Post from: EveryJoe

Paralympic Games Open in Beijing

The Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics will be held tomorrow night at the Olympic Stadium, and although many components are being kept secret (such as the final torch bearer), much is known about the festivities.

The date and the time are symbolic. Eight is a lucky number in China. Hence, August 8, 2008 at 8:08:08 pm is about as lucky as you can get. The ceremony is expected to last about 3 1/2 hours.

Entertainers will include Britain’s Sarah Brightman (of “Phantom of the Opera” fame), Canada’s Celine Dion, and Taiwan’s Jay Chou.

Among the 104 foreign dignitaries attending the event are US President George W. Bush, Princess Haya of Jordan, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Russian President Vladmir Putin, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and N Korean leader Kim Jong II.

As for the procession of athletes, the Australians are skipping the event due to concerns over the air quality in Beijing; basketball star Yao Ming will carry the Chinese flag; and Sudanese refugee-now US citizen and long-distance runner, Lopez Lomong will carry the US banner.

The order of the activities follows a rigid agenda set up by the International Olympic Committee. Mike, who blogs at 08:08:08, was kind enough to post a copy of it.

This article on the Vancouver 2010 site, a group that’s already hard at work on their own opening ceremony preparations, offers additional insight on what goes into producing an Olympic Opening Ceremony.

Post from: EveryJoe

What to Expect at the Opening Ceremonies

Kaklamanakis is a Greek Olympian. His event is held on water, Sailing. He’s a three-time Mistral class windsurfing world champion and a gold medalist at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Sailing. And he was the one who lit the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

His achievements are listed as follows:

Gold European Championship (Mistral) 1994
Bronze IMCO World Championship 1995
Gold Australasian Championship (Mistral) 1995
Gold IMCO World Championship 1996
Gold Atlanta Olympics 1996
Gold Athens EUROLYMP 1998
Gold Mistral World Championship 2000
Bronze International ASA Windsurfing Championship 2001
Gold Mistral World Championship 2001
Silver ISAF World Championship 2003
Silver Athens Olympics 2004
(Source: Wikipedia)

As the Games draw closer, it makes me want to look back and reminisce a bit and that’s why I came across Kaklamanakis. I’m now wondering who will be the next to go down Olympic history as the torch bearer to light the Olympic torch. Anyone have an idea who it might be? I’m actually still researching.

Post from: EveryJoe

Who is Nikolaos Kaklamanakis?

There’s an opportunity for you to become a torch bearer in the upcoming 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in China. This is just a short clip of the advert. Watch and be inspired.

Take the leap like how Marco did. Be a part of Olympic hostory.

Post from: EveryJoe

Be a Torchbearer in the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in China

Hawkes is the captain of the Australian Women’s Hockey Team aka Hockeyroos for eight years. She is a midfield player.

Hawkes was able to compete in three Olympic Games: 1988 Seoul Games, 1996 Atlanta Games and 2000 Sydney Games, where she won the gold medal. Another time she competed is during the 1992 Barcelona Games, where Australia finished fifth place.

The three gold win in the Olympics is a record in women’s hockey that still remains unbroken today. And Hawkes is one of two Australian females to win three Olympic gold medals at three separate Games.

Hawkes also had the privilege of reciting the Athlete’s Olympic Oath during the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Sources: Olympic.org | Wikipedia

Post from: EveryJoe

Rechelle Hawkes, Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist in Field Hockey

Imagine you’re a twenty-year-old sprinter from Mexico. And that your country has won the honor to host the Olympics in 1968. Guess what? You’ve been chosen to light the Olympic Torch!

Such was the fortune of Norma Enriqueta Basilio de Sotelo, who became the first woman ever to light the Olympic torch. And this development was a high point in an Olympics almost canceled thanks to controversies surrounding it.

Norma will always be part of Olympic history. Even as she pursues a career in the Mexican legislature, she will always be remembered as a symbol of equality—and the dream of a world where the fairer sex is considered with the same regard as men. For any discussion of the Olympic Torch and its history must include this milestone.

Post from: EveryJoe

The First Woman to Light the Olympic Torch

Yay! At an impressive ceremony held at the China Millennium Monument in Beijing, they finally announced the Olympic Torch Relay Route that I was looking forward to hearing about.

The relay is expected to last 130 days and cover a distance of 137,000 kilometres, passing through five continents and visiting some of the principal points of the ancient Silk Road. With its theme, “Journey of Harmony”, and its slogan “Light the Passion”, the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay will be an opportunity for BOCOG to share its Olympic message with the world.

Take a look at how the Olympic Torch will look like. “The design of the Torch takes into account Chinese artistic heritage and technological expertise. The design of the aluminum Torch features traditional scrolls and a traditional Chinese design called “Lucky Cloud”. It stands 72 centimeters high and weighs 985 grams.” It’ll be used to transport the flame from Olympia to Beijing. All I’m wondering now is where exactly will pass through — like what countries or cities.

More info on this newsbit at www.olympic.org.

Post from: EveryJoe

BOCOG Announces Olympic Torch Relay Route for Beijing 2008

Moutawakel’s the first Muslim and African female Olympic champion. Her winning the gold medal in her sport signals a breakthrough for other female athletes in Morocco, her home country and other Islamic nations.

Did you know that according to Wikipedia, “The King of Morocco declared that all girls born the day of her victory were to be named in her honour.”

Another trivia is that Moutawakel was one of the eight flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino.

Moutawakel celebrated her 45th birthday last 15 April 2007.

Source: olympic.org | Wikipedia

Post from: EveryJoe

Nawal El Moutawakel, first female Olympic champion from an Islamic nation

Answering that question, the Olympic Games does have one and was inducted into the programme at the first opening ceremony during the first Olympiad in Athens, Greece.

The Olympic Anthem that was played and sung by the Athens Philharmonic choir at the start of the Olympiad was composed by Spyros Samaras and Kostis Palamas.

Isn’t it great to learn something new everyday? ;)\

Source

Post from: EveryJoe

Who composed the 1896 Olympic Anthem?

Okay. That looked like a promotional clip for that company but hey, it sure was a lot of fun watching it. I wish I was there to see the jetpack [and the human, of course!] fly!

To watch other jetpack videoclips, click on.

Cool, eh?

So, tell me — who wants to own one? LOL.

It’s great that YouTube’s around to let us share videos like these. Heehee.

Photo credit: Getty Images/Tony Duffy [www.olympics.org]

Post from: EveryJoe

Watch the Jetpack in Action!