth in Hong Kong where the equestrian events are being held. The Olympic Museum is everywhere in the Chinese capital!
Olympex
At the Beijing Exhibition Centre, it is present at Olympex - The Olympic Expo Beijing 2008 on the theme Olympic Art & Symbols. Some 3,000m2 of medals, torches, and delegation and ceremony outfits, not forgetting the winning works of the 2008 IOC Art & Sport Contest.
Olympic treasures
Part of the IOC Olympic Treasure Exhibition, after a year spent travelling through the big cities of the country, is back in Beijing until 30 October at the China Millennium Monument in the large One World, One Dream exhibition (nearly 8,000m2) organised by BOCOG.
Collecting stories
Operations are also taking place at the IOC Corner in the Olympic Village on one 300m2 stand, perfectly located in front of the main restaurant and which the Museum has decorated. The Museum is there to collect stories from the Games As at each edition of the Games, the Museum has also decorated the Olympic Club, where Marketing receives its sponsors.
Operations are also taking place at the IOC Corner in the Olympic Village on one 300m2 stand, perfectly located in front of the main restaurant and which the Museum has decorated. The Museum is there to collect stories from the Games As at each edition of the Games, the Museum has also decorated the Olympic Club, where Marketing receives its sponsors.
Lausanne, Olympic Capital
During August, it is also present in spaces in the Swissôtel in Beijing with the operation Lausanne, the Olympic Capital and Lake Geneva Region greet Beijing 2008.
During August, it is also present in spaces in the Swissôtel in Beijing with the operation Lausanne, the Olympic Capital and Lake Geneva Region greet Beijing 2008.
Hong Kong Jockey Club
Finally, 2,000km south, in Hong Kong, where the equestrian events are being staged, The Olympic Museum and the Hong Kong Jockey Club have set up the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Exhibition, a retrospective on the theme of equestrian sports, on show until the end of September.
Finally, 2,000km south, in Hong Kong, where the equestrian events are being staged, The Olympic Museum and the Hong Kong Jockey Club have set up the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Exhibition, a retrospective on the theme of equestrian sports, on show until the end of September.
Over 2,000 items
Estimate of the number of items from the collections sent to China: over 2,000!
Estimate of the number of items from the collections sent to China: over 2,000!
Source: olympic.org
During the Beijing Olympic Games, the IOC is launching a new programme for athletes. It will provide guidance and tools to help them to manage training, competition and the challenges and opportunities of day-to-day life. The programme has been designed with the advice of elite athletes, coaches and experts from around the world.
It focuses on three fields:
· Education
· Life skills
· Career management
It focuses on three fields:
· Education
· Life skills
· Career management
Education: about the “second challenge”
The Education part of the programme stresses the importance combining sport with studies in order to be prepared for the “second challenge”, meaning the transition after one’s sports career to another kind of activity, a change of focus from sports performance to a more standard job. “Successful job integration unquestionably starts with education,” says IOC member Sergey Bubka, Chairman of the Athletes’ Commission, the future participants of the project.
Life Skills: “overall success in life”
The life-skill training includes information, practical tools and guides on subjects such as health, nutrition, finance, media training, time management, public speaking and goal setting. ”Athletes should be able to develop their athletic skills, and at the same time, develop their social and professional skills,” says Bubka.
Career management: or how to find or develop a job
The third element is concentrating on career management training, in collaboration with Adecco, the IOC and various National Olympic Committees. It should allow the athletes to acquire support and advice, including information on drafting a curriculum vitae, job hunting and job interview techniques. This programme may also help with job placement and career development.
Questionnaire
The launch during the Beijing Games allows the IOC to make athletes aware of this programme. It also wants to encourage them to participate. Olympians and experienced athletes - on elite level - are asked to fill in the attached questionnaire. The analysis of all the answers will allow the IOC to assess the main expectations of the athletes for this project. “The Athletes’ Programme depends very much on your involvement, so get active, share your needs with us: give us your best!“ concludes IOC President Jacques Rogge.
Source: olympic.org
Abhinav Bindra won India's first individual Olympic gold medal on Monday with a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the men's 10m air rifle. (Watch)
Bindra had been fourth after qualifying but had a brilliant final round and the Indian, the epitome of tranquillity, hit a near perfect 10.8 on his last shot to pull in front of Henri Hakkinen of Finland, who fell to bronze with a poor final shot.
That late stumble by the Finn allowed China's Zhu Qinan, the defending Olympic champion and heavy favourite, to salvage a bitter day with silver. Zhu sobbed uncontrollably on the podium and again at a news conference.
"I can't describe how happy I am," the ever-calm Bindra told journalists. "It's the thrill of my life. That's about it. It's hard to describe. I just went for it. I knew I was lying in fourth. Thankfully it went my way and I just went for it."
Zhu suffered a lapse in concentration in the qualification earlier when he had to rush his final shots to make the time limit, dropping to second behind Hakkinen ahead of the final.
"I was under tremendous pressure and at times I felt really agitated," Zhu said just before stepping on the podium and breaking down in tears. "But I tried my best."
Moments later at the news conference Zhu was crying harder. "I've been through a lot of hardship and shed a lot of tears in the last four years, there have been successes and failures," he said. "After 2004 my only aim has not changed.
I had so very much wanted to be a champion at the Beijing Olympics."
He added: "In the last two rounds I made several mistakes because I had used up all my physical and mental energy."
Bindra, who faced criticism for failing to deliver on the great promise he showed as a child, said he was not thinking about making history in India with a first individual gold medal.
In fact, he said, he was "not thinking about anything". "I was just trying to concentrate on shooting," he said.
"I wasn't thinking of making history. I was two points behind the leaders. I was just trying to shoot good shots. I wanted to shoot well and shoot aggressively. And that's what I did."
His 10.8 of a possible 10.9 on his final shot sparked loud celebrations from group of fans from India.
Hakkinen, who was even with Bindra before his mere 9.7 on his last shot, said that crucial shot felt like the nine before it.
"It just wasn't my turn," he said. "It shows that shooting is a sport from the first to the final shot. Every one counts."
Randhir Singh, Indian Olympic Association secretary-general and former shooter who was present at the range, was stricken by nerves as the competition reached its climax.
"I haven't prayed so much in my life. With the second last shot they tied together and then he (Bindra) shot a 10.8. It couldn't have got better," he told Indian television.
Bindra won the 2006 world championships and finished seventh in Athens four years ago.
Source: olympics.timesofindia.indiatimes.com